Optimization of MVAC systems for energy management by evolutionary algorithm

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Date
2003Abstract
Energy management in existing building services installations is an essential focus of
contemporary facilities management. The subway company that is one of the major utilities services
in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has considered better energy management
schemes in its subway stations to reduce the running cost. In the past few years, in order to achieve
energy saving in the stations, some feasible measures in the Mechanical Ventilation and Air
Conditioning (MVAC) systems were implemented, however the engineering decisions were supported
by the trial-and-error or imprecise estimation. Improvement to this process would be possible if
numerical optimization methods were to be used. Evolutionary algorithm coupled with external plant
simulation programme was applied to determine the optimum conditions of the essential parameters
of the MVAC systems, in order to provide a holistic energy management approach. For the
centralized MVAC systems of the 5 subway stations under studies, the developed optimization and
simulation model was found useful to appraise the energy management opportunities for effective
design and facilities management.
Description
Citation : Fong, Kwong-Fai, Hanby, Victor Ian and Chow, Tin-Tai (2003) Optimization of MVAC systems for energy management by evolutionary algorithm. Facilities, 21 (10), pp. 223-232.
ISSN : 0263-2772
Research Group : Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development