Control System Components 205

Chapter 12

Control
System Components

C ontrollers

• Direct acting
An increase in sensed temperature (pressure or humid-
ity) is an increase in branch pressure (pneumatic or
electric)
• Reverse acting
An increase in temperature, etc., is a decrease in branch
pressure

CONTROL COMPONENTS

Controllers
A controller is a proportioning device designed to control
dampers or valves to maintain temperature, humidity, or pres-
sure. Types of controllers are thermostats for temperature, humi-
distats for humidity, pressurestats for pressure, master controllers
to control submaster controllers, and receiver-controllers. A con-
troller may be direct acting (D/A) or reverse acting (R/A). A di-
rect acting controller increases its branch line pressure as the
condition it is sensing increases. A reverse acting controller de-
creases its branch line pressure as the condition it is sensing in-
creases. Some other important terms you’ll need to know are
throttling range and setpoint. Throttling range is the change in the
controlled condition necessary for the controller output to change

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over a certain range. For example, a 4 degree throttling range (TR)

means that the thermostat’s branch line output will vary from 3
to 15 psig over a 4 degree change in temperature. “Setpoint” is the
point at which the controller is set and the degree of temperature,
or percent relative humidity, or pressure which is to be main-
tained. An example of a DDC controller’s output signals for both
direct acting and reverse acting operation for a 6 degree throttling
range is that the electrical signal will vary from 6 to 9 vdc over a
6 degree change in temperature. You’ll understand these terms
better when we describe the various controllers, controlled de-
vices and relays.

Single Pressure Thermostat

A single pressure thermostat may be a one-pipe, bleed-type
or a two pipe, relay-type controller. The bleed-type thermostat has
only one pipe connection. The main air is introduced through a
restrictor into the branch line between the thermostat and the
controlled device. The two-pipe thermostat has two connections,
branch and main, and receives main air directly. The two-pipe
thermostat will provide a greater volume of air to the controlled
device which produces a faster response to a change in tempera-
ture. Thermostats may be either direct or reverse acting. The stan-
dard thermostat has a temperature range of 55°F to 85°F and a 3
to 15 psig output range. Generally, the throttling range may be
adjusted between 2 and 12 degrees. As an example, a room has a
direct acting thermostat set for 72°F and a 4 degree throttling
range is selected (70°F to 74°F). A direct acting thermostat means
that a rise in space temperature causes a rise in the branch pres-
sure output of the thermostat. Therefore, when the room tempera-
ture is at or below 70°F the thermostat will put out 3 psig branch
pressure. When the room is 72°F the output will be 9 psig. At 74
degrees or above the branch output will be 15 psig. Another ex-
ample would be a room that has a reverse acting thermostat with
a 6 degree throttling range and a setpoint of 72°F. The control
sequence is: at 75°F, the branch output would be 3 psig (a rise in
space temperature is a decrease in pressure output), at 72°F the