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Finn, Donal
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Finn, Donal
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Finn, Donal
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Now showing 1 - 10 of 10
- PublicationInvestigation of demand response strategies in a mixed use building(Department of Civil Engineering, Aalborg University, 2016-05-25)
; ; ; This paper investigates demand response measures, using an EnergyPlus simulation model, developed specifically for demand response analysis, in a mixed-used commercial building. The effectiveness of various building pre-conditioning strategies, which were considered for different durations, immediacy and activation time were assessed using the simulation model. Assessment was carried out for a representative summer day and the contribution of the building capacitance as a mechanism for shifting the building electric power demand was evaluated, recording a maximum load reduction of 6.6% of the baseload.247 - PublicationSelf-Learning Control Algorithms for Energy Systems Integration in the Residential Building Sector(IEEE, 2019-04-18)
; ; ; ; This paper provides a research plan focusing on the application of self-learning techniques for energy systems integration in the residential building sector. Demand response is becoming increasingly important in the evolution of the power grid since demand no longer necessarily determines system supply but is now more closely constrained by generation profiles. Demand response can offer energy flexibility services across wholesale and balancing markets. Different applications have focused on the Internet of Things in demand response to assist customers, aggregators and utility companies to manage the energy consumption and energy usage through the adjustment of consumer behaviour. Even though there is extensive work in the literature regarding the potential of the commercial and the residential building sectors to provide flexibility, to date there is no standardised framework to evaluate this flexibility in a customer-Tailored way. At the same time, demand response events may affect occupant comfort expectations hindering the utilisation of flexibility that building energy systems can provide. In this research, the integration of machine learning algorithms into building control systems is investigated, in order to unify the monitoring and control of the separate systems under a holistic approach. This will allow the operation of the systems to be optimised with respect to reducing their energy consumption and their environmental footprint in tandem with the maximisation of flexibility, while maintaining occupant comfort.329Scopus© Citations 4 - PublicationTowards Standardising Market-Independent Indicators for Quantifying Energy Flexibility in Buildings(Elsevier, 2020-08-01)
; ; ; ; ; ; Buildings are increasingly being seen as a potential source of energy flexibility to the smart grid as a form of demand side management. Indicators are required to quantify the energy flexibility available from buildings, enabling a basis for a contractual framework between the relevant stakeholders such as end users, aggregators and grid operators. In the literature, there is a lack of consensus and standardisation in terms of approaches and indicators for quantifying energy flexibility. In the present paper, current approaches are reviewed and the most recent and relevant market independent indicators are compared through analysis of four different case studies comprising varying building types, climates and control schemes to assess their robustness and applicability. Of the indicators compared, certain indicators are found to be more suitable for use by the end user when considering energy and carbon dioxide emission reductions. Other indicators are more useful for the grid operator. The recommended indicators are found to be robust to different demand response contexts, such as type of energy flexibility, control scheme, climate and building types. They capture the provided flexibility quantity, its shifting efficiency and rebound effect. A final cost index is also recommended given specific market conditions to capture the cost of a building providing energy flexibility.287Scopus© Citations 36 - PublicationThe effect of time-of-use tariffs on the demand response flexibility of an all-electric smart-grid-ready dwellingThe paper is concerned with the development and evaluation of control algorithms for the implementation of demand response strategies in a smart-grid enabled all-electric residential building. The dwelling is equipped with a 12 kW heat pump, a 0.8 m3 water storage tank, a 6 kW photovoltaic (PV) array, solar thermal collectors for domestic hot water heating and an electric vehicle. The building, located in Ireland, is fully instrumented. An EnergyPlus building simulation model of the dwelling was developed and calibrated using monitored data from the building. The developed model is used to assess the effectiveness of demand response strategies using different time-of-use electricity tariffs in conjunction with zone thermal control. A reduction in generation cost (−22.5%), electricity end-use expenditure (−4.9%) and carbon emission (−7.6%), were estimated when DR measures were implemented and compared with a baseline system. Furthermore, when the zone control features were enabled, the efficiency of the control improved significantly giving, an overall annual economic saving of 16.5% for the residential energy cost. The analysis also identified an annual reduction of consumer electricity consumption of up to 15.9%, lower carbon emissions of 27% and facilitated greater utilisation of electricity generated by grid-scale renewable resources, resulting in a reduction of generation costs for the utility of up to 45.3%.
180Scopus© Citations 81 - PublicationImplementation of demand response strategies in a multi-purpose commercial building using a whole-building simulation model approachThis paper exploits a whole-building energy simulation approach to develop and evaluate demand response strategies for commercial buildings. The research is motivated by the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, which owing to their stochastic nature, means that enhanced integration of demand response measures in buildings is becoming more challenging and complex. Using EnergyPlus, a simulation model of a multi-purpose commercial building was developed and calibrated. Demand response strategies are evaluated for a number of building zones, which utilise different heating, cooling and ventilation equipment. The results show that for events of varying demand response durations, different strategies should be selected for each zone based on their thermal and usage profiles. Overall, a maximum reduction of 14.7% in electrical power demand was recorded when targeting a centralised chiller load, with smaller reductions for other decentralised building loads.
728Scopus© Citations 41 - PublicationModelling of a Multi-purpose Commercial Building for Demand Response AnalysisThis paper examines the implementation of demand response measures, using an EnergyPlus simulation model, in a multipurpose commercial building. The simulation model, which has been developed specifically for demand response analysis, is used to assess the effectiveness of different demand response strategies, which were considered for the building. The strategies were examined for a representative zone within the building and evaluate the contribution of the building capacitance and HVAC equipment operation, as mechanisms for shifting the building electrical demand. Associated zone temperature responses and load shifts are also quantified.
433 - PublicationOn the assessment and control optimisation of demand response programs in residential buildingsThe ability to control and optimise energy consumption at end-user level is of increasing interest as a means to achieve a balance between supply and demand, particularly when large penetration of distributed renewable energy sources is being considered. Demand Response programs consist of a series of externally-driven control strategies aimed at adapting consumer end-use load to specific grid requirements. In a demand response scenario, a network of connected systems can be exploited to activate balancing strategies, to provide demand flexibility during periods of high stress for the grid. However, the widespread deployment of demand response programs in the building sector still faces significant challenges. Smart technology deployment, the lack of common standardised assessment procedures and metrics, the absence of established regulatory frameworks are among the main obstacles limiting the development of portfolios of competitive flexibility assets. The residential sector is even more affected by these challenges due to a marginal economic case, the issue of long term harmonisation of hardware and software infrastructure and the influence of the end-user behaviour and preferences on energy consumption. The present paper provides a review on the current developments of the Demand Response programs, with specific reference to the residential building sector. Methodologies and procedures for assessing building energy flexibility and Demand Response programs are described with a special focus on numerical models and available control algorithms. Moreover, markets schemes and social aspects - such as technology acceptance and awareness - and their influence on smart control technologies and algorithms are discussed. Current research gaps and challenges are identified and analysed to provide guidance for future research activities.
357Scopus© Citations 91 - PublicationPrediction of Residential Building Demand Response Potential Using Data-Driven TechniquesThis paper is concerned with the evaluation of the ability of data-driven predictive models to capture the demand response potential in residential buildings. A mid-floor apartment with an air to water heat pump for space heating, utilised as an archetype dwelling, is simulated using EnergyPlus. The research is focused on forecasting the electrical demand from the heating load for the coldest month of the year, considering two types of DR events, load reduction and load increase. After the generation of the synthetic database, an artificial neural network model and a support vector machine model are examined regarding their ability to predict the electrical demand from heating loads.
149 - PublicationEvaluation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Demand Response Potential Forecasting(IBPSA, 2017-08-09)
; ; ; This paper focuses on the ability of machine learning algorithms to capture the demand response (DR) potential when forecasting the electrical demand of a commercial building. An actual sports-entertainment centre is utilised as a testbed, simulated with EnergyPlus, and the strategy followed during the DR event is the modification of the chiller water temperature of the cooling system. An artificial neural network (ANN) and a support vector machine (SVM) predictive model, are utilised to predict the DR potential of the building, due to the significant amount of execution time of the EnergyPlus model. The data-driven models are trained and tested based on synthetic databases. Results demonstrate that both ANN and SVM models can accurately predict the building electrical power demand for the scenarios without or with daily DR events, whereas both predictive models are not accurate in forecasting the electrical demand during the rebound effect.160 - PublicationQuantification and characterization of energy flexibility in the residential building sector(International Building Performance Association, 2019-09-04)
; ; ; ; ; Demand response can enable residential consumers to take advantage of control signals and/or financial incentives to adjust the use of their resources at strategic times. These resources usually refer to energy consumption, locally distributed electricity generation, and energy storage. The building structural mass has an inherent potential either to modify consumption or to be used as a storage medium. In this paper, the energy flexibility potential of a residential building thermal mass for the winter design day is investigated. Various active demand response strategies are assessed using two flexibility indicators: the storage efficiency and storage capacity. Using simulation, it is shown that the available capacity and efficiency associated with active demand response actions depend on thermostat setpoint modulation, demand response event duration, heating system rated power and current consumption.250