Annotated Summary

 Manz, B. (2018, July 30). The Expanding Role of Sensors in “Smart” HVAC Systems. https://www.electronicdesign.com/industrial-automation/article/21806809/the-expanding-role-of-sensors-in-smart-hvac-systems.

In this article, Manz (2018) discusses the growing function of sensors in “smart” HVAC systems. Sensors are crucial elements in most industrial systems and will be vital in assisting buildings save substantial amount of energy. Due to the acknowledgement of the need for attaining energy efficiency and improvement of technology needed to produce it, there is a current emphasis on connecting sensors to systems to create “intelligent” buildings. The goal of “intelligent” buildings is to facilitate predictive maintenance and create a more comfortable environment for occupants in addition to cutting down energy use. With the advancement of technology, analogue sensors are being replaced by digital sensors due to the many benefits brought about by improved functions. The author also mentions that building management systems “are increasingly using open solutions”, which simplifies overall operation of intelligent buildings and allows interoperability between hardware from different manufacturers. At lesser costs and in a shorter timeframe, better performance can be achieved when HVAC and building systems are managed by a single solution.

The article provides useful information on sensors in HVAC systems which is our research topic. From the article, we are able to understand the background of the increased use of sensors to create intelligent buildings and the benefits of it. We also got an insight to the growth in the functions of sensors in HVAC system. With the implementation of sensors in HVAC systems, data from the sensors can be analysed and preventive maintenance can be facilitated which prevents malfunctions from occurring.