Genetic Algorithms Based Reference Signal Determination for Temperature Control of Residential Buildings

Domenico Gorni,Antonio Visioli

doi:10.3390/app8112129

Abstract

This paper deals with the use of genetic algorithms for the determination of the optimal set-point signals for the control of the temperature in a residential building for which the use of the rooms, that is, the user requirements, are different throughout the day. In particular, the optimization procedure aims at minimizing the overall energy consumption by satisfying, at the same time, the comfort constraints set by the user. Both the case of radiators and fan-coil units are considered. The presence of unoccupied rooms is also addressed. Finally, a comparison between this approach and a Model Predictive Control based one is presented. Simulation results obtained by using TRNSYS software tool demonstrate the effectiveness of the method.

Highlights

It is well known that the building sector uses more than 40% of world energy to maintain appropriate levels of comfort for people
In this paper, which is an extended version of [21], we consider the previously described situation where different set-point values are imposed by the user for the different rooms and for different time intervals of the day and we propose a different approach, based on genetic algorithms [22], to the problem of determining the optimal reference signals for the rooms of a residential building to satisfy the user requirements by minimizing the energy consumption
The genetic algorithm implemented in the MATLAB Global Optimization Toolbox (The Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA) has been used for the optimization procedure, with an initial population size of 100 and a maximum number of generations of 300

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that the building sector uses more than 40% of world energy to maintain appropriate levels of comfort for people. The resulting carbon emission is greater than that of the transportation sector [1]. This energy is mainly consumed to ensure an adequate thermal comfort level by acting on Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. A significant research effort has been provided by engineers and architects to influence the energy use of the new buildings through the design of the envelope and the HVAC systems selection [3,4]. When a building has been finished or it already exists and can be just retrofitted, the consumption of energy is determined mainly by the HVAC control [5], maintenance and by the requirements of its occupants

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