Fume hood exhaust air VAV box, differential pressure sensor, duct area, internal airflow controller, venturi valve (FhVavEh15)

The figure below shows BACnet objects associated with this application function. Primary signal flow is summarized as follows:

Basic function: Fume hood exhaust airflow volume setpoint (FhSpAirFlRelEh OR VavEhSpAirFl) is received and processed into the output signal for VAV exhaust damper position (VavEhPos).

Fume hood mode

The fume hood operating mode is a multistate process value object whos state is determined by the occupancy status of the fume hood, effective administrative mode, the state of the fire alarm, emergency alarm and emergency alarm timer. The fume hood mode is used by the setpoint, VAV, and ODP AFs.

Airflow control with Venturi air valve: The AF has three ways to control airflow with the Venturi valve: PID control, a linear characterization curve, and the linear characterization curve combined with PID control. The user selects the loop control by setting the configuration property (AirFlCtlMod) and by setting up the data table for the characterization curve.

PID control: The PID control will be used when the closed loop configuration is selected and the characterization table has not been configured.

The PID controller is fixed in the modulating mode. Two-position operation, if needed, is achieved by providing a 2-position setpoint signal.

Linear characterization curve: Open loop control, by the 15 point linear characterization curve will be used to position the venturi when open loop control is selected.

Open loop control is also active if the user selects closed loop control and the airflow setpoint equates to an velocity setpoint of less than the minimum control velocity (AirVMinCtlClb). The default setting is 1.778 m/s (350 fpm).

The x and y points for the linear characterization curve can be entered manually or they can be automatically entered by running the venturi calibration.

Linear characterization curve with PID: Combined control applies when configured closed loop control is selected and the characterization curve is configured, and the airflow setpoint, the duct velocity is above the minimum velocity for control.

When the setpoint changes quickly, and both calculation paths respond, the system is likely to overshoot. To reduce this tendency, the setpoint signal to the PID controller is delayed to arrive in synch with change in airflow caused by the open loop actuator movement. For most effective operation, users should adjust the delay (TiConSpAflRel) to correspond to the stroke time of the actuator.

Airflow setpoint: The setpoint AF communicates the relative exhaust airflow setpoint, expressed as a percentage of nominal flow. The minimum and maximum airflow setpoints (VavEhAirFlMin and VavEhAirFlMax) are entered in this AF and provided as outputs for the setpoint AFs to support the possibility of having more than one terminal per fume hood.

Exhaust damper position: The fume hood exhaust damper position (VavEhPos) is an analog value in percent of full open. Its value is determined by the air flow controller (VavEhAirFlCtr) which uses, as one of its inputs, the VAV exhaust relative setpoint arflow (VavEhSpAflRel) present value.

Measured airflow and velocity: Air volume flow (VavEhAirFl) and relative air volume flow (VavSuAirFlRel) is a calculated value, in percent of nominal airflow, from logic that uses the following:

• air velocity sensor signal
• a constant to convert to effective velocity
• flow coefficient value for calibration at user specified airflow setpoint
• duct area in units compatible with the units conversion constant
• nominal airflow value (user entered).
• hood air volume flow value to aid in calculating the correct flow coefficient value

Low sensor value: Configuration settings specify a switch-on point and hysteresis value in units of pressure.

Airflow coefficient: The airflow coefficient is configuration data (VavEhFlCoefCal). Users may enter the coefficient directly or enter their own, independent airflow readings and have the AF calculate and set the flow coefficient.

Duct area calculation: The duct area is calculated based on configuration data.

Supply chain interface: There are two supply chain output signals.

Airflow deviation signal: The supply airflow deviation (VavEhAirFlDvn) signal (in percent) is used for fan speed (static pressure) reset strategies at the air handling unit. It is obtained by measuring the airflow from the supply duct and comparing it to the airflow setpoint.

VavEhAirFlDvn = VavEhSpAflRel minus VavEhAirFlRel

VavEhAirFlDvn will equal 0 in case of invalid condition(s).

Saturation signal: The saturation signal VavEhAflStrtn is a binary object that is True ("Starved") when the airflow control loop cannot get enough air to reach setpoint for a time exceeding a built-in time delay. After the delay expires, open loop operation begins.

Note
VavEhAflStrtn is always off if parameter EnStrtnCal = 0 (No). This allows the user to exclude a particular terminal from the saturation pressure reset system.

In order for Saturation Signal to be True:
1. The Enable Saturation Calibration parameter must be set to Yes (EnStrtnCal=Yes)
2. The output of the VAV controller must be greater than the saturation level (VavEhAirFlCtr>StrtnLvl)
3. The air flow error, which is the setpoint minus airflow value, must be greater than the air flow error limit (AirFlEr>AirFlErLm)

Saturation Signal can only be True when all three parts are satisfied for the duration of DlyOnStrtn.

Emergency alarm: When the fume hood mode is open, the exhaust damper position will be set to 100% at priority 2.

Airflow tracking: FhAirFlTckEh is the output signal to tell the room controller how much air is being exhausted from the room through the fume hood. The airflow track value will be set equal to the exhaust setpoint or a filtered measured volume based on current alarm status, deadband configuration, and the measured flow to setpoint ratio.

The deadband configuration extension item is entered as a percentage of the nominal exhaust volume setting and used to calculate a deadband.

FhAirFlTckEh will be set equal to the exhaust volume setpoint while all of the following conditions exist:

• Fume hood emergency alarm, high alarm, and low alarm are off.
• The configuration extension item for the deadband is greater than 0.0.
• VavEhAirFl is less than HighValue and VavEhAirFl is greater than Low Value.

When the above conditions do not exist, FhAirFlTckEh will be set equal to the measured volume.

Interface

Engineering and commissioning

Check for correct damper actuator installation. Actuator mis-wiring or improper installation is a major cause of common problems.

The relative air flow (VavExAirFlRel) is normalized as a percentage (0 - 100%) of VavExAirFl based on the nominal (rated) value for the box air flow (AirFlNom).