Multi-Vendor Campus BACnet Compliant Controls Infrastructure: Lessons Learned Charles R. Wilson
Best Practices The Eastern Regional Association of Physical Plant Administrators (ERAPPA) is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-aia members are available on request. This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.
Learning Objectives Learning Objectives: 1. Explore the Big Picture ideas a campus should ask BMS systems designers to implement 2. Evaluate whether manufacturer s packaged, on-board BACnet compatible controls enhance factory equipment service and advice 3. Assess whether asking electric system designers to adjust their designs can improve the information we collect. 4. Evaluate how less, but selected, information might sometimes be better.
BACnet at Cortland Cortland BACnet Experience The Cortland campus includes a mix of buildings serving academic, residential, sports, and dining uses. From a Facilities viewpoint, campus automation systems, and related design issues are likely typical of similar institutions. Campus has implemented building automation systems by multiple vendors. (One vendor for each building) Each building system interconnects with several packaged, onboard sub-systems provided by equipment manufacturers.
Lessons Learned Lessons Learned: This presentation will share our experience, and lessons learned in a BACnet control environment. Multiple Building Automation System Vendors Virtual Server for each vendor installed on campus server farm. Archival Databases for each vendor maintained on campus hard drive arrays.
BACnet System Goals Three BACnet System Goals 1. Collect campus wide information from different vendor systems, and assemble that information in a single display. 2. Help us understand how we are using energy, so we can focus our limited resources. 3. Equipment maintenance (e.g. chillers, boilers) requires ever higher technical skills. Help us leverage time of our best technicians.
Why BACnet? Why BACnet? BACnet allows for communication between products from different vendors. Using different vendors prevents a monopoly and grants versatility.
BACnet Water Metering A Campus BACnet Water Metering System Connect dry contact pulse reading heads to dedicated BMS controller. Specifically assign someone coordination of pulse format and meter scale units. Ethernet Patchbay
BACnet Pulse Gas Metering System A Simple BACnet Pulse Gas Metering System Someone needs to coordinate metering units with controller Assign responsibility for coordination of pulse format, scaling units, commissioning. Design needs to prevent accidental reset of totalized reading Pulse Output Module Turbine Gas Meter
A BACnet Power Metering System A BACnet Electric Metering System Real time campus energy metering Ethernet Patchbay Useful when coordinating summer curtailment
Campus Metering Design Considerations BACnet Campus Metering Design Considerations for Campus Electric Meters Manufacturer provides and coordinates gateway with Building Automation system BAS vendor responsible for end to end communication Provide meter commissioning requirements Include basic testing in commissioning
Using BACnet to Coordinate Communications Using BACnet to Coordinate Communication Facilities Management Campus Technicians Engineer Factory Technician
History Historically Fragmented Communications: And a BACnet Solution Initially, chiller controls were weakly integrated via pneumatic systems DDC controls did not help BACnet can interconnect everyone
Chiller Control: The BACnet Advantage Chiller Controls: The BACnet Advantage Router/System Manager Gateway Packaged Plant Controller Chiller Unit Controller Compressor Controller
Chiller Controls: the BACnet Advantage Can Onboard BACnet Compatible Controls Enhance Service and Advice? Integrated Controls Advantage Manufacturer can place sensors to collect usable information. Accuracy is often better due to built-in sensor placement. Compressor winding temperature not possible except with built in sensor. Control subroutines are optimized for hardware. Example: Chiller capacity control.
Decentralized Boiler Management A BACnet Boiler Plant Management System Plant Manager sequences boilers Detail internal sensor information passed to web page Failure codes remotely accessed by our facility monitoring center, the vendor s technician. Direct factory access to the plant manager via TCP/IP over Ethernet. (Service port activated by IT when required) Domestic hot water also controlled via Plant Manager
A Dual Purpose Light Management/ Occupancy System BACnet dual purpose light management & managed HVAC occupancy control Classroom pedagogy enhanced by thoughtful lighting control Lighting occupancy does not have to be limited to simple on/off control By managing occupancy detection, we can differentiate between significant occupancy and people walking through our space Managed occupancy can also serve HVAC controllers
Questions for the Audience Continuing Education Questions For the Audience! 1. How does BACnet provide better campus service management? 2. Why are packaged equipment sensors and controllers sometimes better than field applied systems? 3. What is the advantage of managed occupancy sensors? 4. What should we ask electric design engineers to add to their drawings? 5. How can alarm management improve our service response?
Thank you for joining us today. This concludes the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Program Questions? CHARLES R WILSON ENGINEERING, P.C. Mechanical Systems Engineering Charles.Wilson@crwilsonengineering.com