Mathews, E.H.; Heerden, E.v.; Arndt, D.C.
July 1999
Building and Environment, vol 34-4, p. 429-449
This paper describes a tool called QUICKcontrol. The new, simplified, yet extensively verified building model made an efficient integrated tool possible. The system simulation is done using simplified though accurate component models. A unique simulation tool resulted.
Any building, any HVAC system, and any control strategy can now quickly be built up using a graphical user interface. The integrated building, HVAC and control problem is then solved iteratively. Energy balances for each component, and for the system as a whole, are obtained. HVAC systems and controls can now be designed,
optimized, and commissioned with ease and confidence.
The software has already been successfully verified by eight case studies. The results proved to be sufficiently accurate for design, as well as control and energy analyses. For example, energy predictions calculated each minute are generally within 10% of measured values, while zone temperatures are within 1°C for 90% of the time.
A new user typically takes a day to master the use of the software. Computing time for a very involved building, HVAC system, and complex energy management controls is approximately 10 min on a 133 MHz Pentium PC with 16 MByte RAM and 40 time steps per h. It is thus easy and practical to investigate a range of alternative control strategies and demonstrate their financial advantages to clients.
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