Modelica based design and optimisation of control systems for solar heat systems and low energy buildings

The goal of the research project enerMAT is the reduction of energy consumption and CO2 emissions of buildings. Especially solar heating systems are installed in more and more buildings. This paper introduces a novel approach for simulation and optimisation that aims to improve the performance of building controllers and especially solar heating controllers by simulation and model-in-the-loop tests. A new generation of energy-aware optimized building energy management system (BEMS) will be discussed and its advantages over the older controllers highlighted. The energy-aware optimisation will be shown on a model-based approach with an overall building system model enabling the assessment of the energy performance for different design and operation alternatives of the building automation system in interaction with the building. This system model will allow a simulation-based, energy-aware, global, dynamic, multi-criterial optimization of BEMS. In this paper, the idea, the approach, and the actual state of the project research is presented with a focus on solar heating controllers.