BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to a building management system (BMS) and more particularly to a BMS with enterprise management and reporting. A BMS is, in general, a system of devices configured to control, monitor, and manage equipment in or around a building or building area. A BMS can include, for example, a HVAC system, a security system, a lighting system, a fire alerting system, any other system that is capable of managing building functions or devices, or any combination thereof.

SUMMARY

One implementation of the present disclosure is a building management system. The building management system includes a dry bulb temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an airflow meter, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate an apparent temperature using a dry bulb temperature obtained by the dry bulb temperature sensor, a relative humidity obtained by the humidity sensor, and an airflow rate obtained by the airflow meter. The controller is also configured to generate a visualization of zone comfort. The visualization includes a comfort band and current values of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, and the airflow rate relative to the comfort band. The controller is also configured to control building equipment to drive the current values of one or more of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, and the airflow rate into the comfort band.

In some embodiments, the comfort band defines a range of comfortable values for each of dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, airflow rate, and apparent temperature. In some embodiments, the visualization includes a pentagonal chart. Each corner of the pentagonal chart corresponds to a parameter, each corner is joined to the center of the pentagonal chart by an axis on which a current value of the corresponding parameter is plotted, and a polygonal perimeter connects the current values of the parameters.

In some embodiments, the parameters include apparent temperature, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, air speed, and airflow rate. In some embodiments, the comfort band is formed as a polygonal band such that the polygonal perimeter is within the comfort band when the current values of the parameters are within the comfort band.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured calculate the apparent temperature using a formula including scaling parameters.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to calculate an airspeed in a space as a function of the airflow rate obtained by the airflow meter and a volume of the space and calculate the apparent temperature using the airspeed.

In some embodiments, the controller is configured to calculate the apparent temperature using a look-up table that maps values of the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, and the airflow rate to values of the apparent temperature. In some embodiments, the airflow meter is configured to obtain the airflow rate based on settings for a variable air volume unit.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a method for providing environmental comfort. The method includes obtaining measurements of a dry bulb temperature, a relative humidity, and an airflow rate for an indoor space. The method also includes calculating an apparent temperature for the indoor space using the measurements, and generating a visualization that includes a comfort band and a value of each of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, and the airflow rate for the indoor space. The method also includes controlling building equipment to drive the value of one or more of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, or the airflow rate into the comfort band.

In some embodiments, generating the visualization includes generating a pentagonal chart such that each corner of the pentagonal chart corresponds to a parameter, each corner is joined to the center of the pentagonal chart by an axis on which a current value of the corresponding parameter is plotted, and a polygonal perimeter connects the current values of the parameters. In some embodiments, the parameters include apparent temperature, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, air speed, and airflow rate. In some embodiments, the comfort band is formed as a pentagonal band such that the pentagonal perimeter is within the comfort band when the current values of the parameters are within the comfort band.

In some embodiments, calculating an apparent temperature for the indoor space using the measurements includes calculating an airspeed for the indoor space as a function of the airflow rate and a volume of the indoor space and calculating the apparent temperature based on the airspeed.

Another implementation of the present disclosure is one or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations. The operations include obtaining measurements of a dry bulb temperature, a relative humidity, and an airflow rate for an indoor space, calculating an apparent temperature for the indoor space using the measurements, generating a visualization that includes a comfort band and a value of each of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, and the airflow rate for the indoor space, and controlling building equipment to drive the value of one or more of the apparent temperature, the dry bulb temperature, the relative humidity, or the airflow rate into the comfort band.

In some embodiments, the comfort band defines a range of comfortable values for each of dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, airflow rate, and apparent temperature. In some embodiments, generating the visualization includes generating a pentagonal chart. Each corner of the pentagonal chart may correspond to a parameter. Each corner may be joined to the center of the pentagonal chart by an axis on which a current value of the corresponding parameter can be plotted. A polygonal perimeter may connect the current values of the parameters.

In some embodiments, the parameters include apparent temperature, dry bulb temperature, relative humidity, air speed, and airflow rate. The comfort band is formed as a pentagonal band such that the polygonal perimeter is within the comfort band when the current values of the parameters are within the comfort band.

