Making real-time operational
control of buildings a reality with 3D
simulation
Catherine Conaghan
Project Manager, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd.
All-Energy 2016 - Sustainable and Smart Cities Conference, May 4-5, Glasgow
Building Simulation Software
• Traditionally used at the building
design stage for testing design
options, identifying the optimal
passive solutions, accreditation,
ratings etc.
• Increasing opportunity to employ
these models at all phases in the
building lifecycle from design to
commissioning and operation
• Allows for better analysis of retro-fit
and Energy Conservation Measures
impacts
• Advanced Smart Building Control
 Challenges exist in moving from
models in design, to useful models in
the operational phase
Building Operations Programme
Projects focused on creating a set of tools which will significantly improve building
operational efficiency and management by incorporating real-time data and advanced
simulation feedback.
•
Energy in Time (FP7, 2013-2017)
Simulation based control for Energy Efficiency
operation and maintenance
– IES’s role is the development of highly calibrated simulation-based
building models, which can used in near-real time for automated
control optimisation and decision making
•
EINSTEIN (FP7, 2014-2017)
Simulation Enhanced Integrated Systems for Model-based Intelligent
Control(s)
– In conjunction with Trinity College Dublin, IES’s role is in the
development of automated prediction, optimization and fault
detection algorithms for integration with the IES software for
building performance optimization
Building Operations Programme
These projects are developing a set of integrated prototype tools to achieve advanced
Real-Time Operational Control of Buildings using 3D Simulation at the core.
2
3D Simulation Model
1
3
Virtual Auditing
App
Web-based BMS
Data Acquisition
4
Real-time
Calibrated
Operational
Model
Building
Automated Fault
Detection
Real-time Building
Prediction &
Optimisation
5
6
1. Virtual Audit App
 Android application for
comprehensive building auditing
 Drives user to prioritise data
required for building
model/auditing
 Novel tagging and photo-tagging
functionality
 Schedules, equipment database
 All data collected and aggregated
in a single report
 Compatible with IESVE data
requirements
2. IESVE 3D Simulation Model
 Full 3-D Energetic and
Thermodynamic dynamic
simulation models
 Energy in Time demo sites and
models:
1. Faro - Airport (Portugal)
2. ICPE - Office Building (Romania)
3. Levi – Hotel (Finland)
4. Sanomatalo – Commercial and
Office Building (Finland)
3. Web-Based BMS Data Acquisition
 IES SCAN Web Tool (Ergon)
 Collects live data from the
building BMS
 Web-based interface for
visualistion, errorchecking, interpolation
etc.
 Provides accurate building
profiles to replace
standard profiles in
simulation models
(calibration)
4. Continuous Calibration of Energetic Models
 Building energy models may be used in all phases from
design to commissioning and operation. For operational
use, there is a need to address any discrepancies
between design performance and actual performance;
 Building Model Calibration is the process of improving
the accuracy of simulation models to reflect the as-built
status and actual operating conditions;
Automation of the calibration process is required to:
1. Speed up the process and reduce the manual
intervention required
2. Improve the results of the calibrated model when
compared with the actual building performance
(model performance evaluation – M&V)
3. Allow for continuous calibration of the model as the
building changes through-out its life-cycle for use in
MPC
5. Automated Fault Detection
Knowledge / Rule-based:
uses expert user
experience
Data-driven: uses
historical building data,
Statistical Methods,
Empirical Data, Machine
Learning
Model-based; uses a
calibrated detailed system
model
6. Real-Time Control - Prediction / Optimisation
 Prediction algorithms are required in order
to determine future trends over short
control time-frames based on historic data;
 Control Scenarios: Prediction profiles, in
conjunction with detailed calibrated
simulation models are used to derive
building performance predictions for a range
of control scenarios;
 Optimisation algorithms are used to
determine the best course of action for a
given set of objectives (e.g. Minimise cost /
CO2) and constraints (ensure all zones within
comfort threshold)
Benefits of Approach
 The tools will allow for real-time comparison of the actual building performance
against very highly calibrated virtual building models (beyond what is currently
capable through today’s best practice standards i.e. IPMVP).
 Greater accuracy than currently possible when identifying faults and real-time
inefficiencies, and predicting effectiveness/ROI for retrofit and energy
conservation improvement measures.
 Building Design considered in optimized operation
 Allows for intelligent prediction of what controls settings will to keep the building
operating at maximum efficiency/minimum cost based on future weather and
usage predictions.
 Calibrated Models can be used for accurate Retro-Fit and Energy Conversation
Measure assessment
Future Work
 Prototypes of all elements
have been developed and
tested at least in a simulation
environment.
 Remaining work for 2016/2017
will focus on integration and
demonstration in real buildings
in locations across the EU.
Thank you!
Catherine Conaghan
Project Manager, Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.iesve.com
All-Energy 2016 - Sustainable and Smart Cities Conference, May 4-5, Glasgow