Thermally activated building systems in office buildings: impact of controller settings on energy performance and thermal comfort

1. ABSTRACT The control strategy and controller settings in a building with Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) are of major importance in achieving a good energy performance and thermal comfort. For a high quality office building in Belgium, the impact on energy use and thermal comfort of the settings of a feedback controller are investigated, in order to derive an optimal combination of controller settings and to provide scientifically sound recommendations to the commissioning process of this building. The location of the temperature sensor, heating and cooling water supply temperatures, heating and cooling set points, night time setback and ventilation air temperature control are the investigated controller settings. A low energy use and a low thermal discomfort are achieved by controller settings which take into account the thermal inertia of the TABS. Controlling the TABS surface temperature, using relatively low heating and high cooling temperatures and activating cooling at a lower temperature than the thermal comfort limit, are proven to result in a good balance between energy use and thermal comfort.