G Gert Boxem

Optimizing the energy exchange between the Smart Grid and Building Systems

Various Smart Grid (SG) technologies and concepts are currently under investigation, driven by the goals of energy transition policies towards future sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity supply systems. This paper presents an approach for modeling the interaction between the Smart Grid and Building Energy Management Systems (SG-BEMS), using Multi Agent Systems control. The interaction consists of three layers: the smart building, the neighborhood, and the distribution grid. It enables the continuous bidirectional flow of energy and information between SG and BEMS. The proposed framework combines optimization techniques inspired by dynamic game theory and stochastic optimization algorithms. The goal of the optimization is to increase the overall performance, while keeping a good level of comfort for people in the built environment.

The potential and possible effects of power grid support activities on buildings: An analysis of experimental results for ventilation system

This paper reports on the potential and possible effects of using building services installations (notably ventilation systems) to support power grids. This is significant taken that the shift towards smart grids comes with adoption of demand side integration and the concept of active controllable loads. However, it is recommended that demand side resource will be used for grid support activities only if non-disruption in terms of indoor comfort and their responsiveness can be guaranteed. Relevant studies mainly report grid perspective in event of using demand side resources to support the power grid. The result is that little emphasis is given to indoor comfort, building behavior and the exact details of achieving controllability at building level in such events. Using experimental data from an office building in the Netherlands this paper reports on indoor comfort and building behavior in the event of committing installed ventilation systems to provide power grid support services. Possibilities for attaining controllability and responsiveness for the components in such systems are also presented. The study is case specific and contributes to the development of possible operational guidelines for building ventilation systems in event of using them for grid support activities.

On the use of electrical humidifiers in office buildings as a demand side resource

Abstract A key characteristic of the smart grid is its multi-directional flow of power and information and hence transformation of the demand side management to demand side integration philosophy at low level voltage. This implies that building must also provide service to the electrical smart grid in as much as it is also serviced by the later. Consequently the phenomenon of active loads have become evident in form of using μCHP, E-vehicles and heat pumps amongst others to service the utility grid. Taking cue from tests performed in the United States and the United Kingdom, an experiment was conducted at an existing building in Breda, Netherlands to investigate potential and possible effects on recommended comfort levels if the electrical steam humidifier were to be used to as an active load. Specifically the steam humidifier was operated on modulated mode and reduced capacity; corresponding comfort conditions and occupancy monitored. Results indicated that whereas potentials existed for such uses, care had to be taken to determine critical operational boundaries of the equipment. Further tests were recommended to establish the level of responsiveness and verify a control strategy if the steam humidifier were to be used as an active load.

Smart Grid - BEMS: The Art of Optimizing the Connection between Comfort Demand and Energy Supply

Comfort demands are increasing while at the same there is a need for energy reduction and the use of renewable energy sources within Smart Grids. Functionality of Buildings Energy Management Systems (BEMS) need re-evaluation in the context of smart grid environment. In particular, their inability for real time feedback and a rather static mode of operations requires attention in the light of smart grid operations. By using a multi agent system in combination with traditional BEMS, a layered process control system at building level that conceptualises energy demand interactively with the smart grid supply infrastructure and the environment is possible. Practical contribution is improved energy management by balancing energy demand and energy supply. The paper discusses optimisation of BEMS operations for energy efficiency and indoor human comfort using multi-agents system (MAS) technology in the Smart Grid environment. A conceptual framework for improving the effectiveness BEMS in the realm of smart grids operation and distributed generation using MAS is presented .

Evaluating cooling zonal set point temperature operation strategies for peak load reduction potential: Case based analysis of an office building

In the changing electricity power supply chain, demand response from buildings is a crucial control resource. Whereas numerous studies exist on peak load reduction activities using buildings, few represent building side perspectives. The result is oversimplification of analyses and a near silence on building side considerations. This study uses the building centred productiveness concept to analyse demand response potential of zonal set point temperature operation strategies for a cooling system of an office building during summer. The analysis is based on virtual tests using HAMBase/Simulink simulations validated with onsite measurements in July and August 2013. Findings indicate most promising potentials for zonal set point temperature operation strategies that incorporate forced free cooling during lunch break. For ambient temperature up to 35 °C, productivity loss for the most thermally exposed building zone remain below 10% for validated simulations if zonal set point temperature operation strategy incorporate forced free cooling at lunchtime. The study makes a specific contribution in cost effective evaluation of peak load reduction potential when using zonal set point temperature operation strategies during cooling operations for office buildings.

A multi agent system framework for value focused interactions between buildings and electrical smart grids

The electrical smart grid connection requires also services from the buildings. The performance demanded during the interactions between buildings and smart electrical grids are multifaceted, involve attainment of various objectives which are sometimes in conflict with each other and require dynamic decisions and operational coordination. This is added to the fact some of these decisions and coordination activities are required at localised level. Multi-agent system approach has been favoured in recent studies for realisation of these desired performance objectives. However, these studies have been mostly simulations based and representative of the grid side perspective with little consideration of building centred value and operational implications. This paper presents a conceptual multi-agent framework based on a scoring rule that takes into account the building management perspective. The suggested framework is particular for ongoing tests at an office building located in Breda, Netherlands.

On Defining Information and Communication Technology Requirements and Associated Challenges for ‘Energy and Comfort Active’ Buildings☆

The intention of this article is to highlight considerations and ensuing challenges encountered in attempts to define communication requirements for the proposed multi-agent based building energy management systems. This is within the framework of ‘TKI-Smart Grid BEMS’ project which aims at developing new generation intelligent Building Energy Management Systems having capacity to interact with the utility power systems distribution network. The article identifies the development of comfort and energy active buildings as key to deriving maximum benefits from electrical smart grids for the built environment. These buildings require well specified information and communication technology for operational success. The paper is based on critical literature review. This is followed by a discussion on the challenges associated with specifying ICT infrastructure for multi-agents systems-based energy and comfort active buildings.

Improved Personalized Comfort: A Necessity for a Smart Building

The reasons for the inferior performance of many of the current buildings and their related energy systems are diverse and for a major part caused by insufficient attention to the influence of occupant behaviour. In Smart buildings it is necessary to implement new opportunities to integrate human behaviour in the Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditiong process control loop. To realize this strategy we developed an advanced control setup, based on the combination of ubiquitous low cost wireless sensors. The article describes the proof of the principle to take the perceived thermal comfort as leading principles in the comfort/energy process control. The experiments described illustrate the feasibility of the approach.

Multi-Agent System Process Control Ontology

An optimal energy infrastructure is essential for adequate indoor comfort. In the design process of energy infrastructures there is no shared understanding (i.e. an ontology) of the design activities to come to an integral design of building and comfort systems. The purpose of this paper is to achieve an understanding of design activities in the context of designing architecture for Multi agents to optimize process control of the energy infrastructure of a building in relation to its surroundings. This paper presents a perspective of ontology of design activities in the Flexergy project based on the shared understanding by professionals of what each specific design activity entails. The Flexergy project aims to develop a multi-agent concept for innovative process control of a Flex(ible en)ergy infrastructure for buildings in relation to their environment and their internal processes.

SMART Buildings: Intelligent Software Agents

To further reduce the energy consumption of existing buildings, intelligent building control offers new possibilities. Intelligent Software Agents (ISA) can be implemented at different levels of building automation. Individual agents for individual climate control for each user of the building in combination with feedback on the energy consumption (costs) leads to better acceptance of the individual comfort and a reduction of the energy consumption. ISA’s at room level with knowledge of the actual weather situation and orientation of the windows, improves efficiency of the used available energy resources of a building and this leads to better energy performance at lower costs. The technology was tested in field tests at different office buildings in the Netherlands.