Development and implementation of an optimal controller of a central cooling plant using ice storage system and building thermal mass

This research work investigates the effects of using simultaneously building thermal capacitance and ice storage system to reduce total operating costs (including energy and demand costs) of a central cooling plant while maintaining adequate occupant comfort conditions in buildings. The building thermal storage can be controlled through precooling strategies and setting space temperatures. The basic operating strategy of a thermal energy storage (TES) system is to charge the ice tank by operating the chiller during low electrical charge periods. During on-peak periods, the ice storage is discharged to meet the building cooling requirements. As a result, it is possible to reduce or even eliminate the chiller operation during on-peak hours.;An optimal controller of a central cooling plant using both ice storage system and building thermal capacitance is developed using the results from a simulation environment. The optimal controller is implemented and tested in laboratory conditions using Larson's Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC) Laboratory at the University of Colorado at Boulder.;The analysis results show that the developed optimal controller can achieve significant cost savings in total operating cost to cool a building under different conditions and for various design options.