4. Validation of the optimal control strategy
4.1. System settings and load conditions
Zones 7 to 12 as shown in Fig. 2 are selected for the study
because of good representing of internal and external factors
such as orientations, radiations, etc. Heat gains of light and
equipment are set the same for each zone, but heat gains of
occupants vary in different zones, which are simulated by
multiplying the base occupant density by the occupant factor
of each zone. The base occupant density and schedules of the
light and the equipment are shown in Fig. 4. The occupant
factors for zones 7 to 12 are 0.95, 1.0, 0.8, 1.05, 1.10 and 0.90,
respectively. The light schedule (0e1) describes the possibility
of maximum lighting to mimic those offices with intensive
light that one can turn (some of) them on and off conveniently.
The corridor adjacent to these zones is assumed to
have an independent air conditioner, which has a thermostat
set to 24 C in cooling mode and 22 C in heating mode. The
combined system operates from 8:00 to 20:00. The optimal
control strategy is activated at about 9:00.