Experimental analysis of optimal control of passive and active building thermal storage inventory

Thermal energy storage systems provide cooling load shifting capability which can reduce peak electricity demand and energy costs for building operators. Previous work has demonstrated that the combined use of building thermal mass and plant side thermal storage equipment can offer significant savings when used to shift cooling loads from periods of high cost to periods of low cost. Cost savings of up to 50% have been demonstrated in some cases.; This work first explores the impact of several variables on cost savings potential in a parametric simulation analysis for a typical commercial office building. Laboratory experimentation examines the economic performance of standard and optimal control strategies and evaluates the effectiveness of a technique for increasing the thermal mass of the full size zones of the Larson Building Systems Laboratory. Testing at the Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins, CO then assesses the performance of the control optimization process in a field setting. In the parametric analysis, optimal control of passive thermal energy storage yields significant peak demand reduction and operating cost savings over conventional control. In the laboratory and field testing, optimal control of combined passive and active thermal energy storage systems offers substantial cost savings and peak demand reduction above conventional control.