Control System - Enterprise Integration HVAC Concepts, Inc. (2005) What is Control System Enterprise Integration? Control System Enterprise Integration is the presentation of data from multiple types of control equipment via a common interface. An integration solution makes it possible for devices from different vendors, using different protocols to be seamlessly presented to the user and higher level software applications. HVAC Concepts, Inc. (HVACC) provides enterprise integration solutions based on Tridium s Niagara Framework and JACE Controllers (Java Application Control Engine). This technology unifies dissimilar systems into common components. This means that once data is brought into the Niagara Framework it is the same, regardless of whether it came from a LonWorks device, a BACnet device, or a legacy system using another protocol. Beyond this data normalization capability, the Niagara Framework also brings control system information into the Enterprise level networks. This means that once data is brought into the Niagara Framework it is easy to expose it to other enterprise reporting tools, such as, HVACC s Web-Based Services or corporate reporting and tracking tools. HVACC s Enterprise Integration Services Our typical customers are Facility Management (FM) companies or FM divisions of larger corporations, more specifically the Director of Engineering or Directory of Energy. Our experience shows that these managers have a variety of goals related to improving the operation of the facilities. Director of Engineering Goals Accurate, real-time information Alarms to trigger an emergency response Mechanisms (charting, reports) to quickly locate, correct, and verify resolution of problems. Views or dash-board type displays to quickly see real-time and historical charts containing a summary of their major points across multiple locations. Access to Energy reporting so that the effect of changes to mechanical systems, control sequences, and repairs can be measured. Director of Energy Goals Accurate, real-time information relating to utility use Mechanisms (charting, reports) to understand their utility usage. Access to control system operating information so that the effect of changes to mechanical systems, control sequences, and repairs can be measured.
Control System Enterprise Integration Page 2 Successful Integration Services address the following major elements: Define Goals / Data Required - Work with customer to define what information and types of reports are necessary to monitor operations and make management level decisions. Network Connections The communications link (Internet Connection, Network, Wireless) which enables real-time enterprise integration is vital. Work with customer and customer s IT department to define network setup, implement and monitor. Existing Control Systems Work with customer and customer s existing control system vendors to provide the ability to bring data into the enterprise without costly control system replacement. HVACC s knowledge and ability to work with existing control systems and vendors to expose and integrate data into the Niagara Framework makes this possible. New Control Systems Work with customer to specify open protocol systems and help customer avoid common pitfalls in specification and implementation of open control systems. HVACC also designs, installs, and services open protocol control systems based on LonWorks, Modbus, BACnet, and Tridium s Niagara Framework. HVACC s Service Center, Website and Web-Based Services A fundamental part of HVACC s Enterprise Integration service offering is a state-ofthe-art 24x7 monitoring and service center that provides real-time monitoring of facilities and equipment systems. Key elements include: Tridium Web Supervisor - Provides hosted web supervisor for client JACEs on Internet / WAN. All services and features of Tridium s Web Supervisor Software. Housed, managed, and backed up in a data-center environment. This allows dash-board type real-time displays of data from multiple remote locations. Network / Device Monitoring Aside from normal alarm conditions, identifying any interruption in communication on the various networks on a site, controller or control device is critical. HVACC monitors your control network and integration equipment for failure. Custom Views and Reports of Data Custom, browser accessible, top-level dash-board type views and reports of data. For example, browser accessible pen graphs of domestic water temperature across a group of sites. Alarm Monitoring / Tracking Browser accessible dash-board type views of alarm activity on your sites. Alarm monitoring and contact tracking of the trail of responsibility for the alarm condition from the initial alarm to when the service agency / person responsible for the alarm was notified.
Control System Enterprise Integration Page 3 Documentation Unlike the often dust covered O&M manuals of the past, HVACC keeps complete, up to date, browser accessible documentation system for your control system and associated equipment. Site Drawings, Equipment Data Sheets, Site Photos, Site Video, Sequence of Operation, Site Contact Information are all available by clicking on a web page link. Task / Ticket System Complete task system to ensure that problems and issues with your control system and enterprise integration are handled, resolved, and tracked. Comments System All Items, tasks, alarms can be commented on to document problems and resolutions to items. Integration Notes Integrating systems is very achievable. What follows is an outline of general issues, Tridium issues, and specific open system and legacy integration issues and methods which need to be understood and accounted for when undertaking an integration project. Additional integrations other than those listed below are available. General It may not be possible to expose all points, and engineering functions to the enterprise. Some functions, programming, diagnostics may still need to be accomplished with the control system manufacturer s software tools. Exposing all points and variables from legacy unitary level equipment (VAVs, FCUs, and so on), may prove to be uneconomical. In many cases commandable points may only be controlled from a single source the enterprise integration interface OR via the controlled system interface. Existing control system hardware and software may need to be upgraded to current versions to provide certain features and integration capability. Customers need to know Administration Level credentials to gain access to all features of control system. Customers need to have all configuration files, graphics, and other files needed to properly integrate the system. Customers need to have as-built drawings of both mechanical and controls systems. Existing Tridium Installation Issues Licensing. Tridium JACEs must be licensed with the correct OrgId (Supplier Id) for HVACC s engineering tools to be able communicate to and work with the JACE. There is a license change fee (from Tridium) for license changes not associated with a purchase.
Control System Enterprise Integration Page 4 Ownership of Web Supervisor License. Every Tridium JACE controller must be licensed to connect to a Web Supervisor Server. Some suppliers always put a Web Supervisor Server on-site (often impractical for small, single JACE sites). Some suppliers can sell an on-site Web Supervisor Server OR sell licenses to their Web Supervisor Server. Niagara Versions. There are various versions of Tridium s Niagara software. Upgrades are not free. The current release for 2.x is 2.3.515. We do not recommend running any version prior to 2.3.431, other than 2.3.330. Hardware Versions. There are many flavors of Tridium s JACE controllers. We recommend upgrading any JACE-501/2 and any JACE-NP controllers to their current versions JACE-545 and JACE-NX. From time to time Tridium has offered special upgrade deals to upgrade older hardware. If an upgrade deal is available that appears too good to be true take advantage of it immediately. From time to time Tridium has offered special upgrade packages priced at or below their cost. Typical Open System (Lon, BACnet, Modbus) HVACC can service / support controllers that it installs. HVACC can also service / support some other make and models of control system components. HVACC may elect to not service / support some devices or manufacturers systems or some manufacturers may withhold engineering tools and knowledge necessary to support the control system. In either case the manufacturer s representative must service control system components. To ensure prompt and accurate service / support we advise you maintain a service contract with them. Typical Carrier CCN System Carrier representative must service / support control system components. To ensure prompt and accurate service / support we advise you maintain a service contract with them. HVACC can purchase, install, and configure the required integration components and software. The interface to the Carrier CCN system is Carrier One driver which runs on a Tridium JACE controller. Typical Johnson Controls System Johnson Controls representative must service / support higher level (NCM) control system components. To ensure prompt and accurate service / support we advise you maintain a service contract with them. It is very important that the customer have all files (database, programming, etc...) HVACC can typically service unitary and some programmable controllers.
Control System Enterprise Integration Page 5 HVACC can purchase, install, and configure the required integration components and software. The interface is via BACnet to a JCI N30 device. The N30 device may be existing equipment or may need to be added depending upon the age and type of JCI installation. Typical Siemens System Siemens representative must service / support control system components. To ensure prompt and accurate service / support we advise you maintain a service contract with them. It is possible for some models of Siemens controllers to lose their programs and require reloading of programs and configuration items. Siemens workstation software does this automatically, or they sell a less expensive program datamate which performs the same function. We recommend having one of these always connected and running to avoid this issue. HVACC can purchase, install, and configure the required integration components and software. The interface to the Siemens system is via the MMI port on the Open Processor via the Siemens Niagara driver software (purchased from Tridium). The MMI port is a low bandwidth text user interface connection. Multiple JACEs and multiple connections to multiple Open Processors may be needed to achieve desired update rate of points. Typical Trane Control System Trane Controls representative must service / support control system components. To ensure prompt and accurate service / support we advise you maintain a service contract with them. The interface is via BACnet to a Trane Building Control Unit (BCU) device. The desired points have to be mapped / exposed to the BACnet interface on the Trane BCU. Older BCUs or BCUs without enough memory may need to be upgraded (memory issues) to be able to support the quantity of points desired. Depending upon system design (the number of controllers per BCUs, type of BCU), only a limited number of points may be able to be mapped from Trane proprietary legacy system to the BCUs BACnet interface. The BCUs and PC software use Trane s proprietary protocol NOT BACnet to communicate to devices. (The Trane Summit and its slave devices are NOT a native BACnet system; it s a proprietary system with a built-in BACnet gateway at the system level controller or BCU). Only the Trane Controls representative can map points to BACnet. Trane also has its own web server which can present an entire Trane system via a web-browser interface. Due to problems with exposing complete unitary controller (VAV) data via the BACnet interface (resource issues on the BCU) this may be the best option for accessing Unitary Controller data via a Web Browser. HVACC has a working relationship with Trane and will work with Trane to design a solution that fits your needs.
Control System Enterprise Integration Page 6 Summary Enterprise Integration of control and equipment systems offers substantial benefits to facility owners and managers. These include: Faster response to equipment failures and performance issues Lower overall maintenance costs Greater tenant satisfaction Information to enable more effective analysis of facility performance and the potential benefit of capital improvements HVACC has an extensive track record in providing integration solutions. We encourage you to contact us to learn how we can help you achieve your facility management goals.