Method and control system for controlling building service systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building automation and control systems rely on reactive control methods like PID controllers, which are inefficient in managing complex building environments and fail to integrate multiple service systems, leading to issues like over-cooling and unsatisfactory human comfort due to their inability to consider multiple performance objectives.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that use model predictive control (MPC) to optimize multiple building performance parameters by predicting visual comfort and lighting conditions, integrating air-conditioning, heating, lighting, and shading systems through a multi-component cost function, allowing for coordinated control of these systems to achieve energy efficiency and human comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If reactive control methods (PID controllers) are used to control building service systems, then the control implementation is simple, but the system fails to integrate multiple service systems and achieves poor energy efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent building service systems (HVAC, lighting, shading) into a single integrated model predictive control framework. The MPC controller simultaneously optimizes control signals for all systems by formulating a unified cost function that considers energy consumption, comfort constraints, and system interactions, thereby achieving coordinated control that reduces overall energy usage while maintaining simplicity through centralized optimization.
2Ease of operation
If reactive control methods are used, then the control system is easy to implement, but the system causes over-cooling and unsatisfactory human comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The MPC controller performs preliminary action by predicting future building responses and optimizing control signals before deviations from comfort conditions occur. Using a dynamic building model, the controller anticipates temperature changes and adjusts HVAC, lighting, and shading systems proactively to maintain comfort within constraints, preventing over-cooling while preserving ease of implementation through automated predictive algorithms.
3Device complexity
If conventional centralized control is used, then the control architecture is simple, but the system lacks integration with other building service systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal MPC controller that serves multiple building service systems simultaneously. The single controller formulates a comprehensive cost function that incorporates energy consumption, comfort constraints, and operational requirements for HVAC, lighting, and shading systems, enabling one controller to perform the functions of multiple specialized controllers while maintaining architectural simplicity and enhancing system integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling building service systems includes predicting, based on a shading and lighting prediction model, a visual comfort condition and a lighting condition with respect to a region of a building; optimizing, based on a first multi-component cost function including a plurality of components relating to a plurality of lighting or thermal performance parameters, one or more first control parameters for controlling the lighting system and the shading system based on the predicted visual comfort condition and the predicted lighting condition; predicting, based on a building dynamics model, a plurality of building response parameters based on the predicted visual comfort condition and the predicted lighting condition; and optimizing, based on a second multi-component cost function including a plurality of components relating to the plurality of building performance parameters, one or more second control parameters for controlling an air-conditioning/heating system based on the predicted plurality of building response parameters.