Evolutionary Algorithms and the Optimum Design and Control of Buildings
IBPSA England Seminar
Evolutionary Algorithms
and the Optimum Design and Control of Buildings
25th June 2010
Department of Civil and
Building Engineering,
Sir Frank Gibb Building,
Loughborough University
Abstract
It is over 150 years since the publication of Charles
Darwin’s seminal work “On the origin of species by means of natural
selection…”. Not only have these concepts formed the foundation of modern
life sciences, but they have led to the development of computer-based
Evolutionary Algorithms that are so powerful they “now surpass the human
designer” (New Scientist, July 2007). This seminar will describe the
principles of evolution, their encoding in Evolutionary Algorithms, and their
application to the optimum design and operation of buildings.
9.30 Welcome Tea and Coffee
10.00 Evolution, Evolutionary Algorithms,
and the Optimum Design and Operation of Buildings
Prof Jonathan
Wright (Loughborough University)
This
presentation describes the principles of Natural Selection and their encoding
in Evolutionary Algorithms (in particular, Genetic Algorithms). The
presentation also includes an overview of the scope and formulation of building
optimization problems.
11.15 Tea and Coffee
12.00 Evolutionary
Multi-Criterion Building Optimization
Prof Jonathan
Wright (Loughborough University)
Building
design is often concerned with resolving conflicting design goals. This
presentation describes the application of an Evolutionary Algorithm in the
identification of the optimum trade-off between building energy use and
occupant thermal comfort. The trade-off characteristic contains many
alternative and equally optimal design solutions for, the form of building
fabric, the HVAC systems capacity, and the HVAC system supervisory control
strategy. The use of the trade-off characteristic in choosing a final design
solution is also described.
12.45 Lunch
13.45 Evolution of Optimum
Space Layouts
Dr Monjur
Mourshed (Loughborough University)
Space layout
planning is conventionally performed for a fixed building footprint. This
inhibits the extent to which the building form and layout of the zones can
influence the building energy use and the associated carbon emissions. This
presentation describes an approach in which an evolutionary algorithm is used
to synthesize a building layout that minimizes building energy use. The
optimization is subject to conventional design constraints relating to the
adjacency and accessibility of the zones, but without the solutions being
constrained to a fixed building footprint.
14:45 Evolution of Optimum Supervisory Control Strategies
for Renewable Energy Systems
Dr Yi Zhang (De
Montfort University)
The minimization of building energy use and carbon
emissions is a function of not only the building design, but also the control
of the building energy systems during operation. The complexity of the
supervisory control task increases with the number of alternative energy
sources, which in turn decreases the effectiveness of conventional rule-based
control strategies. This presentation describes the application of model-based
optimum control method in which an Evolutionary Algorithm is used to identify
an optimum control strategy for a building having a number of alternative
energy sources and thermal storage systems; the effectiveness of the approach
is also compared to that of conventional control methods.
15.30
Summary
Prof Jonathan
Wright (Loughborough University)
15.45
Tea
and Coffee
Speakers
Prof Jonathan Wright is Professor of Building Optimization in the
Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University. He has
over 20 years experience of model-based building optimization and was among the
first to apply Evolutionary Algorithm to building design. He has extensive
experience of building optimization, including its application to; HVAC system
synthesis and sizing; the optimization of the form of building construction;
and the optimization of HVAC system supervisory control strategies.
Dr Monjur Mourshed is a Lecturer in the Department of Civil and
Building Engineering at Loughborough University. He has extensive knowledge of
building optimization, particularly with respect to its application during the
concept design stage. He also has experience of building information modelling
and the associated integration of optimization and performance simulation
environments. His current interests include the Evolutionary synthesis of
optimum building space layouts.
Dr Yi Zhang is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of
Energy and Sustainable Development at De Montfort University. He has over eight
years experience in the application of Evolutionary Algorithms to the design
and control of buildings, particularly in the synthesis of optimum HVAC systems
and the supervisory control of low carbon buildings.
We are making a
nominal charge of £20 for this event to cover refreshments throughout the day.
To book your place, please return the attached form with your payment to: Mrs
Pamela Allen, Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough
University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU. Numbers are very limited
for this event, so please book your place as soon as possible.
For further details,
please contact Prof. Jon Wright (j.a.wright@lboro.ac.uk)
IBPSA England Seminar
Evolutionary Algorithms
and the Optimum Design and Control of Buildings
25th June 2010
Department of Civil and
Building Engineering,
Sir Frank Gibb Building,
Loughborough University
Booking Form
Name:………………………………………………………………………………..
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Affiliation:…………………………………………………………………………..
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Please send this form with a cheque for £20 made payable to Loughborough
University to:
Mrs Pamela Allen
Department of Civil and Building Engineering
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU