MECH3023: Building Energy Management and Control Systems

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Communication Protocols

1.  ASHRAE BACnet

• Types of systems
• Open systems, closed systems
• Proprietary systems, non-proprietary systems
• What is BACnet?
• BACnet application layer
• BACnet object, BACnet services
• BACnet network layer, BACnet data link layer, BACnet physical layer
• BACnet conformance classes
• Native BACnet and gateways

2.  Open Systems and LonWorks Platform

• What is LonWorks?
• How does LonWorks work?
• LonTalk Protocol
• Neuron chip
• LonWorks SNVTs, LonWorks SCPTs
• LonWorks transceivers, LonWorks routers
• What is LonMark?

[The Future of BEMCS: Make a Wish List -- Wish List on BEMCS by Our Students]

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Further Reading:

• “Connectivity, Protocols and the Future” (by Rob Moult, Johnson Controls) (can be found on WebCT)
• ASHRAE, 2002. The BACnet CD, Version 3, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, GA. [AV 004.62 B12]
• Shadpour, F., 2001. The Fundamentals of HVAC Direct Digital Control: Practical Applications and Design, 2nd ed., Chapters 5 & 6, Hacienda Blue, Escondido, CA. [697 S52]
• Fisher, D., 2002. Specifying gateways and routers for BACnet network, Network Controls: A Supplement to HPAC Engineering, July 2002, pp. 62-68.

Web Links:

• ASHRAE's BACnet committee http://www.bacnet.org/
• BACnet Tutorial Overview
• BACnet/IP
• BACnet: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
• Bibliography
• BACnet Manufacturers Association http://www.bacnetassociation.org/
• Echelon LonWorks system http://www.echelon.com/
• Online LonWorks Demonstrations
• Introduction to the LonWorks System (PDF)
• LonMark Interoperability Association http://www.lonmark.org/
• LonMark Design Guidelines
• LonMark Technical Corner
• Protocols & communication technologies  http://www.intellicom.se/res_lonworks.shtml

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| Created: Nov 2005 | Update: 7 Mar 2006 | By: cmhui@hku.hk |