Performance verification of pipe-embedded wall system in school building and proposal of its optimal control strategy

In this study, a thermally activated building system (TABS) installed on the exterior wall as the pipe-embedded wall (PEW) system in a school building was investigated. The basic performance of the PEW system utilizing well water cascade is verified by unsteady CFD analysis and field measurements. Moreover, in order to improve the utilization efficiency of the thermal potential from well water, the MPC-based optimal control method with the PEW system to maximize the heat extraction is proposed and verified by unsteady CFD analysis. The analysis results showed that: (1) The PEW system can reduce the peak load from the exterior wall facing different directions at different times. In addition, the PEW system has the effect of stabilizing the indoor thermal environment. (2) The proposed optimal operation strategy improves the energy efficiency, extracting up to 30% more heat and reducing the total heat transmission, which significantly develops the operation efficiency of the PEW system.