Modelling the robustness properties of HVAC plant under feedback control

M. M. Gouda, Chris Underwood, Sean Danaher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most existing building simulation programs fail to capture sufficient of the underlying dynamics of nonlinear HVAC plant and some have restricted room space modelling capabilities for low-time-horizon analyses. In this work, a simplified model of a room space with hot water heating and a chilled ceiling system is developed for the main purpose of analysing control system response. The room model is based on a new approach to lumped capacitance modelling and the heating and chilled ceiling emitters are modelled using third-order descriptions. Control system components are treated in detail and both controllers are ‘tuned’ at a nominal region of plant operation using a gradient-descent-based optimization procedure. Robustness qualities of the controllers are analysed with reference to extremes in plant operating conditions. A key feature of the work is the transparency of the modelling procedure, designed to have appeal to researchers as well as practitioners involved with HVAC control system design problems.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)271-280
JournalBuilding Services Engineering Research and Technology
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2002
EventProceedings of SSB 2002, the 6th International Conference on System Simulation in Buildings - University of Liege, Belgium
Duration: 1 Jan 2002 → …

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