HVAC Control in the New Millennium.pdf - HVAC.Amickracing

HVAC Control in the New MillenniumBuilding Automation and the InternetBuilding automation systems are also using the Internet. Systemsthat work with the Internet take building automation systems (BAS) online.An interoperable BAS system can send out signals through the Internetto a PC that the HVAC equipment is not working properly. Problemscan then be acknowledged and corrected remotely. Weather informationcould also be gathered from the Internet and downloaded to a buildingsystem, which could then adjust the buildings’ systems accordingly.The Internet connection could also be used to check utility pricesacross the nation on a regular basis and make adjustments according toa building’s needs.Interoperability provides the ability to combine products frommultiple vendors into flexible, functional systems without the need todevelop custom hardware, software, or tools.Wireless TechnologyWireless technology will be everywhere in the future, and is likely tobe prevalent in building automation. There are smart vending machinesthat are equipped with wireless modems that notify the warehouse whenstocks are depleted, eliminating the need for costly, on-site time-intensiveinventory checks. Portable ticket stations, which are terminals linked toprinters via wireless modems, are found in many airports.The type of wireless technology used depends on the maximum distancebetween the home base and the remote site. If you are roaming abuilding, wireless extensions, such as bridges or routers, can link you to alocal area network. To cover a wider area, such as a campus or buildingcomplex, a series of LANs using wireless extensions can be used to transferany kind of data. In other cases, infrared or low-power radio equipmentlinking one PC to a portable computer may be used.Wireless technologies run the gamut from those based on radio frequenciesand cellular technologies to newer technology such as cellulardigital packet data (CDPD) which is a digital alternative to analog-basedcellular communication technology. Any type of information that can betransmitted wirelessly can be sent over a coaxial cable or a telephone line.One of the most commonly known wireless technologies dependson radio frequency (RF) signals, which send and receive data using low-©2001 by The Fairmont Press, Inc. All rights reserved.