Control algorithm for dynamic solar shadings - A simulation study for the extension of ISO/DIS 52016-3 to office buildings

In 2019, the building sector was responsible for the emission of 12GtCO2, equivalent
to 21% of global GHG emissions. The building sector must change pace to achieve
European carbon neutrality by 2050. One of the possible solutions to reach this goal
is the adoption of dynamic solar shadings in buildings.
This study focuses on a single office in two locations characterised by a temperate
climate: Liège (Belgium) and Milan (Italy). The work aims to implement an optimal
control strategy for external Venetian and Roller blinds. A multi-criteria approach
based on ISO/DIS 52016-3 is adopted to balance visual comfort, heating, artificial
lighting and cooling energy needs, and users’ satisfaction.
Two control strategies have been designed: one with and one without glare
evaluation. They both integrate horizontal illuminance, room occupancy, indoor
operative temperature and vertical irradiance. The control algorithms are applied and
validated on a DesignBuilder model.
With the control strategy including glare control, the main advantage is the
improvement of the user’s visual comfort in terms of light quantity and discomfort
glare. However, a total yearly energy needs increase is registered independently
from the considered shading.
Instead, if glare is not included in the control strategy, we observe a remarkable
reduction in the energy needs in Milan, where the cooling energy needs are higher.