A Conceptual Framework for Model Simulation based Smart Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS)

As the energy use by commercial buildings continues to grow, there is a need to develop innovative techniques to reduce and optimize energy use in buildings. In recent years, Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) have gained popularity because of increasing interest in building energy conservation and savings. However, most of the current BEMS are limited to the functions of collecting and reporting building energy consumption data. Thus, the integration of building control systems and current BEMS can provide a more effective energy management method. Although a few BEMS in recent years have been integrated with control systems, they are operated on the basis of historical weather data or past energy consumption patterns. Consequently, this type of BEMS control system may inappropriately respond to real-time outdoor weather dynamic conditions. In this study, a conceptual framework for real-time weather responsive control systems combined with BEMS is proposed to achieve model simulation based Smart BEMS. The proposed control system is developed using building energy control patterns, which are generated from the combinations of weather data changes. As a result, building energy use can be adjusted by, for example, using daylighting responsive controls for electrical lighting as well as by adjusting the HVAC operational schedule, in response to weather changes. To create control logics for model based Smart systems, BIM and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) simulation are used to obtain building material properties and to develop air flow operational algorithms, respectively. By implementing the framework for commercial buildings, energy use could be effectively controlled depending on variable weather conditions.