Using Emulators to Evaluate the Performance of Building Energy Management Systems.
Using Emulators to Evaluate the Performance of Building
Energy Management Systems.
(478 K)
Kelly, G. E.; May, W. B.; Kao, J. Y.; Park, C.
94-23-4;
ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 100, No. 1, [pages unknown],
January 1994.
Keywords:
emulator; algorithms; building/HVAC/plant system;
building energy management system; energy management;
control system; performance evaluation; simulation; test
and rating methodology; occupants
Abstract:
The performance of Building Energy Management System
(BEMS) is directly related to the amount of energy
consumed in a building and the comfort of the building's
occupants. One approach with which to evaluate the
performance of a BEMS is through the use of an emulator
- a special computer/data acquisition system that is
connected to the sensor inputs and command outputs of
the BEMS. It replaces the building and its heating,
ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and
uses a computer program to simulate their response to
BEMS commands. The BEMS, through its supervisory and/or
direct digital control algorithms, then controls the
simulated building/HVAC system as if it were an actual
one. At the same time, the emulator evaluates the
performance of the BEMS in terms of the energy consumed
by the simulated building, the degree of comfort
maintained in the simulated space, response time,
accuracy, etc. This paper describes using emulators to
evaluate a BEMS. Major topics include setting up a BEMS
and an emulator, evaluating system/command and DDC
software, and methodlogies for testing BEMS application
algorithms. Considerations are presented for evaluating
the programming capabilities of a BEMS, DDC control loop
performance, and rating different aspects of BEMS's
performance. A brief discussion of BEMS software is
also included.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899