Abstract
This paper presents control strategies to activate energy flexibility for zones with radiant heating systems in response to changes in electricity prices. The focus is on zones with radiant floor heating systems for which the hydronic pipes are located deep in the concrete and, therefore, there is a significant thermal lag. A perimeter zone test-room equipped with a hydronic radiant floor system in an environmental chamber is used as a case study. A low order thermal network model for the perimeter zone, validated with experimental measurements, is utilized to study various control strategies in response to changes in the electrical grid price signal, including short term (nearly reactive) changes of the order of 10–15 min notice. An index is utilized to quantify the building energy flexibility with the focus on peak demand reduction for specific periods of time when the electricity prices are higher than usual. It is shown that the developed control strategies can aid greatly in enhancing the zone energy flexibility and minimizing the cost of electricity and up to 100% reduction in peak power demand and energy consumption is attained during the high-price and peak-demand periods, while maintaining acceptable comfort conditions.
Highlights
The world-wide demand for electricity is expected to double by 2050 [1] and the electricity demand in the building sector is projected to increase by 70% [2]
The major contributions of this article can be listed as 1. a methodology to develop low-order models for zones with high-mass radiant floor heating systems; 2. a method for short notice predictive control in response to change in the grid price signal for zones with
The major contributions of this article can be listed as 1. a methodology to develop loworder models for zones with high-mass radiant floor heating systems; 2. a method for short notice predictive control in response to change in the grid price signal for zones with hydronic floor heating systems; and 3. a method for day-ahead predictive control in response to the change in the grid price signal for the zones with hydronic floor heating systems
Summary
The world-wide demand for electricity is expected to double by 2050 [1] and the electricity demand in the building sector is projected to increase by 70% [2]. Hydronic radiant heating can utilize low temperature renewable energy heat sources including geothermal or solarsource heat pumps (water temperature as low as 35 ◦ C) and provide significant flexibility to smart grids by storing energy and shifting heating demand [26] In both cases heat pumps operate with electricity. The operation of these systems can be optimized by applying predictive control and further the energy costs can be reduced by optimizing their interaction with smart grids by utilizing the flexibility in their demand profiles. The current building energy flexibility literature is limited to few studies on control strategies that considers the electricity price prediction of the following days [41,42] and there is a limited number of such studies for buildings equipped with radiant floor heating systems. The BEFI is calculated with dynamic tariffs and a floor heating system
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
