Adaptive control for building thermo-hygrometric analysis: a novel dynamic simulation code for indoor spaces with multi-enclosed thermal zones

A novel dynamic simulation model, called DETECt 2.3.1, purposely developed for thermo-hygrometric energy performance analyses of multi-zone buildings, is presented. Relevant novelties vs. previous implemented code releases are discussed. They regard: i) the simulation model for building spaces with multi-enclosed thermal zones; ii) a novel temperature-humidity control algorithm based on a reference adaptive control scheme. Such algorithm enables the online adaptation of the control gains, in order to overcome the well-known problems of classical fixed gain control algorithms. With the aim to show the features and the potentialities of the simulation code coupled with this new control scheme, a suitable case study related to special indoor hospitals spaces including multiple infant-incubators is developed. The robustness of the designed control approach is confirmed through the good regulation performance obtained for both the indoor air temperature and humidity, simultaneousl