Using Energy Management Control Systems for HVAC Operational Diagnostics

The power and flexibility in building energy management systems (EMS) provide building operators, system consultants and technicians with a useful tool for assessing building equipment and system operation. This paper describes specific methods and techniques for using the EMS to verify proper equipment operation and to diagnose operational deficiencies. Two primary methods are discussed: monitoring using trend logs to observe performance over time, and functional spot testing using the EMS. Discussion covers what EMS points to bend, how to efficiently set up bends, how to obtain data and what to look for in analyzing the data for a variety of typical equipment types. Examples and illustrations are provided

Performance of Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) in Selected Texas LoanSTAR Buildings

This report describes an investigation of energy use at various LoanSTAR sites. The effects of installing Energy Management Control Systems (EMCS) on electricity consumption was studied at four LoanSTAR sites: Stroman High School, Victoria High school, Sims Elementary School, and Zachry Engineering Center. In the course of this study, LoanSTAR monitoring data was used to analyze the changes in energy consumption based only on EMCS retrofits. The results will show that the installation ofEMCS was successful in reducing energy consumption and/or changing the hourly energy consumption pattern

New Energy Management Concepts for Hybrid and Electric Powertrains: Considering the Impact of Lithium Battery and Ultracapacitor Aging

During the lifetime of an energy storage system, its health deteriorates from use due to irreversible internal changes to the system. This degradation results in decreased capacity and efficiency of the battery or capacitor. This chapter reviews empirical aging models for lithium-ion battery and ultracapacitor energy storage systems. It will explore how operating conditions like large currents, high temperature, or deep discharge cycles impact the health of the energy storage system. After reviewing aging models, this chapter will then show how these models can be used in vehicle energy management control systems to reduce energy storage system aging. This includes both aging-aware control and control of hybrid energy storage systems (systems that include both a battery and an ultracapacitor)

Analysis of building energy upgrade technologies for implementing the dual energy efficiency and demand response scheme for non-residential buildings

The continuous growth of renewable energy and the transition to a more de-centralised electricity generation adds significant complexity to balance power supply and demand in the grid. These imbalances are partially compensated by demand response programs, which represent a new business opportunity in the building sector, especially for ESCOs. Including demand response to their traditional energy efficiency-based business model adds an additional revenue stream that could potentially shorten payback periods of energy renovation projects. This paper introduces this new dual-services business model, and evaluates the potential suitability of HVAC, generation and storage technologies to ensure proposed energy efficiency and flexibility goals.This paper is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 745594. This paper reflects only the author´s views and neither the Agency nor the Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therei

System Optimization - The Global Approach to HVAC Control

System Optimization is a new approach to HVAC control as implemented by Energy Management Control Systems. System Optimization is defined as electronic building control strategies which treat a building's HVAC components as a complete energy-efficient and coordinated system. Trends in the development of HVAC control strategies are briefly discussed. An example which differentiates between conventional and System Optimization approaches is used to illustrate this new approach. The example discusses aspects of cooling season operation for a typical HVAC system. The paper concludes with four basic principles of System Optimization which are essential for effective control of a building environment

UC Berkeley's Cory Hall: Evaluation of Challenges and Potential Applications of Building-to-Grid Implementation

From September 2009 through June 2010, a team of researchers developed, installed, and tested instrumentation on the energy flows in Cory Hall on the UC Berkeley campus to create a Building-to-Grid testbed. The UC Berkeley team was headed by Professor David Culler, and assisted by members from EnerNex, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California State University Sacramento, and the California Institute for Energy & Environment. While the Berkeley team mapped the load tree of the building, EnerNex researched types of meters, submeters, monitors, and sensors to be used (Task 1). Next the UC Berkeley team analyzed building needs and designed the network of metering components and data storage/visualization software (Task 2). After meeting with vendors in January, the UCB team procured and installed the components starting in late March (Task 3). Next, the UCB team tested and demonstrated the system (Task 4). Meanwhile, the CSUS team documented the methodology and steps necessary to implement a testbed (Task 5) and Harold Galicer developed a roadmap for the CSUS Smart Grid Center with results from the testbed (Task 5a) and evaluated the Cory Hall implementation process (Task 5b). The CSUS team also worked with local utilities to develop an approach to the energy information communication link between buildings and the utility (Task 6). The UC Berkeley team then prepared a roadmap to outline necessary technology development for Building-to-Grid, and presented the results of the project in early July (Task 7). Finally, CIEE evaluated the implementation, noting challenges and potential applications of Building-to-Grid (Task 8). These deliverables are available at the i4Energy site: http://i4energy.org/

Thermal comfort in residential buildings with water based heating systems: a tool for selecting appropriate heat emitters when using µ-cogeneration

As a consequence of people becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, there is an increasing demand for low energy buildings. Forced by regulation, building envelopes are improving and heating and cooling systems with higher efficiencies are being installed. The public are willing to embrace these new technologies, as long as they do not affect the quality of their indoor environment. In this paper, an introduction to research on the realisation of the indoor thermal comfort in residential buildings with water based, low-energy heating systems is given. The basis for this work is a more realistic definition of comfort temperatures for residential buildings. Subsequently, appropriate heat emitters to realise that thermal comfort in an efficient way are identified, taking into account the limitations of the production system under consideration. An example of a µ-cogeneration system is presented as a case study

Simulation-assisted control in building energy management systems

Technological advances in real-time data collection, data transfer and ever-increasing computational power are bringing simulation-assisted control and on-line fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) closer to reality than was imagined when building energy management systems (BEMSs) were introduced in the 1970s. This paper describes the development and testing of a prototype simulation-assisted controller, in which a detailed simulation program is embedded in real-time control decision making. Results from an experiment in a full-scale environmental test facility demonstrate the feasibility of predictive control using a physically-based thermal simulation program

A review of the lighting performance in buildings through energy efficiency

As developing countries including Malaysia, are now moving towards sustainable development is in line with the Ninth Malaysia Plan, 9th MP, the development should be built to meet current and future needs for achieving sustainability of economic development, social and environmental responsibility for the prosperity without compromising the future generations‘ needs. Over the past five years, there has been a move away from constructing new buildings to refurbishing older and historic ones. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to review and evaluate the approach for the refurbishment of lighting as well as the existing energy efficiency policy and measures in Malaysian historical building for the energy efficiency improvement in the future. The paper takes the form of a review of literature. The main sources of this literature research are based on the articles, journals, and internet search. This study perhaps can add to the breadth of knowledge of lighting performance in the historical building from the perspective of energy efficiency. This study offers new and valuable insights to Malaysia in achieving optimum energy efficiency, saving in financial as well as reducing environmental impact.This paper has been presented at 2nd International Conference on Research in Science, Engineering and Technology (ICRSET’2014) March 21-22, 201

History and development of validation with the ESP-r simulation program

It is well recognised that validation of dynamic building simulation programs is a long-term complex task. There have been many large national and international efforts that have led to a well-established validation methodology comprising analytical, inter-program comparison and empirical validation elements, and a significant number of tests have been developed. As simulation usage increases, driven by such initiatives as the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, such tests are starting to be incorporated into national and international standards. Although many program developers have run many of the developed tests, there does not appear to have been a systematic attempt to incorporate such tests into routine operation of the simulation programs. This paper reports work undertaken to address this deficiency. The paper summarizes the tests that have been applied to the simulation program ESP-r. These tests have been developed within International Energy Agency Annexes, within CEN standards, within various large-scale national projects, and by the UK's Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. The structure used to encapsulate the tests allows developers to ensure that recent code modifications have not resulted in unforeseen impacts on program predictions, and allows users to check for themselves against benchmarks