Abstract
Indoor environmental parameters especially the air temperature have substantial effect on energy consumption in commercial buildings and indoor thermal comfort. This study presents a tuning approach of dynamic control strategy of temperature set-point with a view to improving occupants’ thermal comfort while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption. To determine optimum temperature set-points in response to ambient conditions, this study investigates the thermal comfort conditions of a commercial building based on real time series data. To quantify thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy, this study uses the graphical comfort zone method proposed by ASHRAE Standard 55-2017 through a rigorous analysis. Based on this analysis the study narrows down the comfort range in the context of seasonal variations and proposes tuning the Master Temperature Set-Points (MTSP) with 4.8°C variable linear band between upper and lower temperatures dependent on a simple algorithm. This re-setting strategy of temperature set-point ultimately offers extended lower and upper boundary limit for variable linear band. Extension of linear band for MTSP reduces the gap between temperature set-point and outdoor temperature which ultimately offers less heating and cooling energy consumption. Results show that implementation of this proposed approach would lead to monthly 2707.94 kWh energy savings either from heating or cooling or both during winter and summer season.
Highlights
Building sectors account for about 33% of the total primary energy resources around the world [2, 3] and 30% of worldwide CO2 concentrations [3]
Extension of linear band for Master Temperature Set-Points (MTSP) reduces the gap between temperature set-point and outdoor temperature which offers less heating and cooling energy consumption
Building indoor temperature set-point plays an important role in controlling the thermal comfort conditions of a space as well as to regulate energy consumption intensity
Summary
Building sectors account for about 33% of the total primary energy resources around the world [2, 3] and 30% of worldwide CO2 concentrations [3]. Energy used by the building sector is rising over the years due to the wider application of HVAC systems in response to the growing demand for better thermal comfort within the built environment. Energy consumed by the HVAC system is considerably influenced by the seasonal variations and daily weather conditions. In this regard, building indoor temperature set-point which can be adjusted according to outdoor temperature, plays an important role. An optimal adjustment of temperature set-point can reduce the heating or cooling energy consumption by narrowing down the difference between building indoor and outdoor temperatures. It is important to maintain an optimum dynamic temperature set-point in response to ambient conditions to ensure satisfactory indoor thermal conditions for the building occupants
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