Reducing energy costs and peak electrical demand through optimal control of building thermal storage

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · ASHRAE Transactions (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers); (United States)

OSTI ID:5163170

Braun, J E ^[1]

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1. Johnson Controls, Inc., Milwaukee, WI (US)

This paper describes an investigation into the use of building thermal capacitance as a means of reducing the operating costs associated with maintaining adequate comfort conditions in buildings (termed dynamic building control). The state of the building thermal storage can be controlled through variations of the zone temperatures over time within the thermal comfort region. The primary opportunities in varying zone setpoints in an optimal fashion are associated with shifting cooling loads from daytime to nighttime to (1) reduce peak electrical demands, (2) take advantage of low nighttime electrical rates, (3) offset mechanical cooling with free cooling at night, and (4) enhance equipment operation at more favorable part-load conditions. The approach utilized in this study was to apply dynamic optimization techniques to computer simulations of buildings and their associated cooling systems for a range of conditions in order to determine the maximum possible savings. Results indicate that both energy costs and peak electrical use can be significantly reduced through optimal structures. However, the cost savings depend upon several factors, including (1) utility rate structure, (2) part-load characteristics of the cooling plant and air-handling system, (3) weather, (4) the occupancy schedule, and (5) building thermal capacitance.

• OSTI ID: 5163170
• Report Number(s): CONF-9006117-; CODEN: ASHTA
• Journal Information: ASHRAE Transactions (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers); (United States), Vol. 96:2; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), St. Louis, MO (United States), 9-13 Jun 1990; ISSN 0001-2505
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BUILDINGS
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
SIMULATION
320105* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Services- (1987-)