Real-Time Optimization Strategies for Building Systems

Abstract

We analyze different optimization strategies for real-time energy management in building systems. We have found that exploiting building-wide multivariable interactions between CO 2 , humidity, pressure, occupancy, and temperature leads to significant reductions of energy intensity. Our analysis indicates that it is possible to obtain energy savings of more than 50% compared with traditional control strategies. The exploitation of the thermal comfort zone has been found to be the most relevant factor driving energy savings. We discuss strategies to handle multiple competing objectives as well as economic functions and we analyze financial incentives provided by real-time prices and existing market designs. Numerical experiments are provided to support the claims.

Harnessing the Flexibility of Thermostatic Loads in Microgrids with Solar Power Generation

“…Existing top-down approaches to quantify flexibility potential for DR, such as those found in [18,29,[50][51][52], are very valuable for traditional market players, such as energy suppliers and/or system operators with access to plentiful aggregated historical data, but no way to know what the system characteristics of each individual end-user are. However, one downside of the data-driven approach is that the link between historical and present/future usage could be compromised by a changing system infrastructure and operation, vis-à-vis DG-RES, electric vehicles, storage and other emerging technologies.…”

“…However, the fixed-setpoint conditions of the temperature control restrict the flexibility of the thermal loads [51]. By contrast, in order to harness and increase the flexibility of the thermal loads at C&I customer premises, we propose coupling the thermal models with the optimization modeling framework to devise an optimal on/off strategy for the heater or chiller to separately achieve the objectives of (1) minimal cost and (2) maximal energy efficiency and discuss the potential benefits of such a strategy.…”

A review on sustainable construction management strategies for monitoring, diagnosing, and retrofitting the building’s dynamic energy performance: Focused on the operation and maintenance phase

“…The previous studies were arranged in a chronologically descending order in the presentation of the literature review on the energy-saving techniques for buildings. Table 9 shows a summary of the previous studies on the passive design techniques [138][139][140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147][148], and Table 10 shows a summary of the previous studies on the active design techniques [149][150][151][152][153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160]. Finally, Table 11 shows a summary of the previous studies on the combination of the passive and active design techniques [161][162][163][164][165][166][167].…”

Next-generation building energy management systems and implications for electricity markets.

“…In addition, demand response programs are currently run sporadically [16]. Proactive energy management systems, however, can enable building participation in several other markets provided by ISOs [17].…”