Multi-Source Cooling System Control in the MLBE Building – a Pilot Experimental Study

Abstract

Computer simulations of buildings in the context of improving their energy efficiency, performed by the Design Builder – type computer programs, are a very useful tool. However, in the case of simulation studies on the impact of automatic control systems on the energy efficiency of buildings, the results are often overly optimistic. Energy savings are overestimated in comparison to the results achieved in the real environments. Therefore the results obtained by the simulations should be validated in a real environment. The Małopolska Laboratory of Energy Efficient Building (MLBE) of Cracow University of Technology provides an opportunity to perform an experimental real scale research of the building automation systems to improve the buildings energy efficiency and occupants’ comfort. This paper presents a part of the multi-source cooling system with selected cooling sources and room’s cooling methods, implemented in the MLBE building. The purpose of the summer study was to verify the work of selected technical equipment and installations that realize the cooling process in actual conditions. A gas heat pump and a passive cooling system using the cooling capacity of the soil were used. Furthermore, the fan coil units and the plane systems were used at the room level. Together with the possibilities of the building automation and control system implemented in MLBE, the results shown in this paper will become – in the future planned research – a base for creating optimized algorithms for controlling the studied system in the context of the search for energy-efficient installation and programming solutions. The obtained results will form the basis to develop more effective control strategies for the tested cooling system, both in the economic context as well as in the context of the required users´ comfort.