Building Owner The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Using AI solution and data mining technologies to optimise energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems
Using advance control algorithm to improve energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems
Building/Project Name Campus buildings in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Systems Building Automation /Management System
Smart control Platform
Building Types Others - School/Education Institution
Description of the building:
  • The "AC on demand" strategy is applied to all campus offices. Fan coil units (FCU) are installed in the offices for air-conditioning. A controller is installed for office temperature control and on/off of FCUs.
  • The chiller plant for campus phase 1&2 buildings consists of a multiple-chiller system with six water-cooled chillers and two air-cooled chillers, providing a total capacity of 4,225 tons. PAUs supply fresh air to all spaces, FCUs are installed in classrooms and offices, while AHUs are used for large open areas such as the lecture halls and stadiums.
  


Retrofitted initiative:
  • "AC on Demand" for all offices on campus. Previously, the office AC is controlled based on scheduling. A simple control logic is programmed in the office AC controller to reduce the AC hours.
  • Smart control for Phase 1&2 chiller plant: A comprehensive chiller plant control strategy has been fully deployed within the existing BMS, which includes: (1) a predictive maintenance strategy utilizing real-time measurements; (2) a chiller sequencing strategy based on probabilistic cooling load prediction; (3) an optimal pump sequencing strategy based on physics-guided data-driven models.


Observed benefits other than energy saving:
  • Nil complaint for indoor thermal comfort.
  • Achieved fully automated control for chiller operation to reduce operational labor costs.
  • Reduced unnecessary on-off switching of chillers, thereby prolonged chiller life time.
  • Reduced chiller plant maintenance costs through predictive maintenance.


General observations of the retrofitting project:
  • The “AC on Demand” strategy tries to reduce the air-conditioning hours in offices. Previously, the office AC is automatically switched on/off according to a fixed time schedule no matter whether the room is occupied or not. With the “AC on Demand”, the AC can only be switched on manually and tries to automatically switch off earlier.
  • Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant: (1) Building thermal comfort is guaranteed while achieving energy saving; (2) The AI mode integrates chiller maintenance signals, ensuring that the AI program is not affected by chiller maintenance; (3) In special situations, the AI mode allows operators to override the AI chiller sequencing control signal to stage on or stage off.


Other information:
Cost Saving
Total cost: HKD 3.5 million Total savings/year: HKD 4.3 million
Cost breakdown: Approximately HKD 3.0 M for replacing office AC controller

Approximately HKD 0.5 M for programming, gateway, and server		 Saving/year breakdown:
Approximately 2.46 million kWh from "AC on Demand"

Approximately 1.2 million kWh from Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant
Payback: Within 1 year
Name of consultant and contractor Subsidy/ Funding
Building Energy and Automation Research Laboratory, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The project is supported by: PolyU Carbon Neutrality Funding Scheme for the "Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant"


Using AI solution and data mining technologies to optimise energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems
Using advance control algorithm to improve energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems
Building Owner The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Building/Project Name Campus buildings in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Systems Building Automation /Management System
Smart control Platform
Building Types Others - School/Education Institution
Description of the building:

  • The "AC on demand" strategy is applied to all campus offices. Fan coil units (FCU) are installed in the offices for air-conditioning. A controller is installed for office temperature control and on/off of FCUs.
  • The chiller plant for campus phase 1&2 buildings consists of a multiple-chiller system with six water-cooled chillers and two air-cooled chillers, providing a total capacity of 4,225 tons. PAUs supply fresh air to all spaces, FCUs are installed in classrooms and offices, while AHUs are used for large open areas such as the lecture halls and stadiums.
  
Retrofitted initiative:

  • "AC on Demand" for all offices on campus. Previously, the office AC is controlled based on scheduling. A simple control logic is programmed in the office AC controller to reduce the AC hours.
  • Smart control for Phase 1&2 chiller plant: A comprehensive chiller plant control strategy has been fully deployed within the existing BMS, which includes: (1) a predictive maintenance strategy utilizing real-time measurements; (2) a chiller sequencing strategy based on probabilistic cooling load prediction; (3) an optimal pump sequencing strategy based on physics-guided data-driven models.

Observed benefits other than energy saving:

  • Nil complaint for indoor thermal comfort.
  • Achieved fully automated control for chiller operation to reduce operational labor costs.
  • Reduced unnecessary on-off switching of chillers, thereby prolonged chiller life time.
  • Reduced chiller plant maintenance costs through predictive maintenance.

General observations of the retrofitting project:

  • The “AC on Demand” strategy tries to reduce the air-conditioning hours in offices. Previously, the office AC is automatically switched on/off according to a fixed time schedule no matter whether the room is occupied or not. With the “AC on Demand”, the AC can only be switched on manually and tries to automatically switch off earlier.
  • Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant: (1) Building thermal comfort is guaranteed while achieving energy saving; (2) The AI mode integrates chiller maintenance signals, ensuring that the AI program is not affected by chiller maintenance; (3) In special situations, the AI mode allows operators to override the AI chiller sequencing control signal to stage on or stage off.

Other information:

Cost Saving
Total cost: HKD 3.5 million Total savings/year: HKD 4.3 million
Cost breakdown: Approximately HKD 3.0 M for replacing office AC controller

Approximately HKD 0.5 M for programming, gateway, and server		 Saving/year breakdown:
Approximately 2.46 million kWh from "AC on Demand"

Approximately 1.2 million kWh from Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant
Payback: Within 1 year
Name of consultant and contractor Subsidy/ Funding
Building Energy and Automation Research Laboratory, Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The project is supported by: PolyU Carbon Neutrality Funding Scheme for the "Smart optimal control for phase 1&2 chiller plant"


Using AI solution and data mining technologies to optimise energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems
Using advance control algorithm to improve energy efficiency and operational performance for major equipment and building services systems

   


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