Control of Different Parameters for Indoor Air Quality Management through Natural Ventilation

The present paper proposes a nonlinear Model Predictive Control strategy aimed at controlling different parameters associated to Indoor Air Quality in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems. The considered parameters are the carbon dioxide, the formaldehyde and the total volatile organic compounds; they are controlled through natural ventilation. Input disturbance variables such as wind speed and occupancy are considered. A simulation framework is proposed based on the developed nonlinear model of the process. Restrictions on the opening of the windows were included in the model in order to guarantee a major fidelity to the real process. The results obtained through nonlinear MPC for the control of the considered process are shown focusing on the constraints management and on the look-ahead (previewing) of the input disturbance variables. The proposed approach is tested through tailored simulations in different conditions.