Performance Simulation and Analysis of Occupancy-Based Control for Office Buildings with Variable-Air-Volume Systems

Weimin Wang, Jian Zhang, Michael R. Brambley and Benjamin Futrell
Additional contact information
Weimin Wang: Department of Engineering Technology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
Jian Zhang: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
Michael R. Brambley: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99354, USA
Benjamin Futrell: Energy Production and Infrastructure Center, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-21

Abstract: Variable-air-volume (VAV) systems are used in many office buildings. The minimum airflow rate setting of VAV terminal boxes has a significant impact on both energy consumption and indoor air quality. Conventional controls usually have the terminal’s minimum airflow rate at a constant (e.g., 30% or more of the terminal design airflow rate), irrespective of the occupancy status, which may cause problems, such as excessive simultaneous heating and cooling, under ventilation, and thermal comfort issues. This paper examines the potential of energy savings from occupancy-based controls (OBCs). The sensed occupancy information, either occupant presence or people count, is used to determine the airflow rate of terminal boxes, the thermostat setpoints, and the lighting control. Using EnergyPlus, a whole-building energy modeling software, the energy savings of OBC strategies are evaluated for representative existing medium office buildings in the U.S. The simulation results show that the conventional OBC, based on occupant presence sensing, can save 8% of whole-building energy use in Miami (hot climate) for systems without air-side economizer and about 13% in both Baltimore (mixed climate) and Chicago (cold climate). Comparatively, the advanced OBC, based on people counting, can save 8% in Miami to 23% in Baltimore for systems with economizers. The outdoor-air fraction of the supply air from air-handling units significantly affects the potential energy savings from the advanced OBC strategy. In addition to energy savings, the advanced OBC satisfies the zone ventilation during all occupied hours over the whole year.

Keywords: occupancy sensor; occupancy-based control; variable-air-volume system; building simulation; hot climate; cold climate; mixed climate (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: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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