Emerging Wireless Technologies in Building Controls

1. Emerging Wireless Technologies in Building Controls Jeff Raimo Product Manager Siemens Building Technologies

2. Agenda • Early Wireless Adoption • New Wireless Technologies • Wireless Ethernet • Distributed Antenna Systems • Wireless Mesh Networks • Wireless Mesh Controller Networks • Case Studies • Elementary School • Manufacturing Facility • Commercial Office

3. Factors driving adoption of wireless in BAS • Ease of installation • Simplifies workflow • Migration of legacy systems • More cost effective • Less disruptive to facility and occupants • Seamless migration • Flexibility in reconfigurations • Eliminating dependence on wired infrastructure • Allows for better control and a more comfortable environment for facility occupants • Lower lifecycle costs • Technology → continues to improve and cost less

4. Early Wireless Adoption

5. Early Wireless Adoption • Until recently, wireless systems for industry have mostly used “cellular phone” style radio links: • Point-to-Point • Point-to-Multipoint transmission

6. Between Sensor and Controller BC (Building Controller) Field Controller Bus ASC ASC ASC (Application Specific Controller) Radio (One to One Receiver) Radio Radio RTS RTS RTS

7. Between Tool and Controller (Building Controller) HLC Radio Field Controller Bus ASC ASC ASC Radio (Application Specific Controller) Tool

8. Between Controller and Controller (High Level Controller) BC Radio Field Controller Bus ASC ASC ASC (Lower Level Controller) (High Level Controller) BC Radio Field Controller Bus ASC ASC ASC (Lower Level Controller)

9. Emerging Technologies

10. Wireless Ethernet (IEEE 802.11 / WiFi)

11. Wireless Ethernet • Not too long ago Ethernet became the norm for high speed communication in building automation • Now many buildings offer wireless connections – access points • The wireless access points can also be used as a connection point to the BAS for various wireless devices • (like connecting controllers or tools to the network) Ethernet Network BC AP (Access Point) (Building Controller) BC BC BC

12. Wireless Ethernet • Natural progression from Wired Ethernet • Advantages • Leverage use of existing antenna / radio infrastructure (APs) • Widespread installation and coverage available • Disadvantages • Still uses “cellular phone” style radio links →susceptible to the same reliability issues • Lose Ethernet → lose control • Uses 802.11 radios → power hungry / not battery friendly

13. Distributed Antenna Systems

14. In-building Wireless (Distributed Antenna Systems) • Wireless “backbone” that can be utilized by all wireless applications to guarantee reliable coverage throughout building • Coax, fiber optic cable, antennas, filters, and amplifiers • Passive and active systems • Initial adopters – Healthcare, Financial, & Government

15. In-building Wireless (Distributed Antenna Systems) • BAS just one of many wireless applications to utilize • Advantages • Supports numerous wireless applications • Widespread installation and coverage available • Disadvantages • Very expensive – need multiple wireless apps to justify cost • Lots of wiring for a “wireless” system

16. Wireless Mesh Networks

17. The emergence of “mesh” technology has made true wireless networking possible in building automation

18. Wireless mesh technology overview • Mesh is a new wireless network technology that favors reliability and versatility over speed. • Mesh networks use a grid-like topology to provide multiple redundant communication paths with each node functioning as a sender, receiver and router.

19. Wireless mesh technology overview • Self forming • Self healing

20. Mesh PAN coordinator Full Function Device Reduced Function Device Mesh Topology

21. Mesh Networks • Extremely reliable • Extremely versatile 28K sq. ft.

22. Power / data rate comparison of standards Mesh is one of the network topologies in the emerging ZigBee standard Wi-Fi Internet Voice Video Power Bluetooth PDA Mouse Keyboard ZigBee Controllers /Sensors bps kbps Mbps Data rate

23. Mesh networks self-form and self-heal to route around obstructions Point-to-point versus mesh Point-to-point communications can be blocked obstruction

24. Mesh networks are self-forming In-building wireless versus self-forming mesh networks • In-building wireless systems require a hard-wired backbone.

25. Wireless Mesh Controller Networks

26. Mesh PAN coordinator Full Function Device Reduced Function Device Wireless Mesh Controller Networks - Topology Building Controller Application Specific Controller Sensor

27. Wireless Mesh Controller Networks • Why is this a good match? • Well suited for terminal box controller network communication • Dense physical proximity → creates robust mesh network • Low data rate networks • Power already exists since controllers need power • Many times high voltage power is required so power can be scavenged for all control devices • Since power is available its no problem for these devices to be full function devices • Challenging physical RF environment is no problem for mesh network

28. Case Study Elementary School

29. Case Study: Elementary School • Project Profile • Southeast • 25 classroom school with older BAS requiring upgrade • Needed to replace/add both lower-level and higher-level controllers • Network cable incompatible and degraded • Added • 34 Heat Pump Controllers • 2 Energy meters • Concrete block walls • 10’ high suspended ceiling • 4’ between suspended ceiling and roof deck (metal deck) • Some firewalls go from floor to ceilings

30. Benefits Cinder block walls – no coring required Non-disruptive to students Wireless solution was Cost efficient Less labor intensive Enabled school to be more energy efficient saving operating $$$$ 3 – 5 year payback Case study: Elementary School Repeater Utility Closet- Main controller location Heat pumps

31. Case Study Industrial/Manufacturing

32. Case Study: Industrial Facility • Project Profile • Manufacturing facility in Canada • 4 “Bubble” rooms frequently moved around mfg. floor • Needed to monitor multiple points in each room (e.g. temp., humidity, etc.) • Floor to Ceiling Concrete Walls • Large distances between rooms (150 – 200 ft.) • One room very far away from network (400 ft.) • Dynamic RF environment • Lots of big equipment moving around • RF noise from machinery

33. Case Study: Industrial Facility (cont.) Benefits • Eliminated long conduit and wiring runs • Able to move rooms without unwiring\rewiring Repeaters Building Control Panel Bubble rooms

34. Considerations and Challenges

35. Considerations and challenges Can’t defy physics! • Building materials and physical characteristics will affect RF communication • Absorption and reflection • Density • Distance • Geometric configuration • Interference • Coordination with IT Dept. required • Frequency channel management

36. Considerations checklist • Will I have a dense network? Will it create a good grid pattern? • Will each node be within 25 – 100 ft. of 2 or 3 other nodes? • Are there any physical barriers? If so, can the mesh network get around? are there other acceptable solutions? • Is there existing wireless communication? If so, is there a channel management plan? Are there open channels available?

37. Case Study: Commercial office • Project Profile • 8-story commercial office building • Retrofit • VAV terminal box controller networks • WLAN installed

38. 1 2 Case study: commercial office floor   Good grid pattern? Obstructions?   Available channels? Good spacing? 25 feet

39. Conclusion • Wireless is a game changer • Wireless is another tool available to solve problems • Which wireless solution and where to use depends on project • Uses will only expand as… • Technology improves • Cost drops • Uses and applications increase • Standards mature

40. Questions?