ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Technical Workshop

Fundamentals of HVAC
Control Systems
18, 19, 25, 26 April 2007

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 1

 Chapter 4
Sensors and Auxiliary Devices

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 2

 Control System Components

1. Sensing elements
Temperature, humidity/moisture, pressure, flow, proof of
operation (e.g. for safety interlock)
2. Transducers
Convert (change) sensor inputs and controller outputs
from one analogue form to another, more usable,
analogue form, e.g. pressure-to-voltage
3. Controllers
Receive inputs from sensors
Compares the input signal with the setpoint
Generates an output signal to operate a controlled
device

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 3

 Control System Components

4. Actuators
A device that converts electric or pneumatic energy into
a rotary or linear action, e.g. for valves and dampers
(can be pneumatic or electrical controlled)
5. Auxiliary elements
Transducers to convert signals from one type to another
(e.g. from pneumatic to electric)
Relays and switches to manipulate signals, electric
power and compressed air supplies to power the control
system
Indicating devices to facilitate monitoring of control
system activity

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 4

[Source: Honeywell, 1997. Engineering Manual of Automatic Control: for Commercial Buildings]

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 5

[Source: Honeywell, 1997. Engineering Manual of Automatic Control: for Commercial Buildings]

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 6

 Types of Sensors

Temperature sensors
Humidity sensors
Pressure sensors
Flow sensors

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 7

 Types of Temperature Sensors
Bimetallic
Fluid expansion
Seebeck effect
Electrical resistance

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 8

[Source: Honeywell, 1997. Engineering Manual of Automatic Control: for Commercial Buildings]
2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 9
 Bimetallic Temperature Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 10

 Mercury Switch

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 11

 Rod-and-Tube Sensors

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 12

 Capillary Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 13

 Types of Humidity Sensors

Relative humidity sensors

Mechanical sensors
Resistance-type sensors
Capacitance-type sensors
Dewpoint temperature sensors
Saturated salt solution type
Chilled mirror type
Wetbulb temperature sensors
Psychrometers

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 14

 Chilled Mirror Dewpoint Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 15

 Moisture Sensing Elements

Mechanical expand and contract as the

moisture level change (hygroscopic),
e.g. nylon
Electronic change in either the
resistance or capacitance of the element
Can be affected by temperature changes
Temperature compensation may be needed
A dew point sensor senses dew point
directly or detects condensation on a
cooled surface

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 16

[Source: Honeywell, 1997. Engineering Manual of Automatic Control: for Commercial Buildings]
2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 17
 Types of Pressure Sensors

Bourdon tube
Spiral tube
Diaphragm sensor
Strain gauge

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 18

 Bourdon Tube Pressure Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 19

 Diaphragm Pressure Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 20

 Flow Sensors

Sense the rate of liquid and gas flow

Flow is difficult to sense accurately under all conditions
Selecting the best flow-sensing technique
for an application requires considering
many aspects
Level of accuracy required
The medium being measured
The degree of variation in the measured flow

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 21

[Source: Honeywell, 1997. Engineering Manual of Automatic Control: for Commercial Buildings]

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 22

 Types of Flow Sensors

Differential pressure flow sensors

Displacement flow sensors
Passive flow sensors
Mass flow sensors

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 23

 Orifice Plate Flow Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 24

 Venturi Flow Meter

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 25

 Pitot Tube Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 26

 Air Flow Measuring Station

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 27

 Averaging, Pipe-Mounted
Pitot Meter

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 28

 Annubar Flow Sensor

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 29

 Paddle Flow Switch

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 30

 Inline Turbine Flow Meter

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 31

 Target Meter

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 32

 Ultrasonic Meter

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 33

 Thermal Anemometer

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 34

 Flow Measurement Devices

Selecting flow measurement devices

Ref.: see the technical article
Spitzer, D. W., 2002. Selecting flow measurement
devices, HPAC Engineering, 74 (12): 52-59.
What flow meters measure (volume/mass)
Chilled water flow meters
Differential pressure
Magnetic
Turbine
Ultrasonic
Vortex shedding & fluidic
Selection criteria & considerations

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 35

 Types of Auxiliary Devices

Relays
Fan and pump status switches
Timeclocks
Wind-up timers
Limit switches
Manual switches
High and low limit switches
Fire and smoke detectors
Indicating lights
Audible alarms
Monitoring instrumentation

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 36

 Time-Delay Relay Wiring

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 37

 Limit Switch

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 38

 Manual Rotary
Switch Configurations

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 39

 Duct Smoke Detector

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 40

 Alarm Horn and Light

2007 ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter Slide 41