Application of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) Technologies in Optimal Static Pressure Reset in Variable Air Volume (VAV) System

Abstract

Optimization of the static pressure reset is always critical in the pursuit of maximum savings of fan power and thermal energy consumption in a VAV system. This paper theoretically investigated three static pressure reset methods, i.e. VAV terminal unit damper position based, outside air temperature based and air flow based, and proposed an optimal static pressure reset method. Subsequently, hourly simulations of a building in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, was implemented and validated that the VAV system with the optimal reset method could consume the least fan energy without sacrificing thermal comfort. Furthermore, in consideration of typical advantages of wireless technologies compared with traditional direct digital control (DDC) in building control systems, this paper also proposed a new control strategy combining with the WSN and the damper position based reset method, i.e. cascade VAV optimal control strategy.