greenBOX MASTER Software Update 1.7.1.3

With Advanced Features Announced

Ecogate engineers have been hard at work improving the already advanced greenBOX Control Unit. The greenBOX Master, our top-of-the-line unit, is already packed with features such as precise closed-loop system regulation, calibration wizard measuring system, and fan curves, and provides an optimal mapping of the system to fan curves.

Our users needed more and we listened, the latest improvements were at the request of Ecogate System users in pharmaceutical factories, customers using energy-efficient cascading fans, and customers using higher-level control systems communication (installations at universities, pharmaceutical factories, and any advanced Industry 4.0 installations).

This software version is available for free to our customers with ecoCARE (Service Agreement). Note: You do not need to update your greenBOX software if you don’t need these features.

Key Software Features Version 1.7.1.3:

1. Support For Multiple Air Velocity Sensors with Advanced Fan/VFD Configurations

2. Improvements In Communication To Higher Level Control Systems (Gate and Branches' Air Velocities/Volume)

3. Improvements In Ecogate Cloud Server Communication (GBMbase)

Let’s have a detailed look at the most important improvements.

Support For Multiple Air Velocity Sensors with Advanced Fan/VFD Configurations

Customers who are using advanced Fan/VFD configurations (Cascading Fans, Fans in Parallel/Series, Lead & Backup Fans) will benefit greatly from the added support of multiple air velocity sensors. For example, if the system is using efficient Cascading Fans without the main duct (duct branches that are connected directly to the dust collector), the best way to measure air velocity is to measure the air volume of each fan. Similarly, if the system is using a lead/backup fan, the best option is to measure air velocities and air volumes by multiple sensors.

This software update also allows your system to support multiple air velocity sensors (optional setting). The sensors can be connected to the greenBOX via Modbus and can support either of the outputs in air velocity values (FPM, m/s) or by pitot tube connected to the pressure transmitters (in Pa or “w.c.; pressure values will be recalculated to the air velocity).

Multiple air velocity sensors are now supported if you are using Cascading, Parallel, Lead & Backup Fans operational mode

Improvements In Communication To Higher Level Control Systems (Gate and Branches’ Air Velocities/Volume)

Many Ecogate system installations are using Higher Level Control systems communication. It can be a Building Management System (BMS), for example, Johnson Controls Metasys or similar, or Distributed Control System, for example, Emerson Delta V. The Higher Level Control system can read the status of the gates (the gates are equipped with Open and Close limit switches), system status (Standby, Running, Off, Error, etc.), ventilation fan pressure, speed (frequency), fan motor power, voltage, current, etc. The Modbus Gateway uses Modbus via RS485; communication speed and other communication parameters can be set by the user.

The Ecogate system measures the air volume/air velocity/pressure at all gates, and also at the duct branches. Per popular request, key data from gates (air volume/velocity/pressure) and branches (air volume/velocity) are included in the communication to higher-level control systems. VFD status reporting has been fixed and improvements were made to the documentation.

Reporting of gate air volume/air velocity/pressure and air volume/air velocities at duct branches to the communication to higher level control systems

To implement communication with the Higher Level Control system we developed the Ecogate System Explorer software for Windows PC. You can use this software while implementing communication with the Building Management System (or order Higher Level Control system). Your Windows PC (with the Ecogate System Explorer software) can communicate with greenBOX MASTER (using the USB-to-RS485 adapter) in the same way as the Building Management System.

New “Ecogate System Explorer” software for Windows PC. You can use this software while implementing communication with the Building Management System to debug it

Improvements In Ecogate Cloud Server Communication (GBMbase)

In previous software versions, the air volume reported to GBMbase/Analytics is based on the original method of measurement (fan power, fan pressure, and fan efficiency). Now there are four new methods available to you:

1. Fan power/pressure/efficiency

2. External air velocity sensor

3. Sum of air volume from gates

4. Multiple air velocity sensors

The air velocity and air volume are now reported based on selected methods in System Setup. A new tag, AirVolume, was added to the transmitted data. We also fixed some documentation mistakes in the VFD status reporting.

At the same time, we added better description of communication with Ecogate Cloud servers to “Input/Output Monitoring” → greenBOX tab. Users can see the number of messages sent, confirmations received, and messages from the cloud server.

Easier to understand description of communication with Ecogate Cloud servers to “Input/Output Monitoring” → greenBOX tab