Enhancing energy efficiency and comfort in buildings through model predictive control for dynamic façades with electrochromic glazing

Isaia, Francesco; Fiorentini, Massimo; Serra, Valentina; Capozzoli, Alfonso

doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102535

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In particular, in this study, the authors considered four different states (fully clear, intermediate 1, intermediate 2, and fully dark) of the selected smart windows and three different strategies controlling their states. The design of control strategies plays a fundamental role in the performance of smart windows [59]. Rule-based control strategies are the most commonly employed control algorithms for the management of smart windows; they are formulated to enable operations where, if a condition occurs, a given control action is applied.…”

Section: Proposed Alternative Building Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

et al. 2023

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Worldwide, smart/co-working spaces are growing significantly, and prefabricated movable buildings for such an application could (i) save energy, CO2 emissions, and costs; (ii) enhance the worker’s perceived sense of surroundings; and (iii) support the rebirth of small villages with high regenerative potential. Innovative prefabricated movable building configurations to be used as an office for smart/co-working by a maximum of 6 persons have been designed and analyzed based on simulation data. In particular, 10 case studies corresponding to building configurations differing in terms of innovative energy-efficient measures related to the building envelope (smart windows operated under various control logics) and the energy systems serving the building (photovoltaic panels, small wind turbines, and electric storages) have been modeled and simulated by applying detailed dynamic simulation models via the simulation software TRNSYS. The performance of the 10 case studies has been compared from energy, environmental, and economic points of view with respect to a baseline system characterized by conventional building envelope and energy systems, with the aim of assessing the proposed measures and identifying the most efficient configuration. The simulation results highlighted that: (i) all the proposed alternative configurations allow to save primary energy (from 10.3% up to 100%), equivalent CO2 emissions(from 10.3% up to 100%), and operating costs (from 8.5% up to 100%) with respect to the baseline building; (ii) the building configurations including the smart windows only are not economically feasible in terms of simple pay-back (SPB) period, while the building configurations equipped with photovoltaic panels and/or electric storages and/or wind turbine represent a suitable investment thanks to an SPB lower than 15.2 years; (iii) a stand-alone building configuration for smart/co-working with energy demands totally covered by means of renewable sources can be obtained by combining smart windows, photovoltaic panels, electric storages and wind turbine.

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Section: Proposed Alternative Building Configurationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The smart windows' controls and the corresponding threshold values associated with the above-mentioned case studies are summarized in Table 8; such values have been defined according to Isaia et al [59].…”

Section: Building Configuration a With Smart Windows (Sws)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

et al. 2023

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“…Isaia et al have recently developed an innovative and efficient MPC (Isaia, Fiorentini , Serra, & Capozzoli , 2021), demonstrating its effectiveness in managing EC windows. This method successfully considers both continuous and discrete variables, resolving conflicting requirements and outperforming traditional rule-based controllers in key areas such as energy consumption, peak power, and discomfort hours.…”

Section: Rule-based Control Strategies For Smart Glazing Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasmochromic Modules for Smart Windows

Riganti,

Olivé,

Isaia

et al. 2023

JFDE

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Active glazing components, which can dynamically regulate incoming solar radiation, are particularly interesting, as they simultaneously impact multiple aspects, such as thermal and visual comfort and overall energy consumption. Near-infrared EC windows (also referred to as “plasmochromic”) enable selective spectral control of the incoming solar radiation and efficiently respond to ever-changing lighting, heating and cooling requirements. They allow to selectively filter a large amount of near-infrared solar radiation passing through the window, thus blocking solar heat gain during hot summer days and letting it permeate over sunny winter days whilst independently regulating the amount of daylight. This article delves into the core attributes of such glazing systems, showcasing recent advancements in their design and fabrication. By evaluating key metrics like luminous transmittance (TLUM), solar transmittance (TSOL), and total solar heat gain coefficient (g-value), the paper presents a preliminary performance assessment of smart glazing employing this technology. Furthermore, the authors prospect the importance of implementing appropriate control strategies for these systems to fully exploit their potential in reducing energy consumption while maximising comfort.

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“…Precedent studies are mainly focused on using MPC for regulating the temperature and HVAC systems for the energy-saving purpose and thermal comfort [29], while controlling dynamic shading and lighting systems for providing both energy and comfort remained less investigated [14,31,32]. Favoino et al [26] studied optimal control and performance of switchable glazing in temperate climates and concluded that more advanced control strategies (such as reactive and predictive control) show a higher potential in energy saving while providing visual comfort.…”

Section: Model Predictive Control (Mpc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, Isaia et al [32] showed enhancing energy efficiency and comfort in buildings is possible by using a Hybrid-model predictive control for switchable EC glazing. In theoretical investigations, discrete and switched systems are controlled with Hybrid-MPC methods, combining continuous and discrete states.…”

Section: Model Predictive Control (Mpc)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Controlling Switchable Electrochromic Glazing for Energy Savings, Visual Comfort and Thermal Comfort: A Model Predictive Control

et al. 2021

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Dynamic façades play an important role in enhancing the overall performance of buildings: they respond to the environmental conditions and adjust the amount of transmitted solar radiation. This paper proposes a simulation-based framework to evaluate the energy and comfort performance of different control strategies for switchable electrochromic glazing (EC). The presented method shows the impact of a model predictive control (MPC) on energy savings and on visual and thermal comfort for different orientations compared to other strategies. Besides manual operation and conventional rule-based controls, the benchmark in this study was a simulation-based control (multi-objective penalty-based control) with optimal performance. The hourly results of various control cases were analyzed based on the established performance indicators and criteria. The cumulative annual results show the capabilities and limitations of each control strategy for an EC glazing. For a temperate climate (Mannheim, Germany), results showed that an MPC for EC glazing provides visual and thermal comfort while saving energy of up to 14%, 37%, 37%, and 34% respectively for facing north, east, south, and west relative to the base-case.

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Enhancing energy efficiency and comfort in buildings through model predictive control for dynamic façades with electrochromic glazing

Cited by 24 publications

References 32 publications

Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

Innovative Energy-Efficient Prefabricated Movable Buildings for Smart/Co-Working: Performance Assessment upon Varying Building Configurations

Plasmochromic Modules for Smart Windows

Controlling Switchable Electrochromic Glazing for Energy Savings, Visual Comfort and Thermal Comfort: A Model Predictive Control

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