Optimal control of time-scheduled heating, ventilating and air conditioning processes in buildings

The problem of computing optimal control strategies for time-scheduled oper ation of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems is explored. A t wo-zone variable air volume heating system consisting of a 4 ton heat pump, a storage tank, water and air flow networks and two environmental zones is considered. The optimization problem that takes into consideration the bui lding operation schedules consisting of night-setback, start-up, occupied m odes and energy price discounts is formulated and solved for a given predic ted weather profile. Results showing the optimal mass flow rates to the zon es, air and water supply temperatures, energy input to the heat pump and th e resulting zone temperatures are given. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.