Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of configurable input ports, a plurality of configurable output ports, and a configuration circuit. The configuration circuit is configured to provide a graphical user interface configured to facilitate a user in inputting an equipment description, determine a controller configuration based on the equipment description, configure the plurality of configurable input ports in accordance with the controller configuration, configure the plurality of configurable output ports in accordance with the controller configuration, and enable a set of control logic based on the controller configuration. The controller also includes an online control circuit configured to receive inputs via the plurality of configurable input ports, generate outputs based on the inputs and the set of control logic, and provide the outputs to building equipment via the plurality of configurable output ports.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid through the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the flow rate sensor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate measurement from the flow rate sensor, adjust a control deadband based on an actuator command history, and determine a compensated position setpoint using the flow rate measurement, the adjusted control deadband, and a proportional variable deadband control technique. The controller is further configured to operate the motor to drive the drive device to the compensated actuator position setpoint.

Abstract: An actuator of an environmental control system of a building including a motor and a drive device driven by the motor and configured to drive a valve within a range of positions. The actuator includes one or more printed circuit boards including one or more processing circuits configured to obtain a raw measurement data set from transducers and generate a flow signal based on the raw measurement data set. The flow signal indicates a flow rate of a fluid through a conduit. The one or more processing circuits are configured to determine an actuator position setpoint based on a flow rate setpoint and the flow signal and operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint. The motor, the drive device, and the one or more printed circuit boards are located within a common device chassis.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a flow sensor in a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method includes receiving, at a controller, a request to enter a calibration mode and, in response to receiving the request, automatically commanding a flow control device to achieve a target flow rate. The method further includes generating, by the controller, calibration data for the flow sensor using a reference flow value of the flow rate when the flow control device has achieved the target flow rate and a corresponding flow measurement from the flow sensor.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive a raw flow rate measurement from a flow rate sensor assembly configured to measure the flow rate. The controller is further configured to apply a flow rate measurement filter to the raw flow rate measurement to generate a filtered flow rate measurement. The controller is further configured to control actuation of an actuator configured to change the flow rate using the filtered flow rate measurement. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the flow rate measurement filter in response to detecting an event that causes stoppage of the actuation of the actuator.

Abstract: A freeze protection system for a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) system is shown. The freeze protection system includes a temperature sensor positioned at an inlet of a coil within which a liquid is at risk of freezing, and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The memory stores instructions that are executed by the processor. The processor is instructed to obtain a measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil from the temperature sensor, compare the measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil with a freeze prevention temperature threshold, engage a freeze prevention action in response to a determination that the measured temperature of the liquid at the inlet of the coil is less than or equal to the freeze prevention temperature threshold.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. The actuator includes a motor and a drive device that is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a flow rate sensor and a controller that is communicably coupled with the flow rate sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a first flow rate setpoint, determine a first actuator position setpoint using a proportional variable deadband control technique based on the first flow rate setpoint and a flow rate measurement, and receive a second flow rate setpoint. In response to a determination that certain low flow criteria are satisfied, the controller is configured to determine a second actuator position setpoint using the proportional variable deadband control technique based on a low flow compensation setpoint.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid through the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the flow rate sensor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate measurement from the flow rate sensor, adjust a control deadband based on an actuator command history, and determine a compensated position setpoint using the flow rate measurement, the adjusted control deadband, and a proportional variable deadband control technique. The controller is further configured to operate the motor to drive the drive device to the compensated actuator position setpoint.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed controls via edge devices are provided. The system includes a coordinating device and a plurality of distributed controllers. The coordinating device is configured to determine a current state, assign tasks for performing control specified by a control application to the plurality of distributed controllers, and broadcast a plurality of parameters. The plurality of distributed controllers are configured to perform the control specified by the control application. Each distributed controller is configured to receive a respective task, perform a respective control operation, and control an edge device using a control signal generated from the control operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for distributed controls via edge devices are provided. The system includes a coordinating device and a plurality of distributed controllers. The coordinating device is configured to determine a current state, assign tasks for performing control specified by a control application to the plurality of distributed controllers, and broadcast a plurality of parameters. The plurality of distributed controllers are configured to perform the control specified by the control application. Each distributed controller is configured to receive a respective task, perform a respective control operation, and control an edge device using a control signal generated from the control operation.

Abstract: A thermostat for transmitting data wirelessly to a controller in a building includes a temperature sensor, a processing circuit, and a wireless radio. The processing circuit is configured to receive a measured temperature value from the temperature sensor, determine a current temperature error based on the current measured temperature value and a setpoint temperature, and determine whether a difference between the current temperature error and a previous temperature error is greater than an error threshold. The processing circuit is configured to determine whether a minimum amount of time has passed since transmitting a previous measured temperature value and transmit the current measured temperature value to the controller via the wireless transmitter in response to determining that both the difference between the current temperature error and the previous temperature error is greater than the error threshold and the minimum amount of time has passed since transmitting a temperature value.

Abstract: A controller includes a plurality of configurable input ports, a plurality of configurable output ports, and a configuration circuit. The configuration circuit is configured to provide a graphical user interface configured to facilitate a user in inputting an equipment description, determine a controller configuration based on the equipment description, configure the plurality of configurable input ports in accordance with the controller configuration, configure the plurality of configurable output ports in accordance with the controller configuration, and enable a set of control logic based on the controller configuration. The controller also includes an online control circuit configured to receive inputs via the plurality of configurable input ports, generate outputs based on the inputs and the set of control logic, and provide the outputs to building equipment via the plurality of configurable output ports.

Abstract: A building management system includes a communications bus, an old master controller device; and slave devices. The slave devices are configured to detect that the old master controller device has stopped communicating over the communications bus and to perform an algorithm to determine a new master controller device from the slave devices. The algorithm is based on a device identifier associated with each of the slave devices. The new master controller device is further configured to assume the functions of the master controller device. The functions of the master controller device include transmitting control signals to the slave devices.

Abstract: A pressure disturbance rejection valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve, a flow rate sensor, and an actuator. The actuator includes a motor, a drive device configured to be driven by the motor and coupled to the valve for driving the valve within a range of positions, and a position sensor configured to measure a rotational position of the drive device. The actuator further includes a communications mechanism configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to determine an actuator position setpoint using a feedback control mechanism based on the flow rate setpoint and the flow rate measurement, operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint, detect a fault condition based at least in part on the rotational position measurement or the flow rate measurement, and perform a fault mitigation action in response to detection of the fault condition.

Abstract: A building management system that includes a plurality of slave devices, a remote server comprising a slave device configuration database, and a master controller. The master controller is configured to receive slave device configuration information stored in the slave device configuration database. The slave device configuration information includes at least one of cooling tower configuration parameters, chilled water pump configuration parameters, condenser water pump configuration parameters, air handling unit configuration parameters, rooftop air handling unit configuration parameters, variable air volume unit configuration parameters, chiller device configuration parameters, a rated device capacity, a rated device power, and a rated device speed. The master controller is further configured to control the plurality of slave devices using the slave device configuration information.

Abstract: A building management system includes a communications bus, slave devices connected to the communications bus, a remote server that includes a slave device configuration database, and a master controller connected to the communications bus. The master controller is configured to query the slave devices for device identification codes, receive device identification codes from the slave devices, and connect to the remote server. The master controller is further configured to transmit device identification codes to the slave device configuration database, receive slave device configuration information from the slave device configuration database, and control the slave devices based on the slave device configuration information.

Abstract: A system for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through a valve is provided. The system includes a valve and an actuator. An actuator drive device is driven by an actuator motor and is coupled to the valve for driving the valve between multiple positions. The system further includes a differential pressure sensor configured to measure a differential pressure across the valve and a controller that is communicably coupled with the differential pressure sensor and the motor. The controller is configured to receive a flow rate setpoint and the differential pressure measurement, determine an estimated flow rate based on the differential pressure measurement, determine an actuator position setpoint using the flow rate setpoint and the estimated flow rate, and operate the motor to drive the drive device to the actuator position setpoint.

Abstract: A fault parameter of an energy consumption model is modulated. The energy consumption model is used to estimate an amount of energy consumption at various values of the fault parameter. A first set of variables is generated including differences between a target value of the fault parameter and the various values of the fault parameter. A second set of variables is generated including differences between an estimated amount of energy consumption with the fault parameter at the target value and the estimated amounts of energy consumption with the fault parameter at the various values. The first set of variables and second set of variables are used to develop a regression model for the fault parameter. The regression model estimates a change in energy consumption based on a change in the fault parameter. Regression models are developed for multiple fault parameters and used to prioritize faults.

Abstract: A chilled water plant includes a communications bus, chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus, and a chiller device connected to the communications bus. The chiller device is configured to detect the chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus during a commissioning process, determine device status modules based at least in part on a type of each of the chilled water plant devices, control an operation of the chilled water plant, and display a user interface containing the device status modules.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a flow rate through a device are provided. One or more pressure sensors measure a plurality of pressure differentials across a tested device. A temporary flow rate sensor measures a plurality of flow rates through the tested device. Each of the measured flow rates corresponds to one of the measured pressure differentials. A regression model trainer generates regression coefficients for a flow rate model using the measured pressure differentials and corresponding flow rates. A flow rate estimator uses the flow rate model to estimate a flow rate through a tested or untested device as a function of a measured pressure differential across the tested or untested device.