Centralized model predictive control strategy for thermal comfort and residential energy management

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 212; p. 118456
• Main Authors: Seal, Sayani, Boulet, Benoit, Dehkordi, Vahid R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2020; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Centralized model predictive control (MPC); Energy costs; Energy flow; Energy management; Energy storage; Heat exchangers; Heat pumps; Home battery; Home energy management; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Predictive control; Residential buildings; Residential energy; Solar energy; Solar panels; Strategy; Tariffs; Thermal comfort; Time of use; Home battery; Centralized model predictive control (MPC); Home energy management; Solar panels
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.118456

A novel implementation strategy of a centralized model predictive control (MPC) is proposed for a zone based comfort and energy management in a residential building. A photovoltaic (PV) solar system and a stationary home battery unit are considered. A heat pump (HP) is used as the primary heating unit. The electric baseboards (BB) are used as a supplementary system. The MPC controls the HP and BB power inputs for comfort management, as well as the energy flow among the PV, the battery and the bidirectional grid system. Variable Time-of-Use (ToU) rates are considered for the energy cost calculation and Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) is considered for selling energy to the grid. A 13.5% reduction in the energy cost is achieved with the centralized MPC as compared to a rule based energy management strategy. The solar energy generation and battery storage contribute to approximately 31% saving.
•Central Model Predictive Control (MPC).•Thermal comfort and energy management for a grid-connected all-electric family residence.•Energy cost optimization considering variable time-of-use rates and feed-in tariff.•Renewable energy generation and storage.•Zone based hybrid heating system combining air-to-air multi-split heat pump and electric baseboards.