Abstract
This paper is the second of a two part study, which aims to evaluate the performance of adaptive insulation. Part 1 proposes a simulation framework for optimising adaptive insulation design and control parameters, it describes its implementation, and validates the simulation strategy qualitatively. This second paper applies the simulation framework, by means of a parametric study on a specific building typology in a particular climatic region, to explore the potential of adaptive insulation in this context. Alternative adaptive insulation configurations and control strategies for opaque wall applications are evaluated, for an office room in a temperate climate of Shanghai, in order to optimise two design objectives: total primary energy saving and thermal comfort. It is found that adaptive insulation, when properly designed and controlled, has significant potential to improve both design objectives simultaneously. For the case study considered in this paper, yearly energy savings and thermal comfort improvements of up to 50% could be achieved by adaptive insulation compared to an equivalent astatic insulation alternative. The performance improvements of the adaptive insulation depend on the design choices (thermal mass, position of the adaptive insulation, switching range of insulation) and control strategy adopted.
Highlights
Adaptive insulation provides an opportunity to reduce building energy use while improving the environmental quality, but there is a lack of information about its performance
In order to implement real-time Model Predictive Control (MPC), compared to rule based control, a calibrated building model, correct estimates of weather and endogenous loads, and a larger number of sensors for updating the model according to the acquired measurements are required [27]
It is observed that the MPC operated adaptive insulation presents a number of controlled actions per day which is lower than rule based control strategies (C2, 3 and 4)
Summary
Adaptive insulation provides an opportunity to reduce building energy use while improving the environmental quality, but there is a lack of information about its performance. When integrated into a building, its potential to reduce building energy use and improve indoor thermal comfort depends on many parameters, such as the range of achievable heat transfer coefficients, the way it interacts with thermal inertia, the control strategies adopted for its operations. Several technologies have been developed, as reviewed in Part I of this study titled “Design and control optimisation of adaptive insulation systems for office buildings. Part 1: adaptive technologies and simulation framework”, only few of them are assessed in terms of their building-integrated performance. Pflug et al [1] evaluated the heating and cooling energy. Q. Jin et al / Energy 127 (2017) 634e649
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