A virtual meter-based visualization tool to present energy flows in multiple zone variable air volume air handling unit systems

Abstract

Energy data estimated by virtual meters provide operational staff with an opportunity to improve building energy performance. Interactive visualization of virtual metered energy serves as a tool that can be used to identify energy consumption patterns and gain insights that can support operational decisions. This paper introduces a novel interactive visualization tool that applies visual analytics principles in developing a standalone application that illustrates equipment-level virtual metered energy trends. Users can interact with these visualizations via a user interaction panel designed to support operational decisions. Interviews with building operation professionals in two facility management companies are conducted to gain insights into visualization requirements that would assist decision-making processes. The use of the visualization tool is demonstrated using operational data collected from a commercial building located in Ottawa, Canada. The data are used to train inverse greybox models representing heat transfer mechanisms in an air handling unit and a variable air volume zone. Optimal values for model parameters are fed into the visualization tool to develop virtual meters that estimate the heat added or extracted by the air handling unit and the heat added by zone-level radiant heaters. The virtual metered energy is presented through a visualization interface that allows user interaction via processes including select, filter, explore, and compare. The potential of the visualization tool for assisting decision-making processes and improving building energy performance is demonstrated through illustrative examples.