OpenBuildingControl

This documentation is a working document for the design, development and implementation of the OpenBuildingControl software.

The document is work in progress, used as a discussion basis, and any of the design may change. To edit the document, go to https://github.com/lbl-srg/obc/tree/master/specification.

• 1. Preamble
  • 1.1. Purpose of the Document
• 2. Conventions
• 3. Process Workflow
• 4. Use Cases
  • 4.1. Controls Design
    • 4.1.1. Loading a Standard Sequence from a Library
    • 4.1.2. Customizing a Control Sequence for an HVAC System
    • 4.1.3. Customizing and Configuring a Control Sequence for a Single-Zone VAV System
    • 4.1.4. Customizing and Configuring a Control Sequence for a Multizone VAV System
    • 4.1.5. Performance Assessment of a Control Sequence
    • 4.1.6. Defining Integration with non-HVAC Systems such as Lighting, Façade and Presence Detection
  • 4.2. Bidding and BAS Implementation
    • 4.2.1. Generate Control Point Schedule from Sequences
  • 4.3. Commissioning, Operation, and Maintenance
    • 4.3.1. Conducting Verification Test of a VAV Cooling-Only Terminal Unit
    • 4.3.2. As-Built Sequence Generator
• 5. Requirements
  • 5.1. Controls Design Tool
  • 5.2. CDL
  • 5.3. Commissioning and Functional Verification Tool
• 6. Software Architecture
  • 6.1. Controls Design Tool
  • 6.2. Functional Verification Tool
• 7. Control Description Language
  • 7.1. Introduction
  • 7.2. Overview of CDL and Terminology
  • 7.3. Syntax
  • 7.4. Permissible Data Types
    • 7.4.1. Data Types
    • 7.4.2. Parameters
    • 7.4.3. Constants
    • 7.4.4. Arrays
  • 7.5. Encapsulation of Functionality
  • 7.6. Elementary Blocks
  • 7.7. Instantiation
    • 7.7.1. Parameter Declaration and Assigning of Values to Parameters
    • 7.7.2. Functions
    • 7.7.3. Evaluation of Assignment of Values to Parameters
    • 7.7.4. Conditionally Removing Instances
    • 7.7.5. Point list
  • 7.8. Connectors
  • 7.9. Equations
  • 7.10. Connections
  • 7.11. Annotations
  • 7.12. Composite Blocks
  • 7.13. Extension Blocks
  • 7.14. Replaceable Blocks
  • 7.15. Model of Computation
  • 7.16. Metadata
    • 7.16.1. Inferred Properties
    • 7.16.2. Semantic Information
• 8. Documentation of Control Sequences
  • 8.1. Introduction
  • 8.2. Editing a Sequence that is Specified in a Word Document
  • 8.3. Exporting the Control Logic from a CDL Model
• 9. Controls Library
  • 9.1. Introduction
  • 9.2. CDL Library
  • 9.3. Library of Control Sequences
• 10. Code Generation
  • 10.1. Introduction
  • 10.2. Challenges and Implications for Translation of Control Sequences from and to Building Control Product Lines
  • 10.3. Translation of a Control Sequence using a JSON Intermediate Format
  • 10.4. Export of a Control Sequence or a Verification Test using the FMI Standard
  • 10.5. Modular Export of a Control Sequence using the FMI Standard for Control Blocks and using the SSP Standard for the Run-time Environment
  • 10.6. Replacement of Elementary CDL Blocks during Translation
    • 10.6.1. Substitutions that Give Identical Control Response
    • 10.6.2. Substitutions that Change the Control Response
    • 10.6.3. Adding Blocks that are not in the CDL Library
• 11. Verification
  • 11.1. Introduction
  • 11.2. Terminology
  • 11.3. Scope of the Verification
  • 11.4. Methodology
  • 11.5. Modules of the Verification Test
    • 11.5.1. CSV File Reader
    • 11.5.2. Unit Conversion
    • 11.5.3. Comparison of Time Series Data
    • 11.5.4. Verification of Sequence Diagrams
  • 11.6. Example
  • 11.7. Specification for Automating the Verification
    • 11.7.1. Use Cases
    • 11.7.2. Scenario 1: Control Input Obtained by Simulating a CDL Model
    • 11.7.3. Scenario 2: Control Input Obtained by Trending a Real Controller
• 12. Generating a Modelica Model from Semantic Model
  • 12.1. Workflow
  • 12.2. Example
• 13. Example Application
  • 13.1. Introduction
  • 13.2. Methodology
    • 13.2.1. HVAC Model
    • 13.2.2. Envelope Heat Transfer
    • 13.2.3. Internal Loads
    • 13.2.4. Multi-Zone Air Exchange
    • 13.2.5. Control Sequences
    • 13.2.6. Site Electricity Use
    • 13.2.7. Simulations
  • 13.3. Performance Comparison
  • 13.4. Improvement to Guideline 36 Specification
    • 13.4.1. Freeze Protection for Mixed Air Temperature
    • 13.4.2. Deadbands for Hard Switches
    • 13.4.3. Averaging Air Flow Measurements
    • 13.4.4. Cross-Referencing and Modularization
    • 13.4.5. Lessons Learned Regarding the Simulations
  • 13.5. Discussion and Conclusions
• 14. Glossary
• 15. Acknowledgments
• 16. References