Flexibility Enhancement in Heat Pump-based Indoor Temperature MPC

A Model Predictive Control strategy for heatpump based indoor temperature control is proposed in this paper. The controller has been included in an Advanced Process Control system that also contains a block that aids to enhance flexibility on control specifications. A linear model of the relationship between heat pump power/outdoor temperature and the considered rooms' temperatures has been exploited for the developed process simulator and as internal model of the developed model-based controller based on Model Predictive Control strategy. Different flexibility features have been ensured in the design of the control system; bad conditions are detected and users' defined specifications are handled by the control system. Tailored simulations based on significant scenarios show the reliability of the proposed approach in guaranteeing a satisfactory performance on the assigned process variables constraints and, at the same time, an optimized management of the heat pump power.