An exergy-based multi-objective optimisation model for energy retrofit strategies in non-domestic buildings
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Kerdan, IG
Raslan, R
Ruyssevelt, P
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
While the building sector has a significant thermodynamic improvement potential, exergy analysis has been shown to provide new insight for the optimisation of building energy systems. This paper presents an exergy-based multi-objective optimisation tool that aims to assess the impact of a diverse range of retrofit measures with a focus on non-domestic buildings. EnergyPlus was used as a dynamic calculation engine for first law analysis, while a Python add-on was developed to link dynamic exergy analysis and a Genetic Algorithm optimisation process with the aforementioned software. Two UK archetype case studies (an office and a primary school) were used to test the feasibility of the proposed framework. Different measures combinations based on retrofitting the envelope insulation levels and the application of different HVAC configurations were assessed. The objective functions in this study are annual energy use, occupants' thermal comfort, and total building exergy destructions. A large range of optimal solutions was achieved highlighting the framework capabilities. The model achieved improvements of 53% in annual energy use, 51% of exergy destructions and 66% of thermal comfort for the school building, and 50%, 33%, and 80% for the office building. This approach can be extended by using exergoeconomic optimisation.
Date Issued
2016-12-15
Date Acceptance
2016-06-07
Citation
Energy, 2016, 117, pp.506-522
ISSN
0360-5442
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
506
End Page
522
Journal / Book Title
Energy
Volume
117
Copyright Statement
© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Thermodynamics
Energy & Fuels
Building simulation
Exergy
Optimisation
Genetic algorithms
Building retrofits
Non-domestic buildings
GENETIC ALGORITHM
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
POWER-PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
EFFICIENCY
SYSTEM
CONSUMPTION
DESIGN
CERTIFICATES
Publication Status
Published