SENSORS AND CONTROLLERS

SHIVANGI SINGH
SURBHI KAUSHAL
TUSHAR GOYAL
YOGANSH KHATTAR
WHAT IS A SENSOR ?

"A SENSOR IS A DEVICE THAT DETECTS AND RESPONDS TO SOME TYPE OF INPUT
FROM THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT. THE SPECIFIC INPUT COULD BE LIGHT, HEAT,
MOTION, MOISTURE PRESSURE, OR ANY ONE OF A GREAT NUMBER OF OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL PHENOMENA.
THE OUTPUT IS GENERALLY A SIGNAL THAT IS CONVERTED TO HUMAN-READABLE
DISPLAY AT THE SENSOR LOCATION OR TRANSMITTED ELECTRONICALLY OVER A
NETWORK FOR READING
OR FURTHER PROCESSING."
TYPES OF SENSORS

• OCCUPANCY SENSORS
An occupancy sensor is a device that is used in buildings to detect building occupancy. These sensors
send information to building controllers which will then turn lights on/off or turn equipment
on/off based on whether or not the space is occupied.

TYPES

• Wall Switch

• Ceiling Mount

• Wall Mount
1. WALL SWITCH
When you don't want to install a separate device, choose this sensor
because it replaces an existing wall switch. Get both occupancy
sensing and manual on/off switching in a single device.
Used in - Residential - basements, garages, laundry rooms, pantries,
bathrooms, children's rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, family
rooms and hallways.

2. CEILING-MOUNT
For 180° or 360° coverage of an area.
Used in - Offices, garages, basements, dining rooms, living rooms,
family rooms and hallways.

3. WALL MOUNT
For coverage of irregularly shaped areas or those with varying ceiling
heights, as well as narrow hallway and high-bay corridor applications.
Adjustable swivel neck rotates 80°vertically and 60°horizontally to
allow wall or ceiling mount installation. Used in - Stairwells,
hallways, basements and offices.
TECHNOLOGIES
The design of the room and the amount of activity happening within the space will determine the
level of sensitivity needed in the sensor.
Occupancy Sensors are available in three distinct technologies, so that the occupant can be sure to
find the appropriate solution for the space.

• PASSIVE INFRARED TECHNOLOGY

• ULTRASOUND TECHNOLOGY

• DUAL TECHNOLOGY
PASSIVE INFRARED TECHNOLOGY
Designed to detect motion from a heat-emitting
source, PIR sensors switch lights On and Off when
a person enters or exits their field of view.

ULTRASOUND TECHNOLOGY
Ultrasonic sensors detect occupancy by emitting a
high-frequency signal and interpreting changes in
frequency as motion.
They are also highly sensitive to motion – even
minor hand movement.

DUAL TECHNOLOGY
Dual Tech sensors combine PIR and ultrasonic
technology. Lights are only activated when both
sensors detect occupancy
The dual technology system is rapidly gaining
popularity among homeowners and businesses alike.
THERMISTORS
Sensors used in the Building Automation Systems (BAS) industry for temperature measurements are
typically temperature controlled resistors, otherwise known as ͞thermistors. A thermistor is comparable in
size to an electronic resistor, and has a similar working principle. However unlike electronic resistors of
fixed resistance, a thermistor's resistance varies as a function of the ambient temperature. The resistance
(R) is inversely proportional to the temperature (T).

There are basically two types of thermistors:

A)THERMISTOR PTC (POSITIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT): These type of
thermistors show an increase in electrical resistance when an increase in body temperature (T) is
observed, and has positive temperature coefficient
B) THERMISTOR NTC (NEGATIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT): This is the inverse of
the PTC, it has a negative temperature coefficient. They exhibit a decrease in resistance (R) when
subjected to an increase in body temperature (T).
 Outside air thermistors are designed and constructed to withstand the harsh and
unpredictable conditions of outdoor life.
 These kind of thermistors are protected from the different entities, closely set inside an
aspirated (ventilated) enclosure. The electrical circuit box is made weather-tight, and the
whole system assembly is rated for outdoor installation.
 The outdoor thermistor system is to be mounted on the side of a building, where the
amount of incident sunlight is very low.
 An ideal situation is when the building has a mechanical equipment chamber. The
sensor can be mounted in a way that it keeps it isolated from accumulated rainwater, or
damage from other external factors.
 In countries like Canada, the above set up is good, especially during the fall-winter-
spring months so that the sun will not affect its performance.
• CARBON DIOXIDE SENSORS
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors monitor the ventilation status and requirements of the space. As
the name suggests, the CO2 sensors measure the amount of CO2 that is breathed out by the
occupants.

• By accurately measuring the CO2 content , Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) sequences in
a BAS can estimate the occupancy and desired healthy levels of ventilation. CO2 sensors send the
measurements to external controllers.

• Demand Controlled Ventilation adjusts outside air ventilation so that the CO2 levels measured
by the sensors inside the building is kept 'at or below' a specified maximum (around 600 ppm of
CO2, and outside air CO2 being typically around 400 ppm).
• HUMIDITY SENSORS

A humidity sensor senses, measures and reports both moisture and air temperature. The ratio of
moisture in the air to the highest amount of moisture at a particular air temperature is called
relative humidity. Relative humidity becomes an important factor, when looking for comfort.
CONTROLLERS
WHAT ARE CONTROLLERS?
• Controllers are computers of some type that receive information from sensors and from internal
programming, and use this information to operate the manufacturing equipment (to the extent
available, depending on the degree of automation and control).
• Controllers provide electronic commands that convert an electrical signal into a mechanical
action. Sensors, actuators, effectors, and controllers are linked to a control loop.
WHY USE BUILDING CONTROLS?

Good control is essential within a building to optimise levels of service, comfort and safety in an
energy efficient manner. When installed correctly and when working properly, building controls have
a range of benefits. They can:
• Minimise running costs, energy consumption and pollution associated with energy use
• Improve comfort for building users
• Prevent the unwanted or out-of-hours operation of equipment
• Limit excessive wear and tear on building systems and plant
• Minimise maintenance, repair and replacement costs
• Reduce the need for cooling by minimising the heat gains associated with the use of equipment
such as lighting, fans and motors.
CLASSIFICATION OF CONTROLLERS
Controlling by time — time controls vary in complexity from simple 24 -hour on/off timers, to
sophisticated seven-day timers, which allow for control to be set for individual
days of the week.

Controlling by occupancy — building services can be altered to accommodate changing staff

working times. For instance, intermittently occupied spaces will often have lights left on
unnecessarily. These are areas that could be better served using controls that switch lights off
when no one is around. Occupancy controls are generally used for quick response
services like lighting and individual ventilation fans. They are rarely appropriate for slower
response services like heating and cooling across a whole building.

Controlling by condition — building services can be controlled by environmental conditions

such as temperature (for heating, cooling and ventilation systems), day-lighting (for lighting and
shading systems), humidity (for ventilation systems and air conditioning systems), and even
carbon dioxide levels (for ventilation systems).

Combining controls — These three types of control can be brought together in various
combinations. For example, a restaurant may use daylight control to switch external lights on
when darkness falls, a timer to switch these off at 1am when all customers and staff have gone
home, and then incorporate occupancy sensing for security purposes to switch the lights back on
if an intruder is detected. This integration of controls can fine-tune building services to provide
optimum conditions and yield substantial cost savings.
CONTROL TERMINOLOGY
A control system consists of three basic elements:
Sensor: The sensor measures a variable, such as temperature, and transmits its value to the controller.
Controller : The controller uses this value to compute an output signal, which is transmitted to the
controlled device.
Controlled device : When the signal is transmitted, the controlled device changes the output of the
load.

OPEN LOOP CONTROL

An open loop is a control system that does not respond to its own actions, such as a heating
system controlled only by an on/off timer. Such a system will continue to heat the space until the
timer switches it off again. This type of basic control can result in poor use of services, higher
energy costs and an uncomfortable internal environment.
CLOSED LOOP CONTROL

Closed loop control allows the control to receive feedback, such as the heating system demonstrated
Switching the heating on or off in response to temperature can prevent the space overheating and
improve comfort conditions. Unless used with an on/off timer, however, these can also be wasteful
if heating is on when it is not needed.
CONTROLLING BY CONDITION
The conditions that are usually controlled are:
Temperature — used to control heating, cooling and ventilation
Daylight levels — used to control lighting
Humidity — used mainly to control air conditioning
Zoning used to control in different zones

CONTROL BY TEMPERATURE

Room thermostats positioned in an appropriate location can provide overall temperature control of an
area so that it reflects the activity taking place in the space. Thermostatic controls should not be used
as on/off switches.
CONTROL BY DAYLIGHT

• Light sensors or ‘photocells’ are most commonly used to control artificial lighting when there is
sufficient natural daylight.
• As daylight hours vary throughout the year, sensors help to provide closer control and can
achieve substantial savings. Where high-frequency fluorescent lighting is installed, these controls
can dim the light output when daylight is adequate.
• Photocell controls are also useful for external lighting and can often pay back their costs in less
than a year.
• Photocell control can be combined with occupancy control systems to reduce light output when
day-lighting levels are adequate, and switch lighting off when the space is unoccupied.
CONTROL BY HUMIDITY

Humidity control is specific to certain applications and is achieved through ‘humidistat’ control
of heating, ventilation or cooling services. The main areas where humidity control may be
required are listed below.

Swimming pools — humidistat control can be effectively used in pool hall areas to maintain
appropriate levels of humidity and prevent condensation forming. This type of control can be
used to reduce pool hall costs by switching on ventilation only when required.
Fabric protection — some buildings, particularly older structures, can be affected by damp which
often leads to a deterioration in the building fabric. Conditions can be improved in the affected
areas using dehumidifiers controlled by humidistats.
Museums and galleries — stored artefacts can also deteriorate if they are not kept under
optimum conditions. Dehumidifiers controlled by humidistats are often used to ensure adequate
conditions for storage.
Manufacturing processes — the method for controlling humidity in manufacturing processes is
usually dictated by the process requirements. Humidity control is used
for some specific applications, including meeting health and safety requirements and providing a
better quality of product or improved output.
CONTROL BY ZONING

Some areas in large buildings require different levels of heating, lighting, cooling and ventilation. A
solution to this is to create ‘zones’ in the building where separate time, temperature and occupancy
controls are installed for individual areas. Zoned areas will provide closer, more efficient control.
This can improve local conditions and save on costs.

Zoning should be considered when there are:

• Different occupancy patterns
• Different temperature requirements
• Different activities taking place
• A number of floors (particularly where top floors are poorly insulated).
TYPES OF CONTROLS AND CONTROLLERS

Access Control Systems

Access Control Systems are electronic or electro-

mechanical devices or systems composed of
remote stations and centralized controlling
stations which are used for security monitoring
and to manage the movement of personnel,
vehicles, materials, etc. through entrances and
exits. Key specifications include the intended
application, type, and method of identification.
Access control systems use
identifying methods such as facial recognition, fingerprints, metal detection, bar
coding, and swipe cards, to permit entrance and exit from various secured areas.

NETAXS-123
Hybrid Access Control Panel
Flow Controllers

Flow Controllers are mechanical or electro-

mechanical devices composed of measuring sensors
or controlling elements that are used to ensure media
flow in manufacturing processes. Key specifications
include the intended application, type, media, flow
rate, connection style, pressure rating, as well as
mounting style. Flow controllers are used primarily
in process
control applications. They are made for gases as well as
liquids of many types, and are available in many sizes
and configurations depending on the application. Some
flow controllers consist of mechanical valves, while
others are electronically operated and controlled.
Level Controllers

Level Controllers are mechanical or electro-

mechanical devices used for controlling the levels
of tanks, vats, etc. usually by means of pumps,
and they are sometimes called pump controllers.
Some level controllers incorporate sensors or
other means of detecting the level of products in
containers, etc. while others require inputs from
remote switches or sensors. Key specifications
include the intended application, medium type,
and the
control method. Level controllers rely on a variety of
sensor styles including conductive, capacitance,
optical, and ultrasonic, in addition to mechanical
arms, floats, and levers. They can be used for liquids
or bulk dry goods such as grain or powders. Many
industries use level controllers in various processes. A
level controller receives an input signal, compares it
to a set point and via an output signal adjusts the
level as the process requires.
Pressure Controllers

Pressure Controllers are electro-mechanical devices

used for controlling process/system pressure in
various industrial processes. Key specifications
include the intended application, type, control
method, sensing element, and the pressure range.
Pressure controller types include differential gap,
proportional, on/off types, among others.

In operation, the controller receives a process/system pressure input, compares it

to the desired set point in the pressure controller, then outputs a signal (usually to
a control valve) which adjusts the process/system pressure (if necessary) back to
the set point
Programmable Logic Controllers

Programmable Logic Controllers are

electronic devices used for controlling
automatic machinery, processes, etc. Key
specifications include the intended
application, type, function, mounting style, as
well as power requirements. Programmable
logic controllers are configurable with a range
of input and output modules. They control
various operating parameters and functions
by receiving input signals from various
sources and adjusting machine functions as
required by the processes through sets of

programmed instructions. PLCs are modular in

construction and can be fitted with various
modules for inputs, outputs, etc.