Research

Modeling and Simulation
Laboratory and Field Testing
Illumination

Faculty members and students affiliates with the Building Systems Program perform research in the broad area of energy management. Most efforts focus on energy use in buildings. The work includes both applied research in the analysis of energy systems as well as practical implementation of energy-efficient technologies. The following lists describe some recent research activities:

Modeling and Simulation

• Evaluation of optimal control strategies for ice storage systems
• Analytical treatment of ground coupling heat transfer from slab-on-grade floors, basements, and earth-sheltered buildings
• Development of a simplified tool for foundation heat transfer calculations
• Modeling of indoor air quality in buildings to evaluate the interactions between building thermal demands and air quality
• Analytical and numerical models for dynamic walls to assess their thermal efficiency.
• Development of simulation models for all significant secondary systems used in the HVAC industry for buildings
• Deterministic models for indirect ice storage systems
• Development of a new analytical design method for stand alone PV systems
• Design of a prototype soft energy community (SEC) in the Fukuyama city area in Japan
• Validation and improvement of the modified bin method for building energy analysis
• Evaluation of thermal bridging effects in wall corners
• Application of Neural networks (NNs) for building parameters determination and predicting future energy use
• Application of neural networks (NNs) for on-line control and optimization of central heating and cooling systems
• Computerization of energy audit techniques for selecting energy conservation measures, for diagnosing HVAC system problems and for decision analysis
• Development of a real time diagnostic expert system for commercial buildings
• Development of a real time expert systems for HVAC and solar system diagnostics
• Development of a prototype expert system for commercial building HVAC diagnostics

Laboratory and Field Testing

• Field implementation and evaluation of on-line optimal supervisory control of cooling plants without storage
• Development of a methodology to measure in-situ chiller, fan, and pump performance
• Laboratory testing of over forty commercial building HVAC control configurations
• Field implementation and testing of a real time commercial building diagnostic expert system
• Monitoring of eight large, chilled water, commercial building storage facilities in the US and Canada
• Testing and evaluation of motor controllers for appliances and furnace fans
• Field testing of evaluation of operating strategies of dehumidification systems in supermarkets and retail stores
• Design and field testing of a photovoltaic based device for beam insolation measurement
• Testing of a matrix solar central receiver fabricated by Sandia Laboratories
• Development and testing of wind-powered ice-making systems for remote international villages
  

Illumination

Design, ensemble and testing of an LED lamp that achieves specific color temperatures and which includes a feedback controller that allows the user to maintain desired indoor lighting conditions with a specific color temperature even in the presence of other light sources

• Increased computational accuracy through the inclusion of spectral data in lighting software
• Self-report of daylight views in office work environment
• Effect of high CCT lamps on brightness perception, visual acuity, and preference
• A simplified method to predict savings/impact of daylighting on thermal and visual comfort
• Evaluation of the glare and visual performance impact on roadway construction from new mobile barrier lighting system