Genetic and Swarm Algorithms for Optimizing the Control of Building HVAC Systems Using Real Data: A Comparative Study.
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2021
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Mathematics
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Abstract
Buildings consume a considerable amount of electrical energy, the Heating, Ventilation,
and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system being the most demanding. Saving energy and maintaining
comfort still challenge scientists as they conflict. The control of HVAC systems can be improved by
modeling their behavior, which is nonlinear, complex, and dynamic and works in uncertain contexts.
Scientific literature shows that Soft Computing techniques require fewer computing resources
but at the expense of some controlled accuracy loss. Metaheuristics-search-based algorithms show
positive results, although further research will be necessary to resolve new challenging multi-objective
optimization problems. This article compares the performance of selected genetic and swarmintelligence-
based algorithms with the aim of discerning their capabilities in the field of smart buildings.
MOGA, NSGA-II/III, OMOPSO, SMPSO, and Random Search, as benchmarking, are compared
in hypervolume, generational distance, ε-indicator, and execution time. Real data from the Building
Management System of Teatro Real de Madrid have been used to train a data model used for the
multiple objective calculations. The novelty brought by the analysis of the different proposed dynamic
optimization algorithms in the transient time of an HVAC system also includes the addition,
to the conventional optimization objectives of comfort and energy efficiency, of the coefficient of
performance, and of the rate of change in ambient temperature, aiming to extend the equipment
lifecycle and minimize the overshooting effect when passing to the steady state. The optimization
works impressively well in energy savings, although the results must be balanced with other real
considerations, such as realistic constraints on chillers’ operational capacity. The intuitive visualization
of the performance of the two families of algorithms in a real multi-HVAC system increases
the novelty of this proposal.
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Keywords
Multi-objective optimization, Genetic algorithms, Evolutionary computation, Swarm intelligence, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Metaheuristics search, Bio-inspired algorithms, Smart building, Soft computing