Simplified Optimal Control in HVAC Systems

Abstract — This paper presents simplified optimal control of a heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. This HVAC system is a typical one composed of two heat exchangers: an air-to-air heat exchanger (a rotary wheel heat recovery) and a water-to-air heat exchanger. First the optimal control strategy which was developed in [1] is adopted for implementation in a real life HVAC system. Then the bypass flow problem is addressed and a controller is introduced to deal with this problem. Finally a simplified control structure is proposed for optimal control of the HVAC system. Results of implementing the simplified optimal controller show all control objectives are met (The cost function consists of electrical and thermal energy consumption by the HVAC system). I