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Cost effective combined axial fan and throttling valve control of ventilation rate

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>09/2004
<mark>Journal</mark>IEE Proceedings - Control Theory and Applications
Issue number5
Volume151
Number of pages8
Pages (from-to)577-584
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

This paper is concerned with Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control of ventilation rate in mechanically ventilated agricultural buildings. In particular, it develops a unique fan and throttling valve control system for a 22m3 test chamber, representing a section of a livestock building or glasshouse, at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Here, the throttling valve is employed to restrict airflow at the outlet, so generating a higher static pressure difference over the control fan. In contrast with previous approaches, however, the throttling valve is directly employed as a second control actuator, utilising airflow from either the axial fan or natural ventilation. The new combined fan/valve configuration is compared with a commercially available PID-based controller and a previously developed scheduled PIP design, yielding a reduction in power consumption in both cases of up to 45%.