Understand the Basic concept of BMS system

Understand the Basic concept of BMS system 

What is a BMS or Building Management System?
In a nutshell, BMS otherwise called as BAS or building automation is computer-based control system which reduces the manpower, automate the system, and saving the energy consumption in building by monitoring and controlling the mechanical and electrical equipment in modern day buildings or any industrial plants.
Not only that but BMS helps to
·        Increasing productivity.
·        Increasing the equipment lifetime and better performance.
·        Identifying the systems faults earliest.
·        Managing the hotel tenants in an effective manner.
Nowadays any modern-day buildings built with BMS to support facilities management to accomplish the maintenance and save the energy in building from one place of computers.

Any BMS software or system must provide the following facility to the operator

• Monitoring and controlling connected equipment in the building. 

• The alarm should be a popup in operator workstation for any critical faults in the system. 

• Any types of equipment on, off status and alarm should be logged or stored in PC to retrieve later.

• Scheduling the equipment to on and off automatically by preset time. 

• User interface graphics should be available in order to visualize the field equipment to monitor for BMS operator easily. 

BMS or BAS system monitor and/or controls the following system in buildings

• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning or all supply and exhaust fans, ACs etc). 
• Lighting control system. 
• Fire alarm system. 
• Firefighting system. 
• Security control system. 
• CCTV system.
• Lift control system. 
• Pumping system. 
• Water tanks level. 
• Irrigation system. 
• Electrical meters.
• Water Leak detection system.
• Split units. 
• UPS units.
• VFD-Variable frequency drives. 
• VRF/VRV-Variable refrigerant flow or volume (both are same but each term copyrighted by a different vendor) 
• And any other system which has provision for BMS to control and monitor. 

Main components of the BMS System

1.     Hardware
·        DDC-Direct digital controller
·        Sensors
·        Actuators
·        Cables to connect sensors, actuators to DDC.
·        HMI display-Human machine interface.
·        PC Workstation
·        Server to save the large database.

2. Software

3. Networking protocols

·        Programming or configuration tools.
·        Graphics or User interface.
·        TCP/IP– Transfer control protocols/Internet Protocol.
·        BACnet– Building automation controller network-ASHRAE
·        Modbus
·        LONworks
·        CANbus
·        and numerous protocols available.
Don’t worry about the various protocols, this all protocol doing the same task to transfer data from one device to another device. 

BMS System architecture in the modern-day building

However, BMS System controls and monitor all the electrical and mechanical systems in buildings from BMS workstation or HMI(Human Machine Interfaces), but not directly because each system has its own functionality and unique purpose like

• HVAC System helps to facilitate and provide comfortable and healthy air conditioning to tenants.
• The lighting control system which has a variety of lightings in buildings that needs to be on and off effectively and save energy while tenants not available.
• CCTV helps to facility management to secure the building
• Access control systems may also be used to control access into certain areas located within the interior of buildings.
• A fire alarm system is the life safety system to warn people by audio and visual to protect their lives from fires, smoke, carbon mono oxide and other toxic elements for the human.
• In case of fire Firefighting system aims to protect human life and property in the building by a large amount of water and other gas.
• UPS is to provide to the uninterrupted power supply in the building for electrical equipment.
• Pumping system used in the building to pump the water to the required area.
• still tons of systems evolved in the modern-day building to facilitate the people.

All systems have its own controllers and processing system due to the different functionality of each system.

So BMS controllers or device designed for controlling and monitoring the HVAC system and other small systems and integrate all other systems through dedicated networking protocols like BACnet, Modbus etc.

General BMS System architecture with Levels

• Management Level: This is the front end for operator and engineer used to visualize the graphics for controlling and monitoring the systems which have computer workstation, server, web browser, printers.

• Automation Level: BMS Router and other main controllers connected in building network integrate third-party system and connect BMS devices

• Field devices Level: this is Level where BMS controllers connect to field systems sensors, actuators, and other panel circuits to monitor and control.

Simple Real Time example for BMS System

Any modern day building client provides huge specifications for BMS System, whereas here I am going to take simple requirement to monitor and control the sequence of Air Handling unit. 

Let us see below the requirement of the client to monitor and control the sequence in BMS System.

Before we go detailed about how to design the BMS System for the requirement. let us see some basics components of the AHU-Air handling unit.

AHU is an HVAC system which consists of the duct, fan, filter, cooling coil, heating element,humidifier, sound attenuators, dampers, valves and many more to regulate the air into the room by heating, ventilation and conditioning to distributes the conditioned air through the building and returns it to the AHU and also called as centralised AC in modern-day building.

Duct – It is the collection of metallic tubes that interconnected and distributes the heated/cooled air to the required rooms.

In order to monitor the duct air temperature in fresh, return and supply duct. we have to install the duct temperature sensor in the duct.

Fan Motor– Blower is used to circulate the air from fresh and return duct to the supply duct.

This fan motor controlled and monitored by the separate electrical panel by the designed electrical circuit with help of electrical relay and contactor and providing an option to BMS system to

• On/Off the fan.

• Monitor the fan running status.

• Monitor the Fan motor overload fault status and many more.

Filter– It is one of the main components in AHU to prevent the dust and dirt particles to enter in the AHU.

When the AHU fan motor started, the fresh outside air supplied into the duct where filter components used to filter the dirty particles continuously and in order to monitor the filter extreme dirty condition,

DPS switch is used to install across the filter and provide a signal to BMS when the filter gets dirty(technically DPS-Differential pressure switch will send the signal to BMS when the pressure reached more than pre-set across the filter and this same function can be used to monitor the fan status.

Now we Read about How DPS used to monitor fan and filter status

Heating/Cooling element- It is used to cool or heat the water that entered in the coil so that air in the duct can be heated or cooled based on the user requirement.

Either heating or cooling water enters into the coils are controlled and monitored by valves on the pipe with help of valve actuator.

Dampers- An HVAC damper is a movable plate, located in the ductwork, that regulates airflow and directs it to areas that need it most.

Damper opening and closing position controlled electrically with the help of damper actuators and this actuators have terminal for control from BMS and terminal to monitor the feedback of position.

System Description:

The variable speeds Air Handling Units are used to serve air conditioning need for all area of buildings

The Air Handling Unit comprises:

·        Variable Speed Supply Fan

·        Chilled water coil with the 2-Way modulating control valve

·        Duct mounted supply air pressure sensor

·        Outdoor & re-circulating Air modulating damper

·        Carbon dioxide sensor.

·        Supply and Return Air temperature sensors

·        Supply air differential pressure switch

·        Differential pressure switches for 2 set of filters

System Monitoring and Alarm:

      ·        Software alarms shall be generated at the operator workstation whenever the run status of the supply fan (with differential pressure switch) does not match the current command state.
·        A failure alarm shall occur when the run status of the load shows no operation and the load has been commanded to be on.
·        An advisory alarm shall occur when the run status of the load shows operation and the load has been commanded to be off. All alarms shall be recorded in an alarm log for future review. Provide 15 seconds (adjustable) time delays before generating an alarm.

The sequence of Operation

a. Auto Mode:

When the AHU start is in AUTO mode (i.e. selector switch installed in the MCC must be in Auto Position), the unit is started and stopped from the BMS via a time schedule or BMS override command. When the start for the AHU is initiated, the control program residing in the controller follows the following sequence

Start-Up:

The following sequence follows with a preset time interval per interlock equipment start-up:
1) Check Supply fan trip signal – Normal State
2) Supply Air Damper –Open Position
3) Outdoor Air Damper –Open Position
4) Return Air Damper – Open Position

5) Once the above conditions are satisfied, AHU is enabled to start in Auto mode or using a plant enable button on the graphics in manual mode by the operator. Once enabled, BMS will automatically command supply fan to start.

6) Supply Fan shall start and it’s associated Interlock equipment in sequence. Through the signal from the Diff. Airflow Switch, if airflow is detected, the System will continuously run, if No airflow is detected by the DP Switch, the Supply Fan will de-activated and send an Alarm to the DDC – for “No Airflow” and shut down the whole system including its associated interlocks. If the Air flow switch signal is proved ‘ON’ then BMS will enable control loops.

b. Shutdown Mode:

When the shutdown command for the AHU is initiated, the control program residing in the controller follows the following sequence.
1) Send Stop command to stop the supply fan
2) The outdoor air, return and supply air damper move to close
3) Move chilled water valve to close position

c. Manual (Hand) Mode:

When the AHU is the manual mode, the fans are started and stopped from the AHU control panel. Other control except for fan on/off control shall function as per the Auto mode.

d. Fire / Smoke Mode:

Fire condition is determined by the Fire Alarm Control Panel. AHU will automatically shutdowns the whole system with associated interlocks.

AHU Control

The control program, on the feedback of air handling unit operation, initiates the control algorithm. This algorithm consists of three controls. Each temperature, pressure and ventilation control has its own control loop. The pressure control loop is used to modulate the speed of the supply air fan hence supply air flow. The control loops design to function as per following explanation:

a. Temperature Control loop:

The supply air temperature installed in the duct will relay the measured signal (temperature) to the DDC controller, the DDC controller compares this signal with set-point (adjustable by the operator from BMS central) and generates an analog output to the 2-way modulating cooling valve. Based on the difference between the two values, a proportional-integral program will determine the percentage of the cooling coil valves opening to achieve the desired condition. The default set-point value for the supply air temperature is 13ºC (Adjustable).

b. Pressure Control loop:

The supply air pressure sensor shall be installed in the duct  will relay the measured signal (static pressure) to the DDC controller, the DDC controller compares this signal with the set-point (adjustable by the operator from BMS central) and generates an analog output to the variable frequency drive (VFD) of the supply air fan. Based on the difference between the two values, a Proportional-Integral program will determine the percentage of the fan speed to achieve the desired pressure. The set-point value for the supply air pressure for each AHU shall be adjusted.

c. Ventilation Control loop:

Demand control ventilation employs return air carbon dioxide controlling strategy.

A single carbon dioxide sensor sense carbon dioxide concentration in the return air duct and sent to the DDC controller, the DDC controller compares the signals with return air carbon dioxide concentration (Default carbon dioxide level difference value 400 ppm).

Then DDC controller generates an analogue output to the outside air dampers and returns air damper to modulate, based on the difference between the values, the Proportional integral program will determine the percentage of the modulation of outdoor and return air dampers.

Minimum outdoor air quantity shall be governed either by building pressurization requirement (Input from Building differential pressure sensor) or 20% of the Maximum outdoor requirement of the AHU.

Alarms:

The following minimum alarms shall be generated on BMS
1) Filter Dirty Alarm: This is generated when pressure drop on each filter exceeds the set value to indicate dirt accumulate at filters.
2) Fan Trip Alarm: A normally open “NO” volt free contact at the MCC panel when closed will generate an alarm at the BMS indicating that the fan is tripped
3) Fan Fail: In case the supply air fan fails to start or if the differential pressure switch across

supply fan is not giving the signal according to the command due to any reason then alarm shall be generated. In case of a fan fail alarm on the BMS, due to abnormal behaviour, the DDC controller will latch the alarm. The operator has to acknowledge (reset) the alarm on the BMS once the trouble has been checked and removed. The operator shall not be able to start the AHU until the alarm s acknowledged and reset.

4) Temperature High & Low: Temperature HIGH and LOW alarms shall be generated if the supply/return air temperature rises above or falls below the supply /return air temperature alarm limit.

List of Input and output points are required for the above-discussed sequence of operation for AHU

Some basic terms of digital electronics

• Analog Input: Analog inputs can come from a variety of sensors and transmitters. You can measure a whole bunch of different things. The job of the sensor or transmitter is to transform that into an electrical signal. Here are a few of the things you can measure with analog sensors:

·        Level

·        Flow

·        Distance

·        Viscosity

·        Temperature

• Digital Input: It allows a microcontroller to detect logic states either 1 or 0 otherwise called as VFC-Volt free contact.
• Analog Output: In automation and process control applications, the analogue output module transmits analogue signals (voltage or current) that operate controls such as hydraulic actuators, solenoids, and motor starters.
• Binary Output: it is nothing but relay output from the controller to trigger on and off any equipment.

Now its time to choose the DDC controllers based on the above input and output point list.

Any BMS controllers manufacturer must have the basic controllers types of analogue input-output, binary input, and output controllers either dedicated controllers or mixed of all types in a single controller.

For the above applications, we need to choose controllers that should accommodate 17 AI, 6 BI, 5 AO, and 1 BO(Note that temperature and humidity are two different analogue input)

Once controllers are designed, we need to calculate power load for each controller (available in controller datasheet) and field devices to choose the right transformer rating for our DDC panel.

Next things are to write a program for our controllers to accomplish the above sequence,

First, we need to change English words into the flowchart then we can change it later on the different programming language that required for BMS vendors either ladder logic or functional block or plain English and etc.

Whatever it is any BMS program functionality that will not go beyond the basic digital logic gates.

Flowchart for AHU Control sequence of operation

Know about BMS technical protocols

BMS - What you should know about technical protocols

If you or a client is choosing a building management system (or BMS), it’s important to understand how it communicates information with digital devices such as controllers, meters, and input/output boards, and computers.

The details are important because some BMS use languages—or technical protocols—that lock you into using their vendor’s proprietary technology. Use of such protocols may force you and your client to pay higher prices for software and hardware available from only one vendor or its licensees.

This article describes common categories of BMS protocols. It recommends that you avoid proprietary protocols and favor more open ones.

A BMS communicates through protocols

To exchange data, digital devices must use a common data structure and a common channel or medium of communication.

The figure below shows a master BMS that communicates with devices that use microprocessors. They include a roof-top unit (or RTU), refrigeration controllers, energy meters, and other input/output boards within a building. The building controller also uses the Internet to share temperature, operating parameters, or energy data with remote users through enterprise servers or personal computers.

A BMS protocol defines the format and meaning of each data element, in much the same way a dictionary defines the spelling and meaning of words.

The data exchange often occurs through a physical wire such as a twisted-pair RS485 or an Ethernet CAT5 cable). It may also occur wirelessly over wi-fi network, through an internet protocol (or IP).

The phrase “BACNet over IP” means the BACNet protocol communicates through an IP network.

Some protocols are more open than others

Protocols fit in one of four categories, depending on their relative “openness:”

1.       Open. The protocol is readily available to everyone.

2.       Standard. All parties agree to a common data structure. The protocol may be an industry standard, such as BACnet and Modbus.

3.       Inter-operable. The protocol is vendor agnostic. A controller from one vendor can replace one from a different vendor.

4.       Proprietary. The data structure is restricted to the creator of the device.

Why you want BMS with open protocols

A BMS with proprietary protocols locks the system owner into using a single BMS vendor. For example, you can’t remotely change the set points of a proprietary BMS unless you use the vendor’s software.

In contrast, with open and standard BMS protocols you can shop for alternative providers of digital devices and enterprise software.

This is why use of proprietary protocols is inconsistent with best practice. The lesson is clear:

In choosing a BMS, be sure its protocols are not proprietary.

How to know whether a BMS protocol is open

To determine whether a BMS protocol is open, ask the vendor two simple questions:

1.       Can your competitors exchange data with your BMS?

2.   Is the system’s protocol published in such a way that it’s easily accessible to everyone (including competitors)?

Best open protocols: BACNet, Modbus, and XML

For a master controller that exchanges data with devices and meters within a building, prefer the BACNet, Modbus or any other standard protocol. Otherwise, make sure it’s at least open enough so anyone with proper security access can read and write information.

For remote enterprise access (protocol B in the figure), organizations often use BACnet over IP.

The current trend is toward use of additional Internet technologies. Companies like Honeywell Tridium (Niagara framework) and many others have exchanged data through standard internet eXtensible Markup Language (or XML) with web services.

Even the ASHRAE BACNet committee has convened a working group to define use of XML with BACnet systems. The group is also working to define web services that will enable data exchange between building automation and control systems and various enterprise management systems.

Put in short, use these criteria when you’re choosing devices and BMS:

·         For devices such as RTUs and refrigeration controllers, look for ones that use open protocols such as BACnet or Modbus.

·        Make sure these devices give you both “read” and “write” capabilities so you can change set points.

·         For easy enterprise access, choose a BMS with web services and XML capabilities.

·         Make sure the web services of the BMS allow both read and write capabilities.

·      Be sure the BMS supplier provides the XML dictionary and definitions of web services to anyone, including competitors.

 

This Artical published on April 2019 at Safe secure Magazine.