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Control Systems for Sustainable Modern Homes

Dan Cojocariu, Braeden Hale, Nicolas Hamel, Richard Hudson, Matthew Lamoureux, Jordan Robinson

Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary

INTRODUCTION

METHODS AND MATERIALS

CONCLUSIONS

DISCUSSIONRESULTS

REFERENCES

ABSTRACT

CONTACT

Jordan Robinson

Email: jhb.Robinson@gmail.com

Phone: (587) 436 - 4871

Sustainable automated home

systems are becoming

increasingly attractive to

homeowners. There are long-

term cost savings and direct

environmental benefits. Emerging

systems that are inexpensive and

robust provide an opportunity to

more easily take advantage

existing resources.

We aim to improve sustainability

in the modern home by:

1) Passively heating and

cooling a home with an

automated electro-

mechanical system

2) Implementing a rainwater

collection and distribution

system that optimizes water

recovery and plant growth

Prototyping and simulations will

allow us to determine the

economic and environmental

impact of these systems.

Our results demonstrate that

simple mechanical systems can

take advantage of environmental

conditions and offer direct

benefits to Alberta homeowners.

I. Passive home heating and cooling systemI. Passive home heating and cooling system

Preliminary testing indicates that a simple fan system

can significantly increase or decrease home temperature

when called on by a thermostat. Testing was performed at

the lowest testable fan speed (~2 cfm) and minimal power.

Results from a Simulink-based thermal model of

homes with standard HVAC systems or with an inline fan

system demonstrate the potential to partially displace NG-

based heating and completely displace AC-based cooling in

a typical home reducing direct energy costs by up to 30%.

Based on these results, this system could cut energy

usage in Alberta homes, and decrease the projected

greenhouse gas emissions of Alberta’s combined private

home and electricity generation sectors.

With continued funding, we intend to deploy the

system to existing homes to study the thermal performance

at lower flow rates and real conditions, and its impact on

homeowner costs, energy use, and human factors.

II. Rainwater collection and distribution system:

In order to ensure optimal watering conditions for different

types of vegetation several variables must be considered:

• Climate

• In adverse weather conditions our system is able to

adapt and maintain plant growth

• In the event of a drought, the system can be

modulated to conserve more water than usual

• Type of vegetation

• The system takes into account the watering

requirements of different plants and responds

accordingly

• Sensor placement

• The sensor must be buried at the plant’s effective root

depth, ensuring no air pockets are present.

In conjunction, these factors are used to determine the

system’s watering cycle. To maintain efficiency, the system

makes control decisions based on soil moisture averages,

such that the system isn’t turning on and off constantly.

I. Passive home heating and cooling systemPerformance of the inline fan system will be evaluated by

constructing a scaled prototype home (1:20), and joining the

top and bottom floors via PVC ductwork. An Arduino Uno

Microcontroller will read voltages from thermocouples inside

the model home, and use this information to control the flow

rate of inline fans within the duct. Simulations in SolidWorks

(flow distribution) and Simulink (thermal response) will be

completed to indicate what type of results we can expect

from our model. Upon test completion, we will asses the

overall effects of the system with a focus on cost savings

and environmental impact.

II. Rainwater collection and distribution systemThe rainwater management prototype will consist of the

essential components necessary to demonstrate the

feasibility of the system. A Wandboard Microcontroller will

receive voltages from moisture sensors embedded in soil

samples, then rehydrate these samples with misters as

necessary. An assortment of irrigation supplies will be used

to tie these components together. Climate forecasts and

current environmental conditions will be considered

alongside other external factors in order to optimize water

usage and save the customer money each growing season.

Our results demonstrate that simple mechanical

systems can take advantage of indoor and outdoor

environmental conditions to offer direct benefits to

Alberta homeowners.

Increasing the sustainability of modern homes is

becoming increasingly attractive to the average

Canadian homeowner. Demand is increasing for

autonomous systems that are capable of reducing

monthly utility bills and that can mitigate an

individual’s environmental footprint. We have

proposed 2 systems that aim to meet this demand in

the standard home:

I.) Passive heating and cooling system

II.) Rainwater collection and distribution system

Microcontroller-based electromechanical systems

which are both elegant and inexpensive will be

utilized to accomplish these tasks. The return on

investment for homeowners will be shown to exceed

the capital costs of retrofitting the systems to homes.

Baseline Irrigation Solutions. (2011). Watering With Soil Moisture Sensors. Retrieved from

http://www.baselinesystems.com/mediafiles/pdf/watering_with_SMS.pdf

Services, Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, Integrated Services Branch, Government Information

Services, Publishing and Depository. "Clean Energy Project Analysis, RETScreen® Engineering & Cases Textbook: M154-

13/2005E-PDF - Government of Canada Publications". publications.gc.ca.

Figure 6. a) Projected deployment to single detached homes in Alberta. b) Within 20

years, the passive heating and cooling system could cut emissions by 16 MtCO2 -eq

annually (157 MtCO2 -eq cumulative) c) the rainwater management system could lower

Alberta water usage by 11 million m3 annually (26 million m3 cumulative).

Figure 1.a) Passive heating and cooling ductwork b.) Rainwater

management system test apparatus

Figure 2. a, b) Controlling room temperature by directing airflow from the heat sink to

the heat source. c) Improving the response time of room temperature to a new set

point.

Figure 3. a,b) This system has the potential to offset up to 30% of home HVAC-related

energy requirements, thereby reducing utility costs and GHG emissions.

II. Rainwater collection and distribution system:

Scenario Analysis – GHG emissions and water usage:

a. b. c.

a. b.

Figure 4. Ensuring that we had reliable data

to make accurate control system decisions,

multiple sensor calibration formulas were

used. This figure demonstrates the two latest

formulas. The one chosen is shown by the

yellow and purple data lines, which delivered

satisfactory error of approximately +/- 0.26%.

Figure 5. This graph demonstrates the effect

of applying water to the Decagon EC-5

moisture sensor. With the application of

water, the soil state is forced below the

watering line, thus rendering the soil in a state

suitable for plant growth.

a. b.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Dr. Ke Du, and Mike Cheng as well as Dr. David Layzell, Dr. Bas

Straatman, Prof. John Brown, and Dr. Simon Li for their input and guidance. Thanks are also due to

Whatif? Technologies for the use of their CanESS model in this work.