Systems and methods for autotuning a HVAC system controller. The method may include receiving a performance coefficient and providing a step-input using an autotuner relay to measure ultimate gain and ultimate period in a controlled HVAC system. The method may also include adjusting the ultimate gain and ultimate period to account for a relay hysteresis, and applying a tuning rule to derive a proportional gain and an integral time for a controller of the HVAC system control loop. The method may further include updating the controller with the proportional gain and integral time, and verifying the proportional gain and integral time. Verifying the proportional gain and integral time may include setting a performance envelope having a tightness related to the performance coefficient, applying a step-input to provoke a closed-loop response, and comparing the closed loop response with the performance envelope to determine whether the closed-loop response is within the envelope.

A regulating method for a heating and/or cooling system uses at least one load circuit (6), through which a fluid as a heat transfer medium flows and switches the at least one load circuit (6) on and off in dependence on a room temperature in a room to be thermally regulated by the at least one load circuit (6). A feed temperature (T.sub.mix) of the fluid fed to the at least one load circuit (6) is set in dependence on the relative switch-on duration (D) of the at least one load circuit (6). A manifold device is also provided for a heating and/or cooling system with a control device for carrying out such a regulating method.

The present invention relates to a lighting control analyzer (170), and a corresponding method (600), for determining occupancy behavior in an area (110, 200) illuminated by at least one lighting device (120a-c) controllable by a lighting controller (160). The lighting control analyzer is adapted to receive light settings (d) for control of the at least one lighting device, the light settings being determined by the lighting controller using a lighting control strategy for the area. The lighting control strategy represents a desired illumination of the area, based on presence information associated with the area. The lighting control analyzer is further adapted to determine the occupancy behavior, based on the light settings and the lighting control strategy. The occupancy behavior may comprise normal locations of occupants (401-417), how often occupants are normally located at different locations, and entrance points of the area.

A need identifying device is provided with a need storing portion that receives, from an informant, a need pertaining to the surrounding environment, an environment state variable controlling portion that calculates an environment state variable for indicating the state of the surrounding environment of the informant based on an environment element measured value collected from a space occupied by the informant, and calculates, from the environment state variable, a dissatisfaction level for the surrounding environment of the informant, and an identification processing portion that identifies, based on the dissatisfaction level, a need from the informant as a temporary need or as a persistent need.

A room heater is operated on receiving an on-command from a thermostat when a detected temperature detected by a second room-temperature detector falls below a first reference temperature, and is stopped on receiving an off-command when the temperature detected by the second room-temperature detector is above a second reference temperature that is set higher than the first reference temperature or when the thermostat is manually operated to be switched off. A setting temperature for temperature control to be carried out when the on-command is received again is updated according to a difference between the set temperature and the temperature detected by the first room-temperature detector on receiving the off-command. When the off-command is received before passing a predetermined period of time after receiving the on-command, the updating of the set temperature is prohibited if the temperature detected by the first room-temperature detector is below a predetermined minimum lower reference temperature.

A method for HVAC workload and cost logic is described. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting a thermostat of an HVAC system being set to a target temperature and upon detecting the thermostat being set to the target temperature, detecting a current indoor condition and a current outdoor condition. In some embodiments, the method includes calculating an estimated runtime of an HVAC heating or cooling cycle for the target temperature. The estimated runtime is based on the target temperature, the current indoor and outdoor conditions, and on a result of querying a correlation database. The correlation database includes data points for a plurality of previous HVAC heating and cooling cycles.

A control system for an HVAC system having a plurality of HVAC components operably associated with one or more terminal units is provided. The control system includes a coordination module and a controller having a processor and a memory, the controller operably associated with the coordination module and in signal communication with the plurality of HVAC components. The controller is configured to determine an aggregated thermal demand of the HVAC system, determine, with the coordination module, an operational setpoint for at least one HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components based on the determined aggregated thermal demand, and send a signal indicative of each determined operational setpoint to each associated HVAC component of the plurality of HVAC components.

An air pressure measuring ventilation system, comprising: at least one duct; at least one motorized exhaust fan; one or more ultrasonic sensors; one or more infrared spark detectors; and one or more air pressure sensors. The at least one motorized exhaust fan may draw air through the at least one duct. The one or more air pressure sensors may be placed on a side of the at least one duct such that an air pressure is measured as the air is drawn through the at least one duct, such that a plurality of air pressure measurements are generated. The one or more air pressure sensors may be substantially flush with an interior side of the at least one duct and do not obstruct the air as the air is drawn through the at least one duct.

A heat activated sealing apparatus for closing and locking a plurality of ventilation damper blades of a ventilation framework includes a fire detection assembly for detecting a fire condition and an actuator. A damper closure assembly includes an axle in communication with the actuator of the fire detection assembly and operatively coupled to the plurality of dampers of the ventilation framework, the axle being selectively rotatable between a start configuration at which the plurality of ventilation dampers are at the open configuration and a deployed configuration at which the plurality of ventilation dampers are at the closed configuration. The damper closure assembly includes a locking assembly movable between an unlocked configuration allowing rotatable movement of the axle and a locked configuration not allowing rotatable movement of the axle. The locking assembly is movable to the locked configuration only when exposed to a predetermined amount of heat from the fire condition.

A convertible humidifier that includes a base portion that produces mist, a control panel that controls the production of the mist by the base portion, a reservoir, detachably connectable to the base portion, which holds water to be used by the base portion to produce the mist, and a nozzle configured to direct the mist. The reservoir includes a pass-through connection that allows the mist produced by the base portion to be directed to an opening on a top surface of the reservoir. The nozzle is detachably connected to the opening on the top surface in a first operation mode, and the nozzle is detachably connected to an extending portion, which is detachably connected to the opening on the top surface, in a second operation mode.