An Investigation-Based Optimization Framework of Thermal Comfort Analysis in Underground Enclosed Spaces Affected by Multiple Parameters for Energy Performance in Tropics

Abstract

Optimization becomes more valuable when the optimal variables decision can consider sensitivity analysis. To get optimum results quickly, this study established a synthetic sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization approach, which is combined with an energy simulation framework characterized by parallel processing. To discover the final optimal solutions, the optimization procedures were carried out under two scenarios. To investigate the impact of each design variable on the optimization goals in order to select the variables with the greatest impact for inclusion in the final optimization, a sensitivity analysis was carried out. In the first scenario, the link between design variables and objective functions is thoroughly examined, and the ultimate impacts of optimum design variables are examined. The purpose of this study is to look at the effect of thermal envelopes on energy performance for subterranean enclosed spaces in Malaysia's tropics, to determine the best design parameter values for enclosed underground spaces and to introduce suitable variables for thermal comfort and energy performance. The optimization results confirm that while considering two objective functions of thermal and energy performance by using different optimization parameters design that as one of the objectives decreases, the other objective increases. The final optimal solutions showed that, it is possible to decrease the cooling energy for underground spaces, by up to 58.33% of total hours of the year, respectively, while maintaining occupants’ thermal comfort in the acceptable range, by up to 26.84%.