Adaptive predictive control of thermo-active building systems (TABS) based on a multiple regression algorithm: First practical test

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 129; pp. 367 - 377
• Main Authors: Schmelas, Martin, Feldmann, Thomas, Wellnitz, Patrick, Bollin, Elmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Adaptive predictive control; Concrete core activation; Energy savings; Multiple regression; Thermal comfort; Thermo-activate building system (TABS); Adaptive predictive control; Thermal comfort; Thermo-activate building system (TABS); Concrete core activation; Multiple regression; Energy savings
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.08.013

•An adaptive and predictive algorithm for the control of TABS (AMLR) is presented.•Comparison of standard TABS control and AMLR over a period of one month each.•Possibility of adaptation to different buildings and changes in internal loads.•Monitoring of TABS operation in a building with AMLR and standard TABS control.•Performance of the AMLR strategy regarding energy savings and thermal comfort. There is a growing trend for the use of thermo-active building systems (TABS) for the heating and cooling of buildings, because these systems are known to be very economical and efficient. However, their control is complicated due to the large thermal inertia, and their parameterization is time-consuming. With conventional TABS-control strategies, the required thermal comfort in buildings can often not be maintained, particularly if the internal heat sources are suddenly changed. This paper shows measurement results and evaluations of the operation of a novel adaptive and predictive calculation method, based on a multiple linear regression (AMLR) for the control of TABS. The measurement results are compared with the standard TABS strategy. The results show that the electrical pump energy could be reduced by more than 86%. Including the weather adjustment, it could be demonstrated that thermal energy savings of over 41% could be reached. In addition, the thermal comfort could be improved due to the possibility to specify mean room set-point temperatures. With the AMLR, comfort category I of the comfort norms ISO 7730 and DIN EN 15251 are observed in about 95% of occasions. With the standard TABS strategy, only about 24% are within category I.