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Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "G: Energy and Buildings".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2022) | Viewed by 9610

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jarek Kurnitski

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. nZEB Research Group, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
2. Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, PO Box 12100 FI-00076 Aalto, 02150 Espoo, Finland
Interests: energy performance and indoor climate analysis of buildings and systems; low energy and nearly zero energy buildings; microbial growth and moisture safety aspects in buildings; innovative HVAC and energy systems and building simulation; technical definitions for NZEB buildings and energy calculation frames for regulation; sustainability assessment criteria and methods for buildings and construction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrea Ferrantelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
3. Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
Interests: heat transfer; theoretical modeling; building simulation; energy performance; thermal comfort; indoor air quality; statistical analysis; energy benchmarking
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current push towards more sustainable and energy efficient urban environments requires an innovative and comprehensive research landscape. Contemporary technical analysis should be articulated on different levels, from the microscale of heat transfer processes and air quality inside enclosures to the macroscale interactions of the building with the exterior, namely a combination of climate and the district in which the construction is embedded.

Researchers and practitioners therefore have to deal with a variegated set of issues, which range from structural characteristics affecting energy use to HVAC design and management, from building operation to its synergy with the energy distribution network and national policies that set consumption boundaries. A key requirement is being aware of the mutual interactions among topics that are technically very different, such as radiator design and energy policy.

Accordingly, this Special Issue has a wide scope and is devoted to tackling the sustainability problem with diverse yet complementary approaches. Papers addressing new theoretical, computational, as well as experimental and data-centric methodologies for the following topics are welcome:

- Design of more energy efficient HVAC systems.

- Improvement of indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

- Statistical analysis of the impact of tenants’ occupations on the energy consumption of both residential and office buildings.

- Benchmarking and future harmonization of the building stock towards deep renovations.

- Comparative analyses of how well the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) criteria is set nationally and on how well the IEQ is achieved in practice after renovation.

- Performance analyses for smart districts related to energy production and distribution.

- Energy calculation input data (NZEB definitions, system boundaries) aimed at setting more stringent data-based national requirements.

- Energy flexibility measures for NZEB.

- Sector coupling for smart districts and smart cities.

Prof. Dr. Jarek Kurnitski
Dr. Andrea Ferrantelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy efficiency
  • energy performance
  • HVAC
  • indoor environmental quality
  • thermal comfort
  • ventilation
  • cost optimality
  • nearly zero energy buildings
  • statistical analysis
  • measured energy use
  • performance assessment and characterization
  • heating systems and district heating
  • smart districts
  • energy policy
  • sector coupling

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4037 KiB  
Article
Renovation Results of Finnish Single-Family Renovation Subsidies: Oil Boiler Replacement with Heat Pumps
by Paula Sankelo, Kaiser Ahmed, Alo Mikola and Jarek Kurnitski
Energies 2022, 15(20), 7620; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15207620 - 15 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
Finland has approximately 150,000 oil-heated private homes. In 2020, the Finnish government launched subsidies for private homeowner energy renovations. In this study, we examine the impact of two new energy renovation subsidies, the ELY grant and the ARA grant, from an energy efficiency [...] Read more.
Finland has approximately 150,000 oil-heated private homes. In 2020, the Finnish government launched subsidies for private homeowner energy renovations. In this study, we examine the impact of two new energy renovation subsidies, the ELY grant and the ARA grant, from an energy efficiency point of view. Data from these subsidies reveal that a typical energy renovation case is a building from the 1970s where the oil boiler is replaced with an air-to-water heat pump. With additional data from the Finnish Energy certificate registry, a reference 1970s house is constructed and modelled in the building simulation programme, IDA ICE 4.8. Combinations of several renovation measures are simulated: air-to-water heat pump, ground-source heat pump, ventilation heat recovery and improved insulation. We found that resorting mainly to air-to-water heat pumps is not the most energy-effective solution. Ground-source heat pumps deliver a more significant reduction in delivered energy, especially with additional measures on insulation and heat recovery. Ground-source heat pumps also demand slightly less power than air-to-water heat pumps. Onsite solar PV generation helps supplement part of the power needed for heat pump solutions. Subsidy policies should emphasize deep renovation, ventilation heat recovery and onsite electricity generation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts)
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19 pages, 1377 KiB  
Article
Energy Performance Certificate Classes Rating Methods Tested with Data: How Does the Application of Minimum Energy Performance Standards to Worst-Performing Buildings Affect Renovation Rates, Costs, Emissions, Energy Consumption?
by Andrea Ferrantelli and Jarek Kurnitski
Energies 2022, 15(20), 7552; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15207552 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1702
Abstract
Energy renovations of the building stock are a paramount objective of the European Union (EU) to combat climate change. A tool for renovation progress monitoring is energy performance certificate (EPC) labelling. The present study tested the effect of different EPC label classifications on [...] Read more.
Energy renovations of the building stock are a paramount objective of the European Union (EU) to combat climate change. A tool for renovation progress monitoring is energy performance certificate (EPC) labelling. The present study tested the effect of different EPC label classifications on a national database, which comprises ~25,000 EPC values from apartment buildings, detached houses, office buildings, and educational, commercial, and service buildings. Analysing the EPC classes labelling resulting from four different EU methods, we estimated the annual renovation rates, costs, energy savings, and CO2 emissions reduction that would affect the national building stock if each of them was adopted, to fulfil the European Climate Target Plan by the year 2033. The ISO 52003-1:2017 two-point and one-point methods determined a very uneven distribution of renovation rates, from 0.45% to ~9%. Conversely, the Directive 15% recently proposed in COM/2021/802 with uniform rates determined smaller differences and standard deviation, not pushing renovations above 3.70%, namely a rate that once fine-tuned can stimulate realistic, yet effective renovation campaigns. The major differences in renovation rates provided by the studied methods show the need for a harmonized strategy such as the Directive proposal to enable achievement of European targets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts)
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38 pages, 6910 KiB  
Article
Faulty Operation of Coils’ and Humidifier Valves in a Typical Air-Handling Unit: Experimental Impact Assessment of Indoor Comfort and Patterns of Operating Parameters under Mediterranean Climatic Conditions
by Antonio Rosato, Francesco Guarino, Mohammad El Youssef, Alfonso Capozzoli, Massimiliano Masullo and Luigi Maffei
Energies 2022, 15(18), 6781; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15186781 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Data-driven Automated Fault Detection and Diagnosis (AFDD) are recognized as one of the most promising options to improve the efficiency of Air-Handling Units (AHUs). In this study, the field operation of a typical single-duct dual-fan constant air volume AHU is investigated through a [...] Read more.
Data-driven Automated Fault Detection and Diagnosis (AFDD) are recognized as one of the most promising options to improve the efficiency of Air-Handling Units (AHUs). In this study, the field operation of a typical single-duct dual-fan constant air volume AHU is investigated through a series of experiments carried out under Mediterranean (southern Italy) climatic conditions considering both fault-free and faulty scenarios. The AHU performances are analyzed while artificially introducing the following five different typical faults: (1) post-heating coil valve stuck at 100% (always open); (2) post-heating coil valve stuck at 0% (always closed); (3) cooling coil valve stuck at 100% (always open); (4) cooling coil valve stuck at 0% (always closed); (5) humidifier valve stuck at 0% (always closed). The measured faulty data are compared against the corresponding fault-free performance measured under the same boundary conditions with the aim of assessing the faults’ impact on both thermal/hygrometric indoor conditions, as well as patterns of 16 different key operating parameters. The results of this study can help building operators and facility engineers in identifying faults’ symptoms in typical AHUs and facilitate the related development of new AFDD tools. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts)
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18 pages, 5732 KiB  
Article
Heating Sizing Power Reduction in Buildings Connected to District Heating with Dynamically Controlled DHW Setback and Flow Limiters
by Hatef Hajian, Raimo Simson and Jarek Kurnitski
Energies 2022, 15(14), 5278; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15145278 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
Space Heating (SH) substations in District Heating-based (DH) systems are typically dimensioned at the design outdoor temperature without accounting for internal and solar heat gains. In residential buildings, the total required DH power typically also includes the need for Domestic Hot Water (DHW). [...] Read more.
Space Heating (SH) substations in District Heating-based (DH) systems are typically dimensioned at the design outdoor temperature without accounting for internal and solar heat gains. In residential buildings, the total required DH power typically also includes the need for Domestic Hot Water (DHW). This practice results in oversized substations and high DH design flow rates, which, due to heat gains and building thermal mass utilization in building operation, rarely, if ever, occur. Modern buildings maintain the desired indoor temperature with lower heating power by controlling the SH supply temperature with an outdoor-air-dependent heating curve and heating water flow with room unit thermostats. Applying a dynamic heating control algorithm can be considered one option to reduce the required DH power and optimize the DH network. Another possibility to decrease the needed power is controlling the DH flow by prioritizing DHW production and limiting the DH flow for SH. This study proposed a novel sizing method for the DH substation that quantifies the effects of dynamic control and flow limiters. Building models with detailed hydronic plants, accounting for internal heat gains, and using conventional and dynamic heating controls were developed in the IDA Indoor Climate and Energy simulation tool. The results show a potential DH side power reduction of up to 25%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts)
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19 pages, 7804 KiB  
Article
Cooling Thermal Comfort and Efficiency Parameters of Ceiling Panels, Underfloor Cooling, Fan-Assisted Radiators, and Fan Coil
by Karl-Villem Võsa, Andrea Ferrantelli and Jarek Kurnitski
Energies 2022, 15(11), 4156; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en15114156 - 05 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1941
Abstract
Climate change has brought a compelling need for cooling living spaces to the attention of researchers as well as construction professionals. The problem of overheating enclosures is now exacerbated in traditionally affected areas and is also affecting countries that were previously less prone [...] Read more.
Climate change has brought a compelling need for cooling living spaces to the attention of researchers as well as construction professionals. The problem of overheating enclosures is now exacerbated in traditionally affected areas and is also affecting countries that were previously less prone to the issue. In this paper, we address measurements of thermal comfort and cooling emission efficiency parameters for different devices: ceiling panels, underfloor cooling, fan-assisted radiators, and fan coil. These devices were tested in low and high cooling capacities of up to 40 W/m2 while also featuring heating dummies to imitate internal heat gains. Air temperatures were measured at different heights, allowing to evaluate the thermal stratification with high accuracy. Thermal comfort differences of the tested systems were quantified by measuring both air velocities and operative temperatures at points of occupancy. In summary, the best-performing cooling devices for the studied cooling applications were the ceiling panels and fan radiators, followed by underfloor cooling, with a limitation of stratification. Because of the strong jet, fan coil units did not achieve thermal comfort within the whole occupied zone. The results can be utilized in future studies for cooling emission efficiency and energy consumption analyses of the different cooling devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel HVAC, Building Physics and Data-Centric Solutions for Energy-Efficient Smart Buildings and Sustainable Districts)
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