Integration and Optimal Control of MicroCSP with Building HVAC Systems: Review and Future Directions

Mohamed Toub, Chethan R. Reddy, Rush D. Robinett and Mahdi Shahbakhti
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Mohamed Toub: Mohammadia School of Engineering, Mohammed V University of Rabat, Rabat 10080, Morocco
Chethan R. Reddy: Mechanical Engineering Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Rush D. Robinett: Mechanical Engineering Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA
Mahdi Shahbakhti: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-41

Abstract: Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are omnipresent in modern buildings and are responsible for a considerable share of consumed energy and the electricity bill in buildings. On the other hand, solar energy is abundant and could be used to support the building HVAC system through cogeneration of electricity and heat. Micro-scale concentrated solar power (MicroCSP) is a propitious solution for such applications that can be integrated into the building HVAC system to optimally provide both electricity and heat, on-demand via application of optimal control techniques. The use of thermal energy storage (TES) in MicroCSP adds dispatching capabilities to the MicroCSP energy production that will assist in optimal energy management in buildings. This work presents a review of the existing contributions on the combination of MicroCSP and HVAC systems in buildings and how it compares to other thermal-assisted HVAC applications. Different topologies and architectures for the integration of MicroCSP and building HVAC systems are proposed, and the components of standard MicroCSP systems with their control-oriented models are explained. Furthermore, this paper details the different control strategies to optimally manage the energy flow, both electrical and thermal, from the solar field to the building HVAC system to minimize energy consumption and/or operational cost.

Keywords: microCSP; solar energy conversion; thermal-assisted HVAC; building predictive control; energy management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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