PNNL

Abstract

This paper presents an open-source framework for simulation-based evaluation of building control strategies (BCSs), developed with VOLTTRON (an open-source, scalable, and distributed platform that seamlessly integrates data, devices, and systems for sensing and control application) and based on co-simulation interfaces. The framework realizes an integrated environment for both testing and deploying BCSs, thereby eliminating the need for having a dedicated implementation of BCS for testing. The framework also provides critical functionalities for evaluating BCSs, including scalable communication management and time-drive simulation advance, i.e., advancing the simulation based on clock time. These functionalities are crucial but have not been discussed in the literature. We applied the framework to evaluating two BCSs from ASHRAE Guideline 36 and ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019, and employed US Department of Energy commercial reference building models. The evaluation results show that those BCSs primarily benefited the building operation during the heating mode by reducing gas usage. The reduction in electricity consumption was not significant because of the trade-offs between different devices. The results also emphasize the importance of tuning the parameters of the BCSs to achieve better energy performances.