Large-scale data-driven predictive control of AHU and RTU systems for New York State in winter

Zhipeng Deng, Xuezheng Wang, Zixin Jiang, Nianxin Zhou, Haiwang Ge, Bing Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalConference Articlepeer-review

Abstract

To meet the standards for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we need to create large-scale solutions for managing smart buildings. Using data-based models instead of physics-based models can make it easier to automatically create and implement these solutions on a large scale. However, it can be difficult to use data-driven control in cities, particularly for various heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and buildings. This study aimed to assess the usefulness, strength, and feasibility of using data-driven predictive control (DDPC) for widespread use in the real world. To begin, we trained deep neural network models using data from 37 buildings in the RTEM database. We then used these models to improve energy efficiency in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. We focused on two common types of HVAC systems: air handling units and rooftop units. The aim of the modeling is to use the collected data to establish the relationship between air temperature and HVAC load. We then use DDPC for large-scale optimal control. We simulated a month of winter weather to see how energy-efficient the DDPC method was. Finally, we looked at how much it reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The DDPC method resulted in an average energy savings of 40% and a peak load reduction of 30% compared to current control systems. It also led to an average reduction of 2.6 kg of CO2 emissions per square meter per month during the winter. We gathered valuable insights from implementing DDPC on a large scale. The smart control methods we proposed can easily be adopted by building owners for various types of buildings and HVAC systems. Cities and states can benefit from increased energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions for a more sustainable future.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2792-2799
Number of pages8
JournalBuilding Simulation Conference Proceedings
Volume18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event18th IBPSA Conference on Building Simulation, BS 2023 - Shanghai, China
Duration: Sep 4 2023Sep 6 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Building and Construction
  • Architecture
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Computer Science Applications

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Large-scale data-driven predictive control of AHU and RTU systems for New York State in winter'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this