Effects of intelligent strategy planning models on residential HVAC system energy demand and cost during the heating and cooling seasons

• Published in: Applied energy 2017-01, Vol.185, p.29-43
• Main Authors: Alibabaei, Nima, Fung, Alan S., Raahemifar, Kaamran, Moghimi, Arash
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advanced residential HVAC controller; Fuel switching system; Load shifting; Residential houses; Strategy planning models
• ISSN: 0306-2619; 1872-9118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.062

•Enhancing TRNSYS control process by developing a Matlab‐TRNSYS advanced controller.•Developing a novel smart dual fuel switching system for residential HVAC system.•Improving load shifting strategy by selecting optimum pre‐heating/cooling time.•Minimizing residential HVAC system energy cost.•Assessment of developed strategy planning models during heating and cooling seasons. Based on their structure, residential houses/buildings (RHs) can offer excellent opportunities for managing their internal energy demand and subsequently lowering their energy cost. Demand management and energy cost saving can be achieved by taking advantage of RHs/buildings capabilities in storing thermal energy. Thermal energy can be stored utilizing intelligent Strategy Planning Models (SPMs) which are applied in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system as one of the largest energy consumer in RHs buildings. This study discusses the development of three different strategy planning models including Smart Dual Fuel Switching System (SDFSS), Load Shifting (LSH), and LSHSDFSS, a combination of load shifting and fuel switching SPMs. In order to facilitate the implementation of the developed SPMs on the HVAC system of the house used in this case study, an advanced controller was designed by connecting both TRNSYS-Matlab programs. The HVAC system energy demand as well as the corresponding saving on the HVAC system energy cost are analyzed in-depth numerically using each of the strategy planning models during both the heating and cooling seasons. Simulation results showed that in the heating season, the operating/energy cost of HVAC system decreased significantly (23.8%) by implementing SDFSS-SPM. LSHSDFSS-SPM reduced the HVAC system operating cost by 15.8%. In the cooling season, LSH-SPM reduced the HVAC system operating cost by 6.63%.