Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System
Efficient and accurate grey-box building models, including water-based heating and cooling systems, are crucial for simulating and optimizing the energy demand of building, neighborhood, and network scenarios. However, the numerical effort and the amount of input data required for existing models ar...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1959 |
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| author | Michael Mörth Andreas Heinz Richard Heimrath Hermann Edtmayer Thomas Mach Valentin Kaisermayer Markus Gölles Christoph Hochenauer |
| author_facet | Michael Mörth Andreas Heinz Richard Heimrath Hermann Edtmayer Thomas Mach Valentin Kaisermayer Markus Gölles Christoph Hochenauer |
| author_sort | Michael Mörth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Efficient and accurate grey-box building models, including water-based heating and cooling systems, are crucial for simulating and optimizing the energy demand of building, neighborhood, and network scenarios. However, the numerical effort and the amount of input data required for existing models are still high, and the parameterization of these systems is very labor-intensive. This paper presents a grey-box model that addresses these limitations by requiring minimal input data and offering a highly efficient parameterization method. Using physical principles, the model was validated against a detailed physical building model and measurement data. Our results show that the grey-box model accurately predicts return temperatures (<i>σ</i> = 0.37 K, <i>µ</i> = 0.05 K) and room air temperatures (<i>σ</i> = 0.62 K, <i>µ</i> = 0.28 K). Compared to 8229 s for the detailed physical model, the model requires only 18 s for a one-year simulation. The model also shows robust behavior with alternative weather data and control strategies. The key contribution of this work is the development of a grey-box model that combines high accuracy and numerical efficiency with significantly reduced data and parameterization requirements, with possible applications in large-scale building simulations, demand-side management, short-term energy storage strategies, and model predictive control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86f239e777c54516a07a8a5fccdc9a9d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-86f239e777c54516a07a8a5fccdc9a9d2025-08-20T03:46:52ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-06-011511195910.3390/buildings15111959Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling SystemMichael Mörth0Andreas Heinz1Richard Heimrath2Hermann Edtmayer3Thomas Mach4Valentin Kaisermayer5Markus Gölles6Christoph Hochenauer7Institute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaBEST—Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21/B, 8010 Graz, AustriaBEST—Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH, Inffeldgasse 21/B, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Thermal Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 25b, 8010 Graz, AustriaEfficient and accurate grey-box building models, including water-based heating and cooling systems, are crucial for simulating and optimizing the energy demand of building, neighborhood, and network scenarios. However, the numerical effort and the amount of input data required for existing models are still high, and the parameterization of these systems is very labor-intensive. This paper presents a grey-box model that addresses these limitations by requiring minimal input data and offering a highly efficient parameterization method. Using physical principles, the model was validated against a detailed physical building model and measurement data. Our results show that the grey-box model accurately predicts return temperatures (<i>σ</i> = 0.37 K, <i>µ</i> = 0.05 K) and room air temperatures (<i>σ</i> = 0.62 K, <i>µ</i> = 0.28 K). Compared to 8229 s for the detailed physical model, the model requires only 18 s for a one-year simulation. The model also shows robust behavior with alternative weather data and control strategies. The key contribution of this work is the development of a grey-box model that combines high accuracy and numerical efficiency with significantly reduced data and parameterization requirements, with possible applications in large-scale building simulations, demand-side management, short-term energy storage strategies, and model predictive control.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1959building energy simulationgrey-box modelwhite-box modelIDA ICEAutoMoo |
| spellingShingle | Michael Mörth Andreas Heinz Richard Heimrath Hermann Edtmayer Thomas Mach Valentin Kaisermayer Markus Gölles Christoph Hochenauer Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System Buildings building energy simulation grey-box model white-box model IDA ICE AutoMoo |
| title | Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System |
| title_full | Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System |
| title_fullStr | Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System |
| title_short | Grey-Box Model for Efficient Building Simulations: A Case Study of an Integrated Water-Based Heating and Cooling System |
| title_sort | grey box model for efficient building simulations a case study of an integrated water based heating and cooling system |
| topic | building energy simulation grey-box model white-box model IDA ICE AutoMoo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/11/1959 |
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