Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash
Other Authors: Leon Glicksman.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92145
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author Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash
author2 Leon Glicksman.
author_facet Leon Glicksman.
Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash
author_sort Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash
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description Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014.
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spelling mit-1721.1/921452019-04-12T22:09:29Z Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash Leon Glicksman. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (pages 135-138). The building sector of the United States currently consumes over 41% of the United States primary energy supply. Estimates suggest that between 5 and 30% of any building's annual energy consumption is unknowingly wasted due to pathologically malfunctioning lighting and comfort conditioning systems. This paper presents analytical methods embodied within useful software tools to quickly identify and evaluate those building system faults that cause large building energy inefficiencies. The technical contributions of this work include expert rules that adapt to HVAC equipment scale and operation and methods for sorting fault signals according to user-defined interests such as annual cost of energy inefficiencies. These contributions are particularly unique in their treatment of model and the careful consideration of user interests in fault evaluation. As a first step to developing this general framework for fault detection, first order faults such as simultaneous heating and cooling and imbalanced airflows within several large air-handling units were targeted. Savings of around $22,500 were predicted when the fault of simultaneous heating and cooling was occurring over the entire month in an air handler. Some of the other faults include the heat recovery pump operation in air handling units. An example of the potential energy savings in a large hospital that has been monitored is presented. Yearly savings of around $24,000 were predicted by correcting the operation of the heat recovery pump. Faults in the cooling system were also explored. The paper presents a strategy to load multiple centrifugal chillers with a monotonically increasing COP vs. partload ratio curve. The paper also considers the optimization of cooling tower fan operation coupled with the chiller operation. Models for cooling tower performance and chiller performance are used to define the operation that yields the minimum energy consumption of the system. The number of cooling tower fans and the use of multiple towers with a single chiller are considered. The optimum operation is compared to actual operations to signal operating faults. User testing and experiments show that embracing uncertainty within HVAC fault detection and evaluation is not only paramount to judicious fault inference but it is also central to gaining the trust and buy-in of system users who ultimately can apply fault detection information to actually fix and improve building operations. by Suhrid Avinash Deshmukh. S.M. 2014-12-08T18:52:03Z 2014-12-08T18:52:03Z 2014 2014 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92145 896821770 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 138 pages application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Deshmukh, Suhrid Avinash
Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title_full Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title_fullStr Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title_full_unstemmed Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title_short Software for fault detection in HVAC systems in commercial buildings
title_sort software for fault detection in hvac systems in commercial buildings
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/92145
work_keys_str_mv AT deshmukhsuhridavinash softwareforfaultdetectioninhvacsystemsincommercialbuildings