Will Lora replace 4G LTE in IoT

Will Lora replace 4G LTE in IoT 

LoRa (Long Range) and 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) are both used in the Internet of Things (IoT) space, but they cater to different requirements and use cases. Whether LoRa will replace 4G LTE in IoT depends on the specific needs of the IoT application. Here are some key considerations:

Range and Power Consumption:

LoRa: LoRa is known for its long-range capabilities and low power consumption. It is suitable for applications where devices are spread out over a wide area and need to communicate over long distances with minimal power usage.

4G LTE: LTE is designed for higher data rates and is well-suited for applications that require faster communication speeds. However, LTE may consume more power compared to LoRa.

Data Rate:

LoRa: Offers relatively low data rates suitable for applications with sporadic and small data transmission requirements, such as sensor readings and status updates.

4G LTE: Provides higher data rates, making it suitable for applications with more frequent and data-intensive communication needs.

Infrastructure and Cost:

LoRa: Typically has a lower infrastructure cost, making it a cost-effective choice for large-scale deployments where devices are spread out over a wide area.

4G LTE: Requires more extensive infrastructure and may involve higher costs, but it offers faster and more reliable connectivity.

Application Requirements:

LoRa: Commonly used in scenarios like agriculture, smart cities, and industrial IoT where long-range communication and low power consumption are critical.

4G LTE: Preferred for applications requiring higher bandwidth, mobility support, and faster data transfer, such as connected vehicles or video surveillance.

Conclusions

In many cases, these technologies can complement each other within an IoT ecosystem. Hybrid solutions that leverage both LoRa for low-power, long-range communication and 4G LTE for higher bandwidth and mobility are not uncommon.

Ultimately, the choice between LoRa and 4G LTE in IoT depends on the specific needs and priorities of the application, including factors such as range, data rate, power consumption, and cost.

The following is a list of top 10 countries/territories by 4G LTE coverage as measured by OpenSignal.com in February/March 2019:

The LoRa Alliance is an open, non-profit association whose stated mission is to support and promote the global adoption of the LoRaWAN standard for massively scaled IoT deployments, as well as deployments in remote or hard-to-reach locations.

DDC in BMS System

 DDC or Direct Digital Controller in BMS System

What is DDC ?

To understand the DDC, we need to know a little bit of history about what was the things before the DDC invention and why it was invented? So that we can have a broader view of the primary purpose of DDCs.

The Programmable Logic Controller or PLC used to control and monitor the Process mainly in the industry like automobile and other manufacturing factories.

Richard Morley invented PLC in 1968 to fulfil the primary needs of control and protect the production capacity of machines and manufacturing lines in the industry, and this PLC used initially was in the area of transfer lines in automotive plants.

Due to these PLC or Programmable logic controllers were designed and invented mainly for controlling and monitoring or automating the productions in the industry.

But when it comes to buildings, this PLC cannot fulfil the exact needs in terms of tenants comfort, environmentally green or can say effective management system for buildings. And still, we can use PLC for Building automation whereas it will be an excessive investment and different performance.

So here DDC or direct digital controller invented in order the process and automated the building equipment needs almost which PLC can do with minimal investment from installation to engineering.

What is the Main Difference between PLC and DDC?

What is DDC or Direct Digital Controller?

In a nutshell, DDC is a controller which use the analogue or digital signals from various devices of a field sensor and actuators and then process and control the system based on the programme written inside the controllers and has the capability to sends the information to another controller or DDC.

Basic Features of DDC

·       DDC or Direct digital controller usually has the followings features

·       The Analogue Inputs is to monitors the fields sensors values.

·       Digital Inputs to monitors the on/off status from switches/contactors.

·       The analogue output is to control the field actuators devices.
Digital Output is to control relay or provide low voltages.

·       DDC must have internal ROM/RAM to store control logic and sensor values.

·       It must have networking protocols inbuilt to transfer the data between the devices.

·       Modern DDC controller should have the capability to implement BACnet protocols for communication.

Note that there are various DDC controllers available in the market from the different manufacturer and those DDCs are available with a variety of function and features based on the specific needs like controller has all inputs/outputs like Analog inputs, Digital input, analogue output and digital output and some controller has only digital/analogue inputs.

Let us see below DDC Controller

·       Eleven 10-bit universal inputs whereas we connect either analogue input or digital input using a jumper select, eight binary outputs, and eight analogue outputs.

·       Terminal 23,24 used to connect other DDC controller to communicate between devices through BACnet over MSTP.

·       It has non-volatile memory used to store program and work independently.

·       It has the 24vdc used to give power for field devices.

Now Let us see how DDC used to control the BMS System,

Consider the followings scenario which we need to control and monitor through above DDC.

Let us say in Building, we need to control Pump control and control filling sequence through DDC whereas we have 2 Booster pumpS, one is for filling the water tank and other is to pump the water to buildings purpose to tenants like toilet etc.

This two-pump motor is controlled through the pump control panel by manually and it should work automatically based on the following sequence 

·       Pump-1 should run if the water level below the high level and stops once above the high level.

·       Pump-2 should run if the pressure on the supply line lesser than the defines let us say 2.5bar.

·       Pump-2 Should not run if water lesser than the lower level switch even pressure lesser than defined.

So based on the above sequence we will have following parameters to monitor and control

·       Booster pump-1 Run status from control panel-Binary Input

·       Booster pump-1 Run command from control panel-Binary output

·       Booster pump-2 Run status from control panel-Binary Input

·       Booster pump-2 Run command from control panel-Binary output

·       Water Low-Level status-Binary Input

·       Water High-Level status-Binary input

·       Liquid pressure on supply line-Analog Input

Let us connect the above points in DDC Controllers as follows

BP-1 Run sts- IN-1

BP-2 Run sts- IN-2

Low-Level Sts- IN-3

High-Level Sts-IN-4

Liquid Pressure-IN-5

BP-1 Run Command-BO-0

Bp-2 Run Command-BO-1

 

Logic will be as follows to execute the above sequence

 

If IN4==1        ##(means lesser than high-level status)

then

BP1=1             ##(On Pump)

else                 ##(means above than high-level status)    

BP1=0             ##(Off-Pump)

endif

 

If (IN5<2.5 and IN4==1)    ##( if pressure lesser than 2.5bar and water above the low-level sts)

then BP2=1     ##(on Pump)

else

BP2=0             ##(Off-Pump)

endif

 

Note that this program may change for each vendor controllers.

Not only this small sequence but also DDC can execute complex and critical sequence in BMS System for HVAC.

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