An experimental facility for testing the performance of building automation devices and systems

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This project aims to develop a prototype experimental facility for testing the performance of building automation devices and systems. The facility is vital for further developing standard testing methodologies and designing better building control algorithms and schemes. The building automation industry has been growing consistently over the last two decades, which has developed significant impacts on the sustainability. Building automation has a crucial role to play in the overall performance of buildings. However recent surveys and studies show that the actual performance of a large percent of building automation systems installed is below the expectation, damaging the credibility of the technology and discouraging further investment. One of the major reasons for this fact is that the control algorithms or schemes applied in these systems can not optimise the operation of the relevant devices controlled, especially when the operating conditions, e.g. the external weather conditions, change. The current building automation business is not operated to encourage rigorous design and implementation of control algorithms and schemes. Technically there is no standard testing method or experimental facility that is commonly accepted and can be used to test both long-term and short-term performance of the control system prior to installation and operation. The facility to be supported by this fund will be the first one of this kind in Canada. It consists of three major components: a computational simulator of building dynamic system, a general purpose interface unit that links the simulator and the controllers to be tested, and a building physics support system that will be used to calibrate the sensors and actuators. It will support a broad range of relevant research activities funded by NSERC, Ryerson University, and other resources. The facility has large potentials to provide the academia and industry with an experimental facility that significantly reduces the time and cost associated with the research of better control methods and development of new control products. It can be used by the industry for both project design and HQP training.