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As part of a pilot project for a university, I successfully configured UT3 for fault detection and diagnostics using the Setpoint Module and a set of dynamic charts. I created 30 fault tests for AHUs and VAV zones. To facilitate the building technicians, I built a VBA-based Excel report that pulls the results from all 30 tests and filters only the equipment that failed the test criteria beyond their allowable range. I created a set of five dynamic charts each with multiple trends (eg SAT, MAT, RAT) that assist the technicians in determining the root cause of the test failure. For each failure, the Excel report tells them which chart to use and which equipment channel to select.

The worked well for the one building being tested but it required many workarounds using a lot of formula channels for the Setpoint Analysis tests (eg a formula channel of MAT when the economizer channel = 0) since the Setpoint Analyses do not allow for multiple and dynamically searchable filter Control Channels. I also had to use formula channels for setting the Upper and Lower Setpoints in the Setpoint Analysis tests since the UT sums any amount of time beyond the Upper and Lower Setpoints which throws off the results and produces too many false positives. The issue is that we have to deal with real world limits of sensors and only capture the time and amount over/under when the channel is outside of the ideal setpoint +/- sensor error. For example testing the SAT against its setpoint in the BAS. I used a formula channel for Upper Setpoint as the SATsetpoint+2 and for the Lower Setpoint, a formula channel of SATsetpoint-2. To scale this UT template and process to a portfolio of buildings, the UT would need a few added features.

I would like to know if other UT users are monitoring their BAS control points and if there is interest in collaboration.

-Jerone