Co-simulation of fuzzy control in buildings and the HVAC system using BCVTB

The present study investigates the use of fuzzy logic in Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control as means of enhancing thermal comfort provision for the building occupants while maintaining or improving the resulting energy consumption of the building's HVAC system. In order to assess the application of fuzzy logic on HVAC control, a single zone building model along with an HVAC model are created using EnergyPlus software and Transient System Simulation Tool, respectively. In addition a HVAC fuzzy logic controller along with a conventional on-off controller, both thermal comfort based, were developed using Simulink. The latter simulation models, implemented via different software, were coupled using the Building Control Virtual Test Bed platform as a middleware. The simulation outcomes of the on-off controller were used as a benchmark for the evaluation of the fuzzy HVAC controller. In terms of the provided thermal comfort to the building occupants the fuzzy HVAC controller appeared superior, as it managed to reduce the annual mean percentage of dissatisfied occupants by 33% as well as the non-comfort hours by more than 50%. In terms of energy consumption the simulation results suggested that the two controllers perform almost on par.