ABSTRACT
This paper proposes a simulation-based control strategy where a multi-variate Model Predictive Control (MPC) system has been developed, considering Indian geographical, climatic and building characteristics, for optimization of building energy consumption, vis-à-vis maintaining building’s thermal comfort levels.. Using the proposed control strategy, an optimum trade-off between energy savings and occupants’ comfort levels is achieved through a dual objective function. A Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) predictive controller has been developed for simultaneous control of indoor room temperature, indoor relative humidity and indoor illumination through control variables such as cooling and lighting power and automated window roller blind actuation. Three disturbance variables such as outdoor air temperature, outdoor relative humidity and solar irradiance have been considered here. Simulation analyses reveal that by changing the occupants’ thermal comfort level minimally and by selection of desired adjustment levels of indoor temperature, indoor relative humidity and indoor illuminance, significant energy savings can be done. This novel approach can be efficiently implemented in smart buildings’ energy management system.
