Integrated framework for optimization of air- and water-side HVAC systems to minimize electric utility cost of existing commercial districts

Abstract

Summer peak electric demand of commercial buildings and districts is typically driven by the cooling load. This paper presents a novel approach to holistically optimize both the air- and water-side of the HVAC system in existing commercial districts. Therefore, this paper is different from the existing literature in its focus on integrated optimization of both air- and water-side of the HVAC system in a district scale as opposed to only airside or waterside. Methodologies proposed in this paper for integrated optimization of air- and water-side are brand-agnostic and their capabilities are demonstrated using a chilled water plant at Colorado School of Mines’ campus. Based on the results for the test district, Mines’ integrated air- and water-side optimizations of the HVAC system reduces its peak electric demand by 15% and 13%, respectively, for August 19 and 20, 2019. The air- and water-side optimization of the HVAC system resulted in greater savings than that achieved with only the waterside demand optimization method discussed in authors' previous paper focused on existing commercial districts.