Tool Will Diagnose Out-of-Control Buildings to Get HVAC Back on Track
Data analysis will alert building operators when there is a problem, suggest options for fixing it
PHILADELPHIA — Operating a building requires not only striking the perfect balance between heating, cooling and ventilation, but also maintaining and repairing the equipment that allows this equilibrium to exist. As part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), researchers from Drexel University are working on a cloud-based data analysis tool that could help consolidate these labors while also spotting undetected problems that lead to wasted energy and poor IAQ.
Jin Wen, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Engineering and co-director of the Building Science & Engineering Group, is developing a tool that can analyze the big data generated by various components in building control systems — i.e., thermostats, air and water flow sensors, and energy meters — alert building operators when there is a problem, which is often difficult to notice without assistance, and suggest options for fixing it. The goal is not only to ensure comfort for building occupants, but also reduce inefficient energy use.