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MULTI-ZONE HVAC
Abstract: Natural tracking control, a new control algorithm and technique, is anticipated to provide low cost, yet superior control of indoor environmental spaces in buildings. Natural tracking control, as applied to natural trackable systems, forces the exponential, elementwise tracking of desired outputs. In the case of interior space these may be zone temperature setpoints and boiler temperature setpoints. Under natural tracking control there is the forced exponential reduction of the individual tracking errors so that the system output tracking errors are reduced towards zero no matter what the commands or system disturbances. It is obvious that superior control of interior spaces will allow for a lower overall setpoint of zone temperatures in addition to the superior control of the boiler temperature; both will lower energy cost. Natural tracking control does not require the a priori knowledge of the setpoints and does not require the measurement of the internal dynamics of the heating system or the external disturbances. The use of natural tracking control will allow for the integration of control system design and interior environment performance; reduce the requirements for system identification; force the following of setpoints no matter what the weather; and reduce the overall energy cost. The performance of natural tracking control is compared to an industry standard method of control by simulation of a multi-variable, multi-zone heating system with representative load disturbances and setpoint variations over a seven day week.
Abstract: It is proposed to study the feasibility of defining and developing a modular, RECONFIGURABLE synchrotron beamline for X-ray analytical services, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The objectives of this research and development are: (1) reduce the reconfiguration and setup time for analytical beamlines while (2) expanding the analytical functions of the beamline yet (3) provide superior performance. The target customer for analytical services are those academic and industrial organizations not "skilled in the art" in the use of synchrotron radiation. Customers shall be offered, through the beamlines proposed, low cost access to synchrotron services while at the same time minimizing the impact on the synchrotron facility. A major portion of the Phase I research is to determine the match among customer expectations for analytical services, synchrotron capabilities at potential installation sites, and a profitable beamline system configuration. The means to achieve these ends includes designing and configuring a modular, reconfigurable beamline which uses modular, multi degree-of-freedom systems for mirror/crystal/specimen/detector positioners and sensors. These systems shall be controlled by global coordinate oriented, high-level, user friendly operator interfaces and servo systems. Systems configured from Phase I of this project would be further defined, constructed and installed in Phase II of this research at an existing synchrotron radiation source, and analytical services shall be offered for commercial and academic clients. It is anticipated that the Phase I research will define a superior performance, commercially viable analytical beamline. The potential commercial applications include (1) the design, construction, duplication and sales of general purpose devices for synchrotrons, and (2) the commercially offering of general purpose analysis techniques such as absorption spectroscopy and powder diffraction.
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