Reducing Peak Cooling Demand Using Building Precooling and Modified Linear Rise of Indoor Space Temperature

The paper describes development and evaluation of a simple method for determining gradient of modified linear setpoint variation to reduce peak electrical cooling demand in buildings using building precooling and setpoint adjustment. The method is an approximated approach for minimizing electrical cooling demand during occupied period in buildings and involves modified linear adjustment of cooling setpoint temperature between and . The gradient of linear variation or final time of linear increase is determined based on the cooling load shape in conventional cooling control having a constant setpoint temperature. The potential to reduce peak cooling demand using the simple method was evaluated through building simulation for a calibrated office building model considering four different weather conditions. The simple method showed about 30% and 20% in terms of reducing peak cooling demand and chiller power consumption, respectively, compared to the conventional control.