Optimum Start/Stop Control Algorithm for Heating and Cooling Systems in Buildings

摘要

When a building structure is occupied intermittently, energy savings can be realized from the optimal start-up and shut-down of the heating or cooling system. This strategy, known as optimum start/stop control, reduces energy consumption by delaying the start-up of the space conditioning system until the last moment and then initiating shut-down as early as possible, while maintaining a present level of comfort during the period of building occupancy. Based on the bang-bang control theory, a simple optimum start/stop control algorithm is developed for computerized control systems in buildings. The optimum start time is obtained by finding the intersection of cool-down and heat-up curves that are approximated by exponential fitting of the previous and current day's data.