Assessing the Retrofit Potential of Building Control Systems

It is well known that building control systems frequently under-perform, leading to wasted energy and poor space conditions for occupants. There are many reasons for this, including insufficient design or commissioning, deterioration of equipment over time, changes in building usage and poor maintenance. Therefore, building control systems are prime candidates for retrofits and upgrades. Such activities, though, can be very challenging in their own right. For example, information regarding the design intent and current control logic may be difficult or impossible to obtain due to lack of documentation, proprietary data and communication formats or unrecorded modifications. In addition, there is a great deal of variability in control system configuration and components, so each potential retrofit activity can become a time-consuming and expensive operation requiring a high level of expertise. To reduce these barriers to implementing building control system retrofits, a method has been developed to assist in the identification and assessment of building control system operation and retrofit potential. The components of the method include a system identification process that categorizes the building by type and usage, then it produces an information model of the control system, which can be compared to other similar buildings by category. Control system requirements to meet two performance levels are provided, namely current best practice and high performance, along with suggested control technology packages to achieve the desired level of performance. This paper describes the method and demonstrates it via a case study

Semi-Active Control Systems in Bridge Engineering: A Review of the Current State of Practice

In view of the grave socioeconomic consequences of earthquake damage to bridge structures, along with their critical role in modern and older road and rail networks, this article attempts to identify and summarise the current trends in the use of semi-active control technology in bridge engineering, as an enhanced seismic response control solution, combining increased adaptability and reliability, compared to passive and active schemes. In this context, representative analytical and experimental studies, as well as some full-scale applications of semi-active control devices are first reviewed and a brief description of relevant benchmark studies is subsequently presented, with a view to serving as a point of reference for further research and development. A framework of performance-based control principles aiming at the aforementioned objectives is finally set forth

User centered neuro-fuzzy energy management through semantic-based optimization

This paper presents a cloud-based building energy management system, underpinned by semantic middleware, that integrates an enhanced sensor network with advanced analytics, accessible through an intuitive Web-based user interface. The proposed solution is described in terms of its three key layers: 1) user interface; 2) intelligence; and 3) interoperability. The system’s intelligence is derived from simulation-based optimized rules, historical sensor data mining, and a fuzzy reasoner. The solution enables interoperability through a semantic knowledge base, which also contributes intelligence through reasoning and inference abilities, and which are enhanced through intelligent rules. Finally, building energy performance monitoring is delivered alongside optimized rule suggestions and a negotiation process in a 3-D Web-based interface using WebGL. The solution has been validated in a real pilot building to illustrate the strength of the approach, where it has shown over 25% energy savings. The relevance of this paper in the field is discussed, and it is argued that the proposed solution is mature enough for testing across further buildings

Institutional smart buildings energy audit

Smart buildings and Fuzzy based control systems used in Buildings Management System (BMS), Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) and Building Automation Systems (BAS) are a point of interests among researcher and stake holders of buildings’ developing sector due to its ability to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore this paper will review, investigates define and evaluates the use of fuzzy logic controllers in smart buildings under subtropical Australia’s subtropical regions. In addition the paper also will define the latest development, design and proposed controlling strategies used in institutional buildings. Furthermore this paper will highlight and discuss the conceptual basis of these technologies including Fuzzy, Neural and Hybrid add-on technologies, its capabilities and its limitation

Evaluation of an Outer Loop Retrofit Architecture for Intelligent Turbofan Engine Thrust Control

The thrust control capability of a retrofit architecture for intelligent turbofan engine control and diagnostics is evaluated. The focus of the study is on the portion of the hierarchical architecture that performs thrust estimation and outer loop thrust control. The inner loop controls fan speed so the outer loop automatically adjusts the engine's fan speed command to maintain thrust at the desired level, based on pilot input, even as the engine deteriorates with use. The thrust estimation accuracy is assessed under nominal and deteriorated conditions at multiple operating points, and the closed loop thrust control performance is studied, all in a complex real-time nonlinear turbofan engine simulation test bed. The estimation capability, thrust response, and robustness to uncertainty in the form of engine degradation are evaluated

Analysis of New Strategies to Reach Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs)

The need to reduce CO2 emissions makes it necessary to review most areas of human activity because we are the main source of these emissions. In particular, the building sector is one of its main responsible. Through a State of the Art, several papers published in various scientific journals about nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) studies are reviewed. After carrying out an analysis of said documentation, it is considered that a new way of study can be developed with a multidisciplinary approach. For this, another series of articles are analyzed, where different advances in the field of building construction have been developed and are summarized. It is concluded that the Model Predictive Control (MPC) can also be a useful tool to optimize energy consumption in buildings, especially for public use, in order to achieve the goal of achieving nZEB, through the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)

Heating controls: International evidence base and policy experiences

This report presents a synthesis in the form of narrative summaries of the international evidence base and policy experiences on heating controls in the domestic sector. The research builds on the former Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) commissioned (systematic) scoping review of the UK evidence on heating controls published in 2016 (Lomas et al., 2016), and the Rapid Evidence Assessment of smarter heating controls published in 2014 (Munton et al., 2014). The report consists of two parts. Part 1 involves a (systematic) scoping review of the international evidence base on the energy savings, cost-effectiveness and usability of heating controls in the domestic sector. Part 2 contains the findings from an analysis of the policy experiences of other countries

Heating controls scoping review project

This report summarises the findings of an evidence review of the energy savings, cost-effectiveness and usability of different types of heating controls

Development of Autonomous Surface Vessels for Hydrographic Survey Applications

Autonomously navigating surface vessels have a variety of potential applications for ocean mapping. The use of small vessels for coastal mapping is investigated through the development of hardware and software that form a complete system for survey operations. The hardware is selected to minimize cost while providing flexibility for installation on different platforms. MOOS-IvP open-source autonomy software enables independent operation of the vessel and provides for human monitoring. Custom applications allow the sensors and actuators of the hardware platforms to interface with MOOS-IvP. An autonomy behavior is developed that replicates current human driven survey acquisition, in which the boat plans paths automatically to achieve full survey coverage with a swath sonar system. With initial input of a survey boundary and depths from the onboard sonar system, subsequent paths are planned to be offset based on the collected data. This behavior is tested in simulation and field experiments. A model reference adaptive control system for the heading of the vessel is investigated for improved reliability of vessel operation in a variety of conditions and over the full range of operation speeds. Simulations tests verify the adaptation of two types of controllers. A new method for speed control to increase endurance and decrease engine wear is also proposed and simulated. Together, these developments form an easily configurable system that provides automated hydrographic survey capability to a vessel with minimal human involvement for optimal performance