Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) for Simulation-Based Benchmarking of Control Strategies in Buildings

David Blum; Javier Arroyo; Sen Huang; Jan Drgona; Filip Jorissen; Harald Walnum; Yan Chen; Kyle Benne; Draguna Vrabie; Michael Wetter; Lieve Helsen

doi:10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574

Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) for Simulation-Based Benchmarking of Control Strategies in Buildings

David Blum, Javier Arroyo, Sen Huang, Jan Drgona, Filip Jorissen, Harald Walnum, Yan Chen, Kyle Benne, Draguna Vrabie, Michael Wetter, Lieve Helsen

Building Technologies and Science Center

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

71 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Development of new building HVAC control algorithms has grown due to needs for energy efficiency and operational flexibility. However, case studies demonstrating new algorithms are largely individualized, making algorithm performance difficult to compare directly. In addition, the effort and expertise required to implement case studies in real or simulated buildings limits rapid prototyping potential. Therefore, this paper presents the Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) and associated software for simulation-based benchmarking of building HVAC control algorithms. A containerized run-time environment (RTE) enables rapid, repeatable deployment of common building emulators representing different system types. Emulators use Modelica to represent realistic physical dynamics, embed baseline control, and enable overwriting supervisory and local-loop control signals. Finally, a common set of key performance indicators are calculated within the RTE and reported to the user. This paper details the design and implementation of software and demonstrates its usage to benchmark a Model Predictive Control strategy.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	586-610
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of Building Performance Simulation
Volume	14
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574
State	Published - 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© This material is published by permission of [Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory], operated by [The Regents of the University of California] for the [U.S. Department of Energy] under Contract No. [DE-AC02-05CH11231]. The US Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up, non-exclusive, and irrevocable worldwide licence to publish or reproduce said article, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government.

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5500-81588

Keywords

benchmarking
Buildings
controls
FMI
HVAC
modelica

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81588.pdf

Cite this

Blum, D., Arroyo, J., Huang, S., Drgona, J., Jorissen, F., Walnum, H., Chen, Y., Benne, K., Vrabie, D., Wetter, M., & Helsen, L. (2021). Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) for Simulation-Based Benchmarking of Control Strategies in Buildings. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, 14(5), 586-610. https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574, https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574

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Blum, D, Arroyo, J, Huang, S, Drgona, J, Jorissen, F, Walnum, H, Chen, Y, Benne, K, Vrabie, D, Wetter, M & Helsen, L 2021, 'Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) for Simulation-Based Benchmarking of Control Strategies in Buildings', Journal of Building Performance Simulation, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 586-610. https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574, https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574

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AU - Walnum, Harald

AU - Chen, Yan

AU - Benne, Kyle

AU - Vrabie, Draguna

AU - Wetter, Michael

AU - Helsen, Lieve

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Building Optimization Testing Framework (BOPTEST) for Simulation-Based Benchmarking of Control Strategies in Buildings

Abstract

Bibliographical note

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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