Improved Heating Control in Buildings - Isis Project No 1489
A joint initiative between Oxford University and BRE
A new model-based algorithm for building heating control automation has been developed which delivers energy efficiency while maintaining internal comfort.
Market Opportunity
Reducing energy consumption is one of the most obvious ways of saving money and reducing the impact on the environment. However there are many existing, medium sized heating installations that are only part way through their life but are relatively poorly controlled. As a result, many buildings managers struggle to satisfy the challenges of cutting heating costs and at the same time maintaining a comfortable environment for the occupants. This problem is made far more difficult in buildings with multiple zones that have complex heat inputs and outputs.
The Oxford and Buildings Research Establishment (BRE) Invention
A new model-based predictive boiler controller has been successfully commissioned and tested by BRE and Oxford University. The controller uses an advanced mathematical model to predict the average temperature inside the building and find the optimal supply water temperature. It uses a novel dual-loop control strategy that is currently the subject of a patent application. It requires no permanent measurement of the air (room) temperatures inside the building and reduces the energy consumed by the boiler without any associated loss in thermal comfort. The improved heating control is easily retrofitted to existing heating systems and can be commissioned over a short period of time.
- Saves Energy (initial results show between 10% to 30%)
- Simple ‘boiler room’ solution that delivers greatest savings on poorly controlled systems
- Relatively simple to install and easily commissioned
- Provides for a comfortable building environment
- Approach could be adapted to control chillers/air-conditioning systems
Patent Status
This work is the subject of a patent application, and isis and BRE would like to talk to companies interested in commercialising this technology.
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Request Further Information: Project Number 1489 Improved Heating Control in Buildings - a joint initiative between Oxford University and BRE