Organizations increasingly turn to Building Management Systems (BMS) to streamline their facility management processes as building technology advances.
A BMS is a centralized computer system that monitors and controls all the mechanical and electrical systems in a building.
It allows facility managers to gain greater visibility into the operation of the building’s various systems, leading to greater energy efficiency, cost savings, and increased occupant comfort.
One crucial component of the BMS is the field devices. These sensors, actuators, and controllers interface with the various building systems and provide data to the BMS.
Field devices are responsible for measuring temperature, humidity, lighting levels, and other critical parameters that affect the building’s performance.
They also act as the BMS’s eyes and ears, gathering data about the building’s performance and sending it back to the centralized control system.
This blog post will provide an overview of some of the different types of field devices commonly used in a BMS.
01- Differential Pressure Switch or DPS
A Differential pressure switch, differential pressure switch, or air differential pressure switch, commonly called DPS, it’s an advanced device that triggers an electric switch based on the differential pressure detected between two points.
If you would like to read more about this device, you can check this blog post.
02- Differential Pressure Sensor or Transducer
It’s a motor we install on the rotary damper, like the dampers in HVAC ducts. We can see these dampers on the fresh air, return air, exhaust air, and supply air ducts. The primary function of this actuator is to control the damper’s opening and closing, either partially or fully.
03- Rotary Damper Actuator
It’s a motor we install on the rotary damper, like the dampers in HVAC ducts. We can see these dampers on the fresh air, return air, exhaust air, and supply air ducts. The primary function of this actuator is to control the damper’s opening and closing, either partially or fully.
04- Linear Valve Actuator
We will use this actuator with the linear valves to control the fluid flow in a pipe.
An example is the actuator installed on two- or three-way linear valves in the chilled/hot water system.
05- Flow Switch
We can understand from its name that it will give a feedback signal with the status, either yes or no. We will use it to tell us whether there’s a flow of water or not.
06- Water Pressure Transducer
From its name, we can conclude two things. One, we will use it with the water system. Two, we will use it to measure the water’s pressure.
07- Water Pressure Switch
As it’s a switch, it will provide a feedback signal —either yes or no. Plus, we will use it with the water system.
08- Duct Smoke Detector
From its name, we can see that it is used with HVAC ducts and that its function is to detect smoke in the duct and send an alarm signal to the operator.
09- Temperature Sensor
We will use this field device to sense and measure the temperature in a space, like the outdoor air temperature.
10- Relative Humidity/Temperature Sensor
It’s a field device that measures relative humidity and air temperature.
11- Level Transducer
We will use it to measure the level of fluid inside its container, like a water tank, a fuel tank, and so on.
12- CO sensor
We will use it to measure the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air. Otherwise, it will be toxic air that can cause the death of human beings. An excellent example of using this field device is the car parking areas, as we need to ensure the level of carbon monoxide in the air doesn’t exceed a certain level.
So, when this sensor measures the level of carbon monoxide and finds it’s high, it will send a signal to the BMS system. Based on that, the BMS system will send a signal to a control panel that will operate the basement fans, such as Jet fans, to help remove this polluted air from the car parking area. So the level of carbon monoxide will be reduced.
By the way, the above devices are not all part of the BMS system; other field devices can be used with it.
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