ASHRAE RP-1455

Advanced Control Sequences for HVAC Systems

Phase I: Air Distribution and Terminal Systems

Mark Hydeman, PE
mhydeman@taylor-engineering.com

Brent Eubanks, PE
beubanks@taylor-engineering.com

Taylor Engineering Alameda, CA

What is RP-1455?

Standardized control sequences. Best-in-class performance. Suitable for most built-up systems with

an EMCS.

What is RP-1455?

Not intended for package units. Not intended for least-first-cost systems (e.g. sensor points).

National applicability (e.g. Title 24 or

ASHRAE Standard 62 ventilation rules)

What is RP-1455?

Phase 1 addresses airside only. Possible Phase 2 for plant sequences. Derived from two dozen different sets of

sequences.

Also includes fault detection and alarm

suppression based on NIST work.

Why RP-1455?

Sequences are critical to performance. Sequences are hard to do well. Sequences are often neglected until the

end of CDs.

Most sequences do similar things, but

everyones are slightly different.

Why RP-1455?

Computers are stupid, so sequences must be unambiguous.

Poor sequences Control contractor confusion Control contractor guessing Creative interpretations

Unexpected results

How will RP-1455 be used?

English-language sequences will be published as an ASHRAE Guideline, available for anyones use.

ALC has implemented them for plugand-play.

Other vendors are encouraged.

What does RP-1455 Cover?

Sequences for VAV AHU serving multiple zones, with various options. Terminal units:

VAV, cooling-only or reheat Dual-duct, with inlet or discharge sensors Series fan-powered, constant speed fan Parallel fan-powered, constant or variable fan

Single Zone VAV AHU to be added later, after field testing.

Points Lists, with Options

Control Diagrams

English Language Pseudocode

Control Graphs
(illustrating pseudocode)

Plug-and-Play Variables, for ALC

What is Unusual in RP-1455?

Dual-Maximum VAV box control Automatic Fault Detection and Diagnostics (AFDD) for AHUs (only)

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Demand-Based Setpoint Reset by Trim

& Respond.

Dual Max VAV Control

Dual Max VAV Control

Saves energy by minimizing reheat

Heating Max CFM is lower than Cooling

Max CFM In heating, increase temperature first, then airflow.

Required by code in California, but still not very common.

What is Unusual in RP-1455?

Dual-Maximum VAV box control Automatic Fault Detection and Diagnostics (AFDD) for AHUs (only)

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Demand-Based Setpoint Reset by Trim

& Respond.

AFDD: Automatic Fault Detection & Diagnostics

Based on research by House, Bushby and Schein at NIST in 2000-2006. Only for air handlers (APAR). VAV box

FDD (VPACC) requires too much tuning.

Finds fault and diagnosis by evaluating

equations (mostly energy balance).

AFDD Fault Conditions

AFDD Equations Depend on AHU Operating State

AFDD Equations Depend on AHU Operating State

What is Unusual in RP-1455?

Dual-Maximum VAV box control

Automatic Fault Detection and

Diagnostics (AFDD) for AHUs (only)

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Demand-Based Setpoint Reset by Trim

& Respond.

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Nuisance alarms are a huge problem for operators. If upstream equipment (e.g. AHU) and

downstream equipment (e.g. VAV

boxes) are both in alarm, this

suppresses downstream alarms.

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Must define upstream/downstream relationships for air, coolth, and heat. Upstream equipment passes OK token

to downstream equipment when its

working right. Until getting OK,

downstream alarms are suppressed.

What is Unusual in RP-1455?

Dual-Maximum VAV box control

Automatic Fault Detection and

Diagnostics (AFDD) for AHUs (only)

Hierarchical Alarm Suppression

Demand-Based Setpoint Reset by

Trim & Respond.

Demand-Based Reset of Setpoints by Trim & Respond

Used to reset e.g. static pressure or supply air temperature setpoints based on zone demand.

Zones issue requests based on zone temperature, or damper/valve position.

Uses minimum energy to satisfy zones.

Demand-Based Reset of Setpoints by Trim & Respond

Every timecycle (user defined) setpoint is reduced (trim). Then setpoint is increased (respond)

proportional to number of zone requests.

Controlled variable experiences slow,

shallow cycles as demand changes.

Trim & Respond is More Stable and Easier to Tune than PID
PID control based on valve position

T&R control based on valve position

Other Advantages of Trim & Respond

Trim slowly and respond quickly. (PID goes up or down at the same rate.) Ignore requests to nullify rogue zones.

Increase importance of a critical zone.

Generate extra requests if far off of

setpoint.

Q&A
Please submit questions via the Chat box

Look for menu at the top center of your

screen (it will expand down when you move your mouse over it) and select Chat box Send questions to All Panelists