Teaching Improved Methods of Tuning and Adjusting HVAC Control Systems

This 11-page report available through the Building Efficiency for a Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST) National Center website summarizes the findings of an NSF ATE funded project to develop a "commonly understood, scientific means of field testing HVAC system control performance." The project originated in a previous grant for developing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Control educational materials, which, while successful, left investigators curious about the possibilities of developing an alternative to current data collection methods that would be less expensive and more standardized.

The resulting Teaching Improved Methods of Tuning and Adjusting HVAC Control Systems project had four goals: 1) Develop a robust method of data collection in the field independent of the manufacturer and model of controller found on the job; 2) Keep the cost of such data collection equipment under $1000; 3) Allow the method to be deployed by an educated control technician rather than requiring the expertise of a control engineer; and 4) Develop an instructional learning module for use in the classroom with which to educate and train the HVAC student in the art of control loop tuning. This report summarizes those efforts, including an introduction and background for the project; the approach utilized to achieve project goals and the execution, including practical considerations of hardware and field application; and project deliverables.