Model-based predictive control of multi-stage air-source heat pumps integrated with phase change material-embedded ceilings. (15th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hlanze, Philani; Jiang, Zhimin; Cai, Jie; Shen, Bo
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 336(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-15
• Subjects: Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120796
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: An air-source heat pump integrated with phase change material ceiling is proposed. System control problem is reformulated as a mixed-integer linear program. A co-simulation framework is used to evaluate the control and system performance. The control strategy can effectively reduce on-peak electricity use and utility cost. Abstract: This paper presents a model-based predictive control strategy to optimize the operations of phase change material (PCM) ceiling panels coupled with a multi-stage air-source heat pump. A three-stage prototype heat pump unit has been built and tested in the laboratory, with the low and medium stages designed for space heating/cooling and the high compression stage dedicated to charging of the PCM energy storage. To facilitate optimal control of the integrated heat pump system, a mixed-integer linear programming formulation is derived through linearization of the heat pump model and a mixed-integer reformulation of the PCM dynamic governing equations. A predictive control strategy is synthesized based on the resultant control formulation and implemented in a receding horizon scheme that optimizes the PCM charging and the zone temperature schedules simultaneously to leverage both the passive (associated with building construction materials) and active (PCM) storage capacities of a building. The control strategy has been tested along with three benchmarking control scenarios using a co-simulation platform for a prototypical detached house in Atlanta, GA. Test results showed that application of the proposed control strategy to the PCM-integrated heat pump could provide 27.1% electricity cost savings while a fine tuned rule-based control strategy could achieve cost savings of 20.4%, compared to a baseline case without PCM storage, under a time-of-use rate tariff.