Adaptive control has recently become a feasible means of local loop control, in HVAC systems due to the expanded use of microprocessor-based controllers. The current generation of controllers can provide significant computational capabilities in addition to their other functions. Adaptive control exploits these capabilities and offers several advantages over fixed gain PID control, advantages such as the elimination of tuning and the automatic gain adjustment for load conditions. With these advantages, however, come unique issues of implementation that must be resolved. This paper will examine some of these issues and demonstrate their effect on the performance of actual systems.

Units: Dual