The present work constitutes a review of the existing literature on supervisory control for improving the energy flexibility provided by heat pumps in buildings. A distinction was drawn between rule-based controls (RBC) and model predictive controls (MPC), given the clear differences in their concept and complexity. For both kinds, the different objectives claimed by these strategies have been reviewed, as well as the control inputs, disturbances and constraints. Notably in MPC, the monetary objective (reduction of the energy costs) has been the most utilized in the literature, therefore the authors advocate for the further study of other objectives related to energy flexibility. Further than the control strategies themselves, the different thermal storage options (necessary to activate the flexibility) have also been reviewed, the built-in thermal mass seeming more costeffective than water buffer tanks in this regard. Based on these conclusions, recommendations for further research topics are drawn.
The development of Urban-Scale Energy Modelling (USEM) at the district or city level is currently the goal of many research groups due to the increased interest in evaluating the impact of energy efficiency measures in city environments. Because USEM comprises a great variety of analysis areas, the simulation programs that are able to model urban-scale energy systems actually consist of an assemblage of different particular sub-models. In order to simulate each of the sub-models in USEM, one can choose to use either existing specific simulation engines or tailor-made models. Engines or tools for simulation of urban-scale energy systems have already been overviewed in previous existing literature, however the distinction and classification of tools according to their functionalities within each analysis area in USEM has not been clearly presented. Therefore, the present work aims at reviewing the existing tools while classifying them according to their capabilities. The ultimate goal of this classification is to expose the available resources for implementing new co-simulation approaches in USEM, which may reduce the modelling effort and increase reliability as a result of using established and validated simulation engines.
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