Thermal Management Control System with Networked Thermostats on USS Essex (LHD 2)

摘要

The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is one of the largest distributed systems on a surface ship. The technology for controlling the ship's compartments temperatures is decentralized and total system performance is largely unmonitored. As a result, the current HVAC system is inefficient and maintenance is often neglected until corrective action is required on a specific system or component. The Thermal Management Control System (TMCS) uses networked thermostats and central monitoring and control stations to improve the operational parameters of compartment cooling and heating while giving Ship's Force greater visibility of space temperatures, chill water distribution, AC plant status, and system health. Additionally, energy savings from improved system efficiency in turn opens up both electric and cooling capacity on the Ship's grid for future high energy loads. This paper will look at the latest iteration of TMCS aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) and discuss: 1. Shortcomings of the legacy HVAC system; 2. How lessons learned from PC and DDG 51 class TMCS systems were used to adapt and improve the technology to the LHD 1 class, such as integrating TMCS to the existing Fluid Control System (FCS); and 3. The lessons learned from the recent USS Essex TMCS installation and how comprehensive grooms of the HVAC system during the installation of TMCS uncover hidden legacy issues. In conclusion, this paper will demonstrate the direct and indirect values of: the centralized monitoring and control capabilities of TMCS on system performance, energy savings, and maintenance aboard USS Essex; adapting a cross-platform, COTS-based technology to more ship classes, specifically the LHD 1 class; and grooming a ship's HVAC system to uncover legacy equipment and performance issues.