Building automation system with adaptive comfort in mixed mode buildings

Abstract

Although there are many fieldstudies to achieve a model of comfort in free running buildings, fewer studies focus on mixed-mode buildings. Moreover, there are even fewer examples of implementing such algorithms into a building automation system for testing its real validity. In this study, a methodology for implementing and validating an Adaptive Control Algorithm in mixed mode buildings is proposed. In particular, the paper shows the implantation and application of an experimental adaptive control algorithm in the current installation of an office building and without additional costs or specific hardware. The experiment seeks to find a relationship between comfort of their occupants and with energy efficiency. The implementation into the building´s system shows the real applicability and the effectiveness of the adaptive model to hybrid buildings, highlighting that the methodology proposed could be applied in another type of building. The results show that it is possible to improve the energy efficiency, while maintaining the comfort of the users using only the tools yet available in the Building Automation System of the buildings and without additional systems, no extra costs and minimum intervention in its control system