G05D15/00

Predictive building control system and method for optimizing energy use and thermal comfort for a building or network of buildings

A method for controlling temperature in a thermal zone within a building, comprising: using a processor, receiving a desired temperature range for the thermal zone; determining a forecast ambient temperature value for an external surface of the building proximate the thermal zone; using a predictive model for the building, determining set points for a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system associated with the thermal zone that minimize energy use by the building; the desired temperature range and the forecast ambient temperature value being inputs to the predictive model; the predictive model being trained using respective historical measured value data for at least one of the inputs; and, controlling the HVAC system with the set points to maintain an actual temperature value of the thermal zone within the desired temperature range for the thermal zone.

Method and apparatus for dampening flow variations and pressurizing carbon dioxide
10066884 · 2018-09-04 · ·

An apparatus is provided for maintaining a steady flow rate and pressure of a carbon dioxide stream at high pressure when a low-pressure source of the carbon dioxide varies with time. Liquid level in an accumulator that is sized to accommodate variations in supply rate is controlled by sub-cooling of liquid entering the accumulator and heating in the accumulator, the sub-cooling and heating being controlled by a pressure controller operable in the accumulator.

Air conditioning device for vehicle

An air conditioning device for vehicle includes a first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, a first bypass passage, and a second bypass passage. The first bypass passage branches at a point of a coolant passage from a cooling portion of a heating component in the vehicle to the second water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the first bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at an upstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. The second bypass passage bran at a point of the coolant passage from a heater core to the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger, and the second bypass passage is capable of being communicated with the coolant passage at a downstream side of the first water-refrigerant heat exchanger. A part of the first bypass passage which includes a downstream end and a part of the second bypass passage which includes an upstream end are shared.

Airflow sensor for a heat sink

An airflow sensor for a heat sink has a substantially flat base portion and a deformable upper portion electrically coupled to the base portion that contacts a conductive strip. As airflow increases, the deformable upper portion deforms and moves away from the source of airflow, which moves the point of contact between the deformable upper portion and the conductive strip farther away from the source of the airflow. The difference in the point of contact is measured, and is used to characterize the airflow sensor for different airflows. Data from the airflow sensor can then be logged during system operation. When needed, the data from the airflow sensor can be read from the log and converted to airflow using the airflow sensor characterization data. In this manner the airflow through a heat sink may be dynamically measured, allowing analysis and correlation between system events and airflow through the heat sink.

Device and method for controlling a supply air flow at an air treatment system
09903605 · 2018-02-27 · ·

Method and air treatment device (1) for control of supply air flow (L1). The air treatment device (1) comprises a chilled beam (2) with a pressure box (5) comprising an inlet (6) for inflow of supply air flow (L1) and a plurality of outlets (7) for outflow of the supply air flow (L1) out of the pressure box (5). The air treatment device (1) comprises an actuator (12) for control of supply air flow (L1), and the pressure box (5) comprises at least one pressure measuring socket (13) for control of static pressure (ps). The air treatment device (1) registers the static pressure (ps) and the position of the actuator (12), and calculates the real supply air flow (L1). The actuator (12) is arranged to change the configuration of the outlets (7) by a linear motion of a cover member (9) and change the open area of the outlets (7).

Industrial robot system having sensor assembly

An industrial robot system includes an end effector connectable to a robot arm, a drive assembly, and a controller. The end effector includes a distal housing, a spindle assembly rotatable about a rotational axis, a drill bit rotatable about the rotational axis, and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first light source, a second light source, and a photosensitive array. The first light source produces a first fan of light which is projected as a first line of light on the object surface. The second light source produces a second fan of light, which is projected as a second line of light on the object surface. The photosensitive array detects a first reflection line corresponding to the first line of light and a second reflection line corresponding to the second line of light.

Aircraft air-conditioning heat exchanger contamination detection

An aircraft system includes a fan, a differential pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a system controller. The fan provides airflow for at least one heat exchanger. The differential pressure sensor senses a pressure difference between an inlet of the fan and a diffuser exit of the fan. The temperature sensor senses a temperature at the inlet of the fan. The system controller is configured to receive the sensed pressure difference, the sensed temperature, and a speed of the fan, and determines an operating point of the fan based upon the sensed pressure difference, the speed of the fan, and the sensed temperature. The operating point is indicative of contamination of the at least one heat exchanger.

Heat pump system with a flow directing system

A heat pump system is provided that includes a flow directing system that allows an outdoor heat exchanger to be switchable between a single-pass arrangement and a two-pass arrangement. The heat pump system includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a flow directing system of check valves and piping segments that enable switching of the outdoor heat exchanger between the single-pass and the two-pass arrangement. The outdoor heat exchanger is operable as a two-pass condenser in the cooling mode and as a single-pass evaporator in the heating mode.

Heat exchanger

A coolant cooler has a cooling block formed by tubes arranged parallel to one another. The tubes form multiple first flow ducts through which a first fluid can flow. In regions between the tubes multiple second flow ducts are formed through which a second fluid can flow. The coolant cooler includes a first collecting box on which a first fluid inlet is arranged and a second collecting box on which a first fluid outlet is arranged. The first flow ducts are in fluid communication with a first cooling circuit via the first fluid inlet, the first fluid outlet, and the collecting boxes. The first or second collecting box has a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet such that the second fluid inlet, the respective collecting box, and the second fluid outlet are in fluid communication with a second cooling circuit.

Heat exchanger

A coolant cooler has a cooling block formed by tubes arranged parallel to one another. The tubes form multiple first flow ducts through which a first fluid can flow. In regions between the tubes multiple second flow ducts are formed through which a second fluid can flow. The coolant cooler includes a first collecting box on which a first fluid inlet is arranged and a second collecting box on which a first fluid outlet is arranged. The first flow ducts are in fluid communication with a first cooling circuit via the first fluid inlet, the first fluid outlet, and the collecting boxes. The first or second collecting box has a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet such that the second fluid inlet, the respective collecting box, and the second fluid outlet are in fluid communication with a second cooling circuit.