Evaluating cooling zonal set point temperature operation strategies for peak load reduction potential: Case based analysis of an office building

In the changing electricity power supply chain, demand response from buildings is a crucial control resource. Whereas numerous studies exist on peak load reduction activities using buildings, few represent building side perspectives. The result is oversimplification of analyses and a near silence on building side considerations. This study uses the building centred productiveness concept to analyse demand response potential of zonal set point temperature operation strategies for a cooling system of an office building during summer. The analysis is based on virtual tests using HAMBase/Simulink simulations validated with onsite measurements in July and August 2013. Findings indicate most promising potentials for zonal set point temperature operation strategies that incorporate forced free cooling during lunch break. For ambient temperature up to 35 °C, productivity loss for the most thermally exposed building zone remain below 10% for validated simulations if zonal set point temperature operation strategy incorporate forced free cooling at lunchtime. The study makes a specific contribution in cost effective evaluation of peak load reduction potential when using zonal set point temperature operation strategies during cooling operations for office buildings.