Multi-zone buildings thermo-hygrometric analysis: a novel dynamic simulation code based on adaptive control

This paper presents a novel dynamic simulation model for the analysis of multi-zone buildings thermal response and the assessment of building energy performance and indoor comfort. In this new release of the code, called DETECt 2.3, two important novelties are implemented. They regard the simulation model of multi-zone buildings, consisting of thermal zones totally enclosed into others, and the design of a novel temperature-humidity control algorithm. The developed innovative control strategy is based on a reference adaptive control scheme for the online adaptation of the control gains, with the aim of overcoming the well-known problems of classical fixed gain control algorithms. This feature will be a key tool for the next generation of building performance simulation codes (also toward NZEB analyses). Both the novelties embedded in the code can be exploited for simulating special indoor environments of hospitals / laboratories rooms or museums halls. With the aim of showing the features and the potentialities of the simulation code coupled with the new control scheme, a suitable case study related to an expo indoor space of a museum building, including a display/case with an accurate climate control, was developed. Details about heating and cooling demands and loads are provided. Good tracking performance for both the temperature and humidity control are obtained through the presented control scheme.