What Is Temperature Control in HVAC?

Temperature Control in HVAC

Temperature control is a process used to maintain a desired temperature in a dynamic environment. Temperature control is required in a variety of HVAC applications to maintain a consistent temperature. This helps to ensure that the temperature of the home remains comfortable and energy efficient. In fact, ENERGY STAR recommends setting the temperature of an HVAC system to 78 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal energy savings and comfort,  and maintaining a balanced temperature with temperature control ensures energy savings and comfort when using any thermostat type.

Types of Temperature Control 

Simple on-off control involves supplying full power to an electrical heater until the desired temperature is reached, and then shutting off the system completely when it drops past a specified threshold is now outdated. New energy regulations have led to much more advanced controls; Digital on-off controls are being replaced with analog “ramping up and ramping down” on-off controls with variable speed fan and condenser motors, variable frequency drives or inverter motor controllers, and smart thermostats. New energy-saving analog temperature controls enable “soft start, soft stop, and idle” systems that hover around a specific requested temperature. These new temperature control concepts eliminate hard-start voltage drops and voltage spiking, which are not only harsh on motors and mechanics, but result in increased energy use and cost. Newer temperature control systems may have higher initial costs, but result in much lower energy costs over time, regardless of process. 

Example: It would be less expensive to run a light bulb for one hour than it would be to turn it on and off every minute for one hour. 

Process of Temperature Control

Temperature control is achieved by measuring and adjusting the passage of heat energy into or out of a space or substance. This process involves using a variety of methods, such as ramp up and ramp down control, which involves supplying full power to an electrical heater slowly to full speed running until the desired temperature is reached, and then ramping down the system completely when it drops past a specified threshold, additional programming may be in place, for example to slow the blower motor, when heavy humidity is detected for more moisture extraction. With a memory function, the blower motor may idle at 10 percent speed for comfort stability during it’s role. 

Role of Temperature Controllers

Temperature controllers are used to keep a given temperature stable, regardless of the changing environment. They measure and adjust the passage of heat energy into or out of a space or substance in order to maintain a desired temperature. There is a full array of complexity in this industry, from comfort to critical. We are accustomed to automatic temperature and humidity control in our homes, but there are more critical applications in schools, hospitals, and elsewhere that with goals needing to be met and achieved. . 

Achieving Temperature Control

Temperature control is achieved by employing the use of analog variable speed components such as motors and frequency drives. Temperature controllers are designed to keep a given temperature stable, regardless of the changing environment, by measuring and adjusting the passage of heat energy into or out of a space or substance.

A temperature controller consists of the thermostat, control boards, frequency drives and all required sensors for this discussion and works as the system brain, and the most important part of HVAC systems. The programming of the controllers can make or break the overall efficiency of the entire system.  Its main function is to ensure that the temperature of the home remains comfortable and energy efficient. Temperature controllers are used to read all sensor data that measure temperature and humidity, and to adjust the passage of heat energy into or out of a space or substance. The controller maintains a desired temperature and also a practical humidity level, keeping the temperature of the home consistent regardless of the changing indoor environment.