Real-time Tuning Of HVAC System PID Coefficients For Optimum Efficiency and Effectiveness

The tuning of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) coefficients affects the overall efficiently of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system’s energy consumption and personal comfort levels.  If calibrated successfully, the system will achieve optimum efficiently in both comfort and energy consumption by up to 35% in energy saving and by up to 52% in meeting temperature set points.  The current PID coefficient settings of the science and engineering (S&E) building create vast temperature fluctuations.  To decrease the temperature oscillation, the PID coefficients needs to be recalibrated.  The immediate objective of this research project was to develop a precise calibration method to fine tune PID coefficients for optimal effectiveness.  Using Real-time tuning, the bisection method was incorporated to determine the optimum PID coefficients from estimated intervals.  The method was applied to a specific room in the S&E building during a summer season.  We hypothesize by utilizing the bisection method to recalibrate the PID coefficients; the temperature fluctuations will decrease substantially improving energy efficiency and personal comfort levels.