SmartHome Controls
automating the infrastructure of the home
Air conditioning and ventilation systems
“Split” or DX systems
Increasingly, home owners are specifying Comfort Cooling systems for their properties - this is not, strictly speaking Air Conditioning, because it does not control the “condition” (i.e. temperature and humidity) of the air, only the temperature. Instead, these systems, from manufacturers such as Daikin, Mitsubishi, Sanyo, Toshiba, etc, consist of indoor units (which absorb the heat) connected to outdoor units (which reject the heat to atmosphere). Sometimes the systems are capable of running in reverse as Heat Pumps, which also allow the house to be heated. All of these systems come complete with their own built-in controls, and their own user interface.
However, these types of system are often fitted in conjunction with separate heating systems (e.g. underfloor heating). If the two systems are kept separate, with their own independent user controls, confusion and mis-setting of the two systems will almost certainly occur, resulting in the heating system “fighting” with the cooling system. This will cause discomfort and generate huge, wasted energy bills.
The smartkontrols approach works by controlling both systems from a single sensor, and single user interface. The user sets the temperature (and times) that he wants to use, and the smartkontrols system decides whether heating, cooling or no action is required, just like the climate control system in a modern car.
- uses the same sensor as the heating
- retains the manufacturer’s user interface for maintenance,
but makes it inaccessible to the end user
- typically, a small “smartBox” panel with the smartModule fits
beside each indoor unit, which connects to the communications network.
Fan Coil / Chilled Water systems
Some larger properties use chilled water systems, with a chiller producing the chilled water being pumped to fan coil units in each room. Some fan coil units are capable of heating and cooling. The smartkontrols solution is similar to that for split systems above;
- the smartModule directly controls the 3-port valve on the fan coil (or
2 valves for a “4-pipe” unit)
- a small “smartBox” panel with the smartModule fits beside each
fan coil unit, and another at the chiller to control the chiller and its
pumps.
Full Air Conditioning needs an Air Handling Unit which is capable of controlling
humidity (humidifying the air by adding water or steam, dehumidifying by
sub-cooling and reheating the air). Such units are common in commercial and
industrial buildings, and with its experience in this sector, smartkontrols
can provide the control solution, if required.
Ventilation Systems
All houses need ventilation; sometimes this is done by passive trickle vents
above windows, but often some form of mechanical ventilation may be needed.
Simple bathroom extracts can be driven from the lighting circuit, but increasing
use is now made of Heat Recovery Ventilation Units. These units comprise
a supply and extract fan, and a heat exchanger which takes heat from the
extract air and pre-heats the incoming fresh air.
Simpler units can be set to run continuously, but more comprehensive products have trickle/boost modes, bypass dampers for summer use (to allow free cooling of the house) and auxiliary heating/cooling coils. These require:
- a small “smartBox” panel with the smartModule can fit beside
the Ventilation Unit
- boost/trickle control can be linked to house “away/ holiday” mode
- bypass or auxillary heating/cooling can be linked to desired temperatures
in the house
Natural or Passive Ventilation schemes
Some houses employ Natural Ventilation techniques, using the buoyancy of warm air to create the “stack effect”, enhancing ventilation through an atrium or wind tower. Such schemes employ automatic opening windows or vents at low and high level, which must be inhibited during high winds, etc. Typically, our solution features:
- a small “smartBox” panel with the smartModule near to the
motorised windows
- a weather station with wind speed and direction can inhibit the opening
of windows under certain conditions
- a rain sensor may also be needed