Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings

doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092427

Title: Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Abstract

This study aims to develop a concrete occupancy prediction as well as an optimal occupancy-based control solution for improving the efficiency of Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Accurate occupancy prediction is a key enabler for demand-based HVAC control so as to ensure HVAC is not run needlessly when when a room/zone is unoccupied. In this paper, we propose simple yet effective algorithms to predict occupancy alongside an algorithm for automatically assigning temperature set-points. Utilizing past occupancy observations, we introduce three different techniques for occupancy prediction. Firstly, we propose an identification-based approach, which identifies the model via Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. Secondly, we study a novel finite state automata (FSA) which can be reconstructed by a general systems problem solver (GSPS). Thirdly, we introduce an alternative stochastic model based on uncertain basis functions. The results show that all the proposed occupancy prediction techniques could achieve around 70% accuracy. Then, we have proposed a scheme to adaptively adjust the temperature set-points according to a novel temperature set algorithm with customers’ different discomfort tolerance indexes. By cooperating with the temperature set algorithm, our occupancy-based HVAC control shows 20% energy saving while still maintaining building comfort requirements.

Authors:

^[1];

^[2];

^[2]

Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Energy and Transportation Science Division
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Computational Sciences and Engineering Division

Publication Date:: 2018-09-13

Research Org.:: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

OSTI Identifier:: 1470899

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

Resource Type:: Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Energies (Basel)

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 11; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 1996-1073

Publisher:: MDPI AG

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 42 ENGINEERING; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING; occupancy model; occupancy-based control; model predictive control; energy efficiency; building climate control

Citation Formats


                    Dong, Jin, Winstead, Christopher J., Nutaro, James J., and Kuruganti, Teja. Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
        Web.  doi:10.3390/en11092427.

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                    Dong, Jin, Winstead, Christopher J., Nutaro, James J., & Kuruganti, Teja. Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092427

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                    Dong, Jin, Winstead, Christopher J., Nutaro, James J., and Kuruganti, Teja. Thu .  
        "Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.3390/en11092427.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1470899.

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@article{osti_1470899,

  title        = {Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings},

  author       = {Dong, Jin and Winstead, Christopher J. and Nutaro, James J. and Kuruganti, Teja},

  abstractNote = {This study aims to develop a concrete occupancy prediction as well as an optimal occupancy-based control solution for improving the efficiency of Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Accurate occupancy prediction is a key enabler for demand-based HVAC control so as to ensure HVAC is not run needlessly when when a room/zone is unoccupied. In this paper, we propose simple yet effective algorithms to predict occupancy alongside an algorithm for automatically assigning temperature set-points. Utilizing past occupancy observations, we introduce three different techniques for occupancy prediction. Firstly, we propose an identification-based approach, which identifies the model via Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. Secondly, we study a novel finite state automata (FSA) which can be reconstructed by a general systems problem solver (GSPS). Thirdly, we introduce an alternative stochastic model based on uncertain basis functions. The results show that all the proposed occupancy prediction techniques could achieve around 70% accuracy. Then, we have proposed a scheme to adaptively adjust the temperature set-points according to a novel temperature set algorithm with customers’ different discomfort tolerance indexes. By cooperating with the temperature set algorithm, our occupancy-based HVAC control shows 20% energy saving while still maintaining building comfort requirements.},

  doi          = {10.3390/en11092427},

  url          = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1470899},
  journal      = {Energies (Basel)},

  issn         = {1996-1073},

  number       = 9,

  volume       = 11,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2018},

  month        = {9}

}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Impact of Heating Control Strategy and Occupant Behavior on the Energy Consumption in a Building with Natural Ventilation in Poland
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Similar Records

Title: Occupancy-Based HVAC Control with Short-Term Occupancy Prediction Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Buildings

Abstract

Citation Formats

Energy performance of a ventilation system for an apartment according to the Italian regulation journal, January 2015

An evidence based approach to determining residential occupancy and its role in demand response management journal, August 2016

Review of occupancy sensing systems and occupancy modeling methodologies for the application in institutional buildings journal, June 2016

Occupancy learning-based demand-driven cooling control for office spaces journal, September 2017

Should we design buildings that are less sensitive to occupant behaviour? A simulation study of effects of behaviour and design on office energy consumption journal, January 2016

Energy efficient HVAC control for an IPS-enabled large space in commercial buildings through dynamic spatial occupancy distribution journal, December 2017

Importance of occupancy information for building climate control journal, January 2013

Occupancy Modeling and Prediction for Building Energy Management journal, April 2014

Occupancy measurement in commercial office buildings for demand-driven control applications—A survey and detection system evaluation journal, April 2015

Using machine learning techniques for occupancy-prediction-based cooling control in office buildings journal, February 2018

Frequency Prediction of Power Systems in FNET Based on State-Space Approach and Uncertain Basis Functions journal, November 2014

Building Energy Management: Integrated Control of Active and Passive Heating, Cooling, Lighting, Shading, and Ventilation Systems journal, July 2013

Signal Fitting With Uncertain Basis Functions journal, June 2011

Development of an occupancy learning algorithm for terminal heating and cooling units journal, November 2015

Impact of control rules on the efficiency of shading devices and free cooling for office buildings journal, February 2007

A robust occupancy detection and tracking algorithm for the automatic monitoring and commissioning of a building journal, July 2014

A critical review of observation studies, modeling, and simulation of adaptive occupant behaviors in offices journal, December 2013

A modeling framework for optimal energy management of a residential building journal, October 2016

Occupancy schedules learning process through a data mining framework journal, February 2015

Implementation and comparison of existing occupant behaviour models in EnergyPlus journal, November 2015

The impact of shading design and control on building cooling and lighting demand journal, March 2007

Use of model predictive control and weather forecasts for energy efficient building climate control journal, February 2012

A Review of Approaches for Sensing, Understanding, and Improving Occupancy-Related Energy-Use Behaviors in Commercial Buildings journal, October 2015

Modelling home electricity management for sustainability: The impact of response levels, technological deployment & occupancy journal, May 2016

Energy intelligent buildings based on user activity: A survey journal, January 2013

Coordination and Control of Building HVAC Systems to Provide Frequency Regulation to the Electric Grid journal, July 2018

Smart occupancy sensors to reduce energy consumption journal, June 2000

Occupant behavior in building energy simulation: Towards a fit-for-purpose modeling strategy journal, June 2016

Coupling of dynamic building simulation with stochastic modelling of occupant behaviour in offices – a review-based integrated methodology journal, December 2011

Impact of Heating Control Strategy and Occupant Behavior on the Energy Consumption in a Building with Natural Ventilation in Poland journal, November 2019

Energy performance of a ventilation system for an apartment according to the Italian regulation
journal, January 2015

An evidence based approach to determining residential occupancy and its role in demand response management
journal, August 2016

Review of occupancy sensing systems and occupancy modeling methodologies for the application in institutional buildings
journal, June 2016

Occupancy learning-based demand-driven cooling control for office spaces
journal, September 2017

Should we design buildings that are less sensitive to occupant behaviour? A simulation study of effects of behaviour and design on office energy consumption
journal, January 2016

Energy efficient HVAC control for an IPS-enabled large space in commercial buildings through dynamic spatial occupancy distribution
journal, December 2017

Importance of occupancy information for building climate control
journal, January 2013

Occupancy Modeling and Prediction for Building Energy Management
journal, April 2014

Occupancy measurement in commercial office buildings for demand-driven control applications—A survey and detection system evaluation
journal, April 2015

Using machine learning techniques for occupancy-prediction-based cooling control in office buildings
journal, February 2018

Frequency Prediction of Power Systems in FNET Based on State-Space Approach and Uncertain Basis Functions
journal, November 2014

Building Energy Management: Integrated Control of Active and Passive Heating, Cooling, Lighting, Shading, and Ventilation Systems
journal, July 2013

Signal Fitting With Uncertain Basis Functions
journal, June 2011

Development of an occupancy learning algorithm for terminal heating and cooling units
journal, November 2015

Impact of control rules on the efficiency of shading devices and free cooling for office buildings
journal, February 2007

A robust occupancy detection and tracking algorithm for the automatic monitoring and commissioning of a building
journal, July 2014

A critical review of observation studies, modeling, and simulation of adaptive occupant behaviors in offices
journal, December 2013

A modeling framework for optimal energy management of a residential building
journal, October 2016

Occupancy schedules learning process through a data mining framework
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The impact of shading design and control on building cooling and lighting demand
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journal, October 2015

Modelling home electricity management for sustainability: The impact of response levels, technological deployment & occupancy
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journal, June 2000

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journal, June 2016

Coupling of dynamic building simulation with stochastic modelling of occupant behaviour in offices – a review-based integrated methodology
journal, December 2011

Impact of Heating Control Strategy and Occupant Behavior on the Energy Consumption in a Building with Natural Ventilation in Poland
journal, November 2019