3 credits
Spring 2026 Lecture Upper Division
This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge of fundamentals, design, and analysis for building control systems. It primarily consists of three parts. The first part covers basic concepts, terminology, procedures and computations of control systems including block diagrams & transfer functions, open-loop & closed-loop control, control system modeling, time response, root locus techniques, design via root locus, and digital control systems. The second part focuses on issues surrounding the building controls: interfacing components such as sensors and actuators, problems encountered, and state-of-the-art solutions for building energy efficiency and thermal comfort. The third part aims to develop students' ability to convert control system concepts into real building control systems. The course provides a hands-on opportunity for students to complete three projects associated with the three primary components during the semester: indoor environmental quality assessment, building HVAC system commissioning and its control analysis, and new control algorithm development for building energy efficiency, occupant health, and individual productivity.
Learning Outcomes1Demonstrate basic HVAC processes and explain the function, layout, and operation of commercial HVAC systems.
2Analyze the function, operating characteristics, and appropriate applications of basic control loops and control modes as found in direct digital, analog electronic, electronic and pneumatic commercial control systems.
3Understand and program a sequence of control, lay out a control system logic diagram and program it into a DDC controller.
4Understand the function of network devices and network protocols such as a bridge, router, gateway, hub, firewall, Ethernet, TCP/IP, BacNet, and Lon Talk.
5Use general-purpose and specific building automation software to monitor and control a building HVAC system.
6Numerically model a building to define the key control parameters for thermal comfort.
7Develop and program alternative control algorithms for building HVAC systems in order to enable sustainable buildings.
Prerequisites
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.