Evaluation and Optimization of Model-based Predictive Controllers for Dual-Fuel Switching and Load Shifting in Residential HVAC Sector

在北美的许多地区，天然气通常通过炉子/锅炉用于空间加热，而电力则通过中央空调或热泵用于空间冷却。由于夏季制冷需求的增加和空气源热泵（ASHP）技术的进步，住宅建筑商正在采用空气源热泵作为主要的供暖、通风和制冷（HVAC）系统。然而，空气源热泵的容量和效率随着室外温度的降低而下降，这在加拿大是很典型的，因此需要一个备用的加热系统，无论是电力的还是其他的。这一趋势增加了老化电网的压力，增加了总体能源成本，并产生了相关的环境影响，特别是在需求高峰时期。为了缓解这些问题，Ecobee和瑞尔森大学正在合作开发一种智能暖通空调控制器，可以在Ecobee的智能恒温器中实施和部署在住宅中，利用设备效率、能源价格和短期天气预报的实时信息，最佳地决定是否应该使用电动空气源热泵或天然气炉/锅炉。该系统还可以连接到当地公用事业的需求响应（DR）系统，以充分整合和参与当地智能电网基础设施，从而为房主和公用事业提供更大的灵活性和利益。预期的智能预测住宅暖通空调控制系统将为房主提供用户友好的成本节约机会。如果控制器被广泛部署和集成，它可能会提供一种具有成本效益和无处不在的机制，作为可调度的负载，为公用事业（包括电力和天然气）提供更好的管理基础设施，通过供需优化最大化其资产利用率。因此，拟议的系统将有利于房主，因为它以更低的能源成本提供更灵活的能源供应，也有利于公用事业（电力和天然气）。

In many regions of North America, natural gas is typically used for space heating via a furnace/boiler whileelectricity is used for space cooling via a central air-conditioner or heat pump. Due to increased demands forsummer cooling and advancements in air source heat pump (ASHP) technologies, builders of residential homesare adopting ASHP as the main heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system. However, ASHP capacityand efficiency drops with lower outdoor temperatures, typical in Canada, thus requiring a backup heatingsystem, be it electric or otherwise. This trend has increased strain on the aging electrical grid, increases overallenergy costs, and has associated environmental impact, particularly during peak demand periods. To mitigatethese issues, Ecobee and Ryerson University are collaborating to develop a smart HVAC controller that can beimplemented and deployed in residential homes within Ecobee's smart thermostats to optimally decide whetheran electrically driven ASHP or a natural gas furnace/boiler should be used on a real-time basis, utilizingtemporal information on equipment efficiencies, energy pricing, and short-term weather forecasts. This systemcould also be linked to the local utility's demand response (DR) system for full integration and participationwith local smart grid infrastructure, thus, offering even greater flexibility and benefit to both home owners andutilities. The expected smart predictive residential HVAC control system will offer a user friendly cost savingopportunity to home owners. If the controller were widely deployed and aggregrated, it could potentiallyprovide a cost effective and ubiquitous mechanism, as a dispatchable load, for utilities (both electric andnatural gas) to better manage their infrastructure by maximizing the utilitization of their assets through supplyand demand optimization. Therefore, the proposed system will be benefical to both home owners, by having amore flexible energy supply at a lower energy cost, and utilities (electric and natural gas) alike.