Variable refrigerant flow system with automatic sensor data correction
A method for controlling a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system includes applying a time window to sensor data associated with the VRF system, the sensor data including input data points and having a first resolution, wherein applying the time window to the sensor data isolates a subset of the input data points; applying a timing weight to one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points to generate corrected data points having a second resolution higher than the first resolution; creating a virtual sensor and mapping the corrected data points to an output of the virtual sensor; and controlling the VRF system based on an output of the virtual sensor. The use of virtual sensors with a higher resolution than corresponding physical sensors in this manner allows for existing physical sensors to be used while improving performance of the VRF system.
1. A method for controlling a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, the method comprising:
applying a time window to sensor data associated with the VRF system, the sensor data comprising input data points having a first resolution, wherein applying the time window to the sensor data isolates a subset of the input data points;
applying a timing weight to one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points to generate corrected data points having a second resolution higher than the first resolution;
creating a virtual sensor and mapping the corrected data points to an output of the virtual sensor; and
controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subset of the input data points comprises a set of most recent input data points.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the timing weight to the one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points comprises applying a different timing weight to each input data point in the subset of the input data points.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a highest timing weight to a most recent input data point in the subset of the input data points; and
applying successively lower timing weights to a remainder of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the timing weight is proportional to a number of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the sensor data from a return air temperature sensor of the VRF system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor comprises:
applying the output of the virtual sensor as input to a control algorithm;
determining a temperature setpoint using the control algorithm; and
controlling the VRF system using the temperature setpoint.
8. A controller for use in a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, the controller comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory comprising a control application that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the controller to implement operations comprising:
applying a time window to sensor data associated with the VRF system, the sensor data comprising input data points having a first resolution, wherein applying the time window to the sensor data isolates a subset of the input data points;
applying a timing weight to one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points to generate corrected data points having a second resolution higher than the first resolution;
creating a virtual sensor and mapping the corrected data points to an output of the virtual sensor; and
controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor.
9. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the subset of the input data points comprises a set of most recent input data points.
10. The controller of claim 8 , wherein applying the timing weight to the one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points comprises applying a different timing weight to each input data point in the subset of the input data points.
11. The controller of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
applying a highest timing weight to a most recent input data point in the subset of the input data points; and
applying successively lower timing weights to a remainder of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
12. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the timing weight is proportional to a number of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
13. The controller of claim 8 , the operations further comprising receiving the sensor data from a return air temperature sensor of the VRF system.
14. The controller of claim 8 , wherein controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor comprises:
applying the output of the virtual sensor as input to a control algorithm;
determining a temperature setpoint using the control algorithm; and
controlling the VRF system using the temperature setpoint.
15. A variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system, the system comprising:
an outdoor unit that conditions a refrigerant;
one or more indoor units that receive the refrigerant and provide heating or cooling within a building;
a controller comprising one or more processors and a memory, the memory comprising a control application that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the controller to implement operations comprising:
applying a time window to sensor data associated with the VRF system, the sensor data comprising input data points having a first resolution, wherein applying the time window to the sensor data isolates a subset of the input data points;
applying a timing weight to one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points to generate corrected data points having a second resolution higher than the first resolution;
creating a virtual sensor and mapping the corrected data points to an output of the virtual sensor; and
controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the subset of the input data points comprises a set of most recent input data points.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein applying the timing weight to the one or more input data points in the subset of the input data points comprises applying a different timing weight to each input data point in the subset of the input data points.
18. The system of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
applying a highest timing weight to a most recent input data point in the subset of the input data points; and
applying successively lower timing weights to a remainder of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the timing weight is proportional to a number of input data points in the subset of the input data points.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein controlling the VRF system based on the output of the virtual sensor comprises:
applying the output of the virtual sensor as input to a control algorithm;
determining a temperature setpoint using the control algorithm; and
controlling the VRF system using the temperature setpoint.