An agent-based hardware-in-the-loop simulation framework for building controls

Abstract

In general, a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) building simulation has lower cost and fewer practical limitations (e.g., scheduling issues) than field tests in occupied buildings, while also overcoming limitations of simulations alone by capturing the full behavior of some physical systems, equipment, and components. However, the implementation of an HIL can be difficult due to the scarcity of appropriate tools. This paper presents an agent-based framework for HIL simulation. It can be used for investigation of controller performance via controller-in-the-loop simulations and also HIL for system synthesis. In the latter case, both controllers and major equipment participate in tests to ensure that dynamics of equipment operation are correctly captured in addition to controller performance. The HIL simulation framework presented allows such actual physical parts to be included in the framework while representing others for which behaviors are better known and modeled in simulation models. The mechanism implemented in the framework to synchronize simulations in software with real-time operation of physical equipment is described. As an example, use of the HIL simulation framework is illustrated through a brief study of speed control of the supply fan in the air handling unit of a variable-air-volume building heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system.

Microgrid management system based on a multi-agent approach: An office building pilot

“…A hardware-inthe-loop (HIL) simulator for testing two variable-air-volume fan control is proposed in Ref. [42]. This HIL simulator was developed in the PNNL laboratories.…”

CarnegiePLUG: Prosumer-in-the-Loop simUlation Grid

“…Similar to the EnergyPlus Agent, the Modelica Agent publishes and subscribes to topics in the VOLTTRON TM message bus and modifies parameters in Modelica based on the information received from the VOLTTRON TM message bus. [22] V. PHYSICAL INTERFACES AND AGENT DEFINITIONS In addition to interfacing with virtual agents in simulation environments, our test-bed seamlessly connects with controller of physical assets. Our current setup relies on Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Raspberry Pis.…”

Power Grid Simulation Testbed for Transactive Energy Management Systems

“…A testbed without a real-time requirement also permits the use of computational resources, particularly very large high-performance computing (HPC) systems, using task schedulers that might be incompatible with the execution of a real-time simulation. This capability for fielding the non-real-time execution of software distinguishes the proposed testbed from related work, such as the Building Controls Virtual Testbed [26], the agent-based control in the loop simulator described by Huang et al [27], and similar systems to integrate building control software into a virtual building (as seen in Huang et al [27]). The proposed testbed can be conceived of as a controller in the loop technology, similar in most respects to those cited but without the associated requirement for the real-time execution of the simulation models.…”