An inferential control scheme for optimizing the operation of boilers in multi-zone heating systems

The impacts of boiler control on the overall performance of multi-zone heating systems have been studied using a simulation platform. Conventional boiler controllers have been investigated to determine the potential for optimization and to identify the key variables that should be taken into account. An inferential control scheme is accordingly proposed for use in multi-zone buildings where there is no measurement of the internal air temperature. The scheme estimates the overall average room temperature from available information, including boiler ” ring signals, external temperature and solar radiation. The output of the estimator is fed back to a PI controller that determines the hot water supply temperature setpoint. The estimator has been validated using experimental data obtained from different sources. It has been shown in simulation that this control scheme can signi” cantly reduce the energy consumption of heating systems and improve the overall control performance in terms of the thermal comfort.