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Modular load management for residential applications
This MSc Thesis aims to Quantify Flexibilities of residential technologies and whole agents. Develop and implement a modular load management system for residential applications and gained insights while validating your solution on real systems. The project is a collaboration between ETH and Empa.
Keywords: Flexibility potential of prosumers, load management, simulation and implementation, control
Residential areas in Switzerland are transitioning from passive consumers to active prosumers by the installation of systems like: PV, smart wet appliances , heat pumps, EV chargers, smart DHW-boilers, shading systems or HVAC systems.
Mostly these systems are controlled individually, such that they maintain comfort levels and/or reduce the operational cost of energy consumption. However, additional benefits (e.g. for DSOs) can arise if a coordinated control of multiple agents is applied, such as prosumer cost minimization and investment deferral when peak power is minimized, cost minimization when the power profile is well predictable and bounded, environmental benefits when low carbon rated energy sources are prioritized, or combination among these objectives.
Residential areas in Switzerland are transitioning from passive consumers to active prosumers by the installation of systems like: PV, smart wet appliances , heat pumps, EV chargers, smart DHW-boilers, shading systems or HVAC systems. Mostly these systems are controlled individually, such that they maintain comfort levels and/or reduce the operational cost of energy consumption. However, additional benefits (e.g. for DSOs) can arise if a coordinated control of multiple agents is applied, such as prosumer cost minimization and investment deferral when peak power is minimized, cost minimization when the power profile is well predictable and bounded, environmental benefits when low carbon rated energy sources are prioritized, or combination among these objectives.
This project aims to develop and implement a modular load management for residential applications.
Flexibilities of the named systems shall be quantified for Swiss usage/load profiles. Gained insights shall be used to define optimality criteria, cost functions and constraints for varying sets of the technologies and agents.
Simulations for common configurations shall be conducted to highlight the benefits of the developed load management scheme.
During a validation period, the developed controllers shall be implemented and tested. The test-bed will be the NEST Demonstrator at Empa in Dübendorf. This building was opened in 2016 and features residential and office areas with modern heating and cooling systems based on ground-source heat pumps. It provides measurements of all relevant comfort and energy streams with a resolution of 1 to 5 minutes. The output of this thesis should be an implementation of the above named approach (or an equivalent alternative) in the residential area "dfab House". The buildings’ energy system can be accessed via a Python, LabView or MatLab interface depending on the student’s preference.
This project will be conducted together with a large industrial partner in the area of automation and building control. The validation of the developments in NEST will be used as decision basis for the implementation in building automation suits.
This project aims to develop and implement a modular load management for residential applications. Flexibilities of the named systems shall be quantified for Swiss usage/load profiles. Gained insights shall be used to define optimality criteria, cost functions and constraints for varying sets of the technologies and agents. Simulations for common configurations shall be conducted to highlight the benefits of the developed load management scheme. During a validation period, the developed controllers shall be implemented and tested. The test-bed will be the NEST Demonstrator at Empa in Dübendorf. This building was opened in 2016 and features residential and office areas with modern heating and cooling systems based on ground-source heat pumps. It provides measurements of all relevant comfort and energy streams with a resolution of 1 to 5 minutes. The output of this thesis should be an implementation of the above named approach (or an equivalent alternative) in the residential area "dfab House". The buildings’ energy system can be accessed via a Python, LabView or MatLab interface depending on the student’s preference.
This project will be conducted together with a large industrial partner in the area of automation and building control. The validation of the developments in NEST will be used as decision basis for the implementation in building automation suits.
Philipp Heer
Empa – UESL
Group Leader ehub
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Überlandstrasse 129
8600 Dübendorf
Switzerland
Tel +41 58 765 4990
philipp.heer@empa.ch
ehub.empa.ch
Philipp Heer Empa – UESL Group Leader ehub Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology Überlandstrasse 129 8600 Dübendorf Switzerland
Tel +41 58 765 4990 philipp.heer@empa.ch ehub.empa.ch