Optimal Energy Consumption Control in a Multi-Zone Building Based on a Hybrid Digital Twin

Abstract

The paper considers a solution for optimal energy consumption control in a multi-zone office building based on a hybrid digital twin of a building. The hybrid digital twin comprises the energy model of the building, digital energy consumption models of both individual zones and the entire building, and a computer model of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of the building. Artificial neural networks were used to implement all digital models. The EnergyPlus energy simulation system generated the input data to train neural networks. A genetic algorithm was used to find an optimal solution to the problem. The optimal energy consumption control of the building was implemented in the DTTool software package, developed by the author. This approach allows implementing optimal energy consumption control for multi-zone buildings with the division of energy consumption into that consumed by the entire building and that consumed by certain zones of the building.