PaceControls: A Model Based Design Approach for HVACR Equipment Control

PaceControls relied on solidThinking Embed (sTE) to implement the Model Based Design (MBD) process to develop its energy saving algorithms. The MBD process consists of simulation and Hardware in the Loop (HIL) testing, and Embed fully supports all steps in the process. During the simulation step, the system requirements are represented by design models. Dynamic models of the HVACR systems are created followed by the design, analysis, and modeling of the energy and demand optimization control algorithms. The combined “controls + plant” model goes through an iterative “analysis + redesign + simulation” process until its performance lies within the acceptable range for each of the design models. During the HIL testing step, Embed automatically generates C code for the controller model. The code is then compiled with Embed support libraries as an Android application where it executes on the PACE Node utilizing a cloud-connected Qualcomm Snapdragon microcontroller.