Performance comparison of heating control strategies combining simulation and experimental results.

Different heating system controllers for passive solar
buildings are compared on two different buildings.
The performance criterion combines energy
performance and thermal comfort using the "cost
function" paradigm. The experimental facilities did
not allow a direct experimental comparison by using
two identical buildings.
The controllers were implemented alternatively in
one building and a performance comparison was
obtained in two ways: first by identifying short
periods that have similar driving variables (weather
conditions and building occupancy) and comparing
the experimental results obtained in both cases. The
second method mixes experiments and simulation
using a well-tuned model of the building and its
occupants.
This paper discusses the results obtained using the
above methods and shows that both methods give
consistent estimates of the difference between
controllers, while the second method allows to
extrapolate useful information from the limited data
available.