Abstract
Economy and parsimony in the consumption of energy resources are becoming a part of common sense in practically all countries, although the effective implementation of energy efficiency policies still has a long way to go. The energy demand for residential buildings is one of the most significant energy sinks. We focus our analysis on one of the most energy-consuming systems of residential buildings located in regions of tropical climate, which are cooling systems. We evaluate to which degree the integration of thermal energy storage (TES) and photovoltaic (PV) systems helps to approach an annual net zero energy building (NZEB) configuration, aiming to find a feasible solution in the direction of energy efficiency in buildings. To conduct the simulations, an Energy Efficiency Analysis Framework (EEAF) is proposed. A literature review unveiled a potential knowledge gap about the optimization of the ASHRAE operational modes (full storage load, load leveled, and demand limiting) for air conditioning/TES sets using PV connected to the grid. A hypothetical building was configured with detailed loads and occupation profiles to simulate different configurations of air conditioning associated with TES and a PV array. Using TRNSYS software, a set of scenarios was simulated, and their outputs are analyzed in a life cycle perspective using life cycle costing (LCC). The modeling and simulation of different scenarios allowed for identifying the most economic configurations from a life cycle perspective, within a safe range of operability considering the energy efficiency and consequently the sustainability aspects of the buildings. The EEAF also supports other profiles, such as those in which the occupancy of residential buildings during the day is increased due to significant changes in people’s habits, when working and studying in home office mode, for example. These changes in habits should bring a growing interest in the adoption of solar energy for real-time use in residential buildings. The results can be used as premises for the initial design or planning retrofits of buildings, aiming at the annual net zero energy balance.
Highlights
For the building energy efficiency analysis, the definition of the systems, establishing their physical frontiers and the time frame, can bring the most different and, in some cases, controversial results
For the Base Case, the cooling load for the building is supplied by a chiller of 31.2 ton, a commercial value close to that capacity calculated in the Case Study section for the
The chiller of 31.2 ton operates during the night with a full capacity ratio and charges the thermal energy storage (TES) that delivers cooling to the building
Summary
For the building energy efficiency analysis, the definition of the systems, establishing their physical frontiers and the time frame, can bring the most different and, in some cases, controversial results. Either from the point of view of supply or consumption, energy availability is related to some basic issues such as source(s), conversion, distribution, utilization, waste, optimization, efficiency, and autonomy These issues reveal the complexity of the subject of energy and justify the special attention given to it by the academic community. Typical occupancy profiles have been adopted in these studies, the EEAF supports other occupancy profiles, such as those in which the occupancy of residential buildings during the day is increased due to significant changes in people’s habits, when working and studying at home office mode, for example These changes in habits should bring a growing interest in the adoption of solar energy for real-time use, maybe affecting the configuration of residential buildings in the near future
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