Simplified Online Robust Pump Speed Control Strategy for Practical Implementation

Abstract

This chapter experimentally tests a proposed simplified online robust control strategy for practical applications to avoid the low delta-T syndrome for chilled water systems including complex systems. On top of the conventional control strategies, a temperature set-point reset scheme is developed aiming at providing the reliable temperature set-point for enhancing the operation reliability of chilled water pumps. In addition, a flow-limiting control scheme is employed to perform the function of actively eliminating the deficit flow in the bypass line by a feedback mechanism. The site test results show that the temperature set-point given by the proposed strategy is reliable and the system temperature difference is significantly raised by eliminating the deficit flow problem. When compared to the conventional control strategies, 78% of the total chilled water pump energy was saved in the test period. The actual pump energy saving percentage could be 39% in a year after implementing the robust control strategy in the studied system.