Natural and Mechanical Ventilation Management for Indoor Air Quality MPC

The present paper proposes an Advanced Process Control solution for Indoor Air Quality management in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning system of an office. Different Indoor Air Quality parameters are included in the control problem, i.e., carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and total volatile organic compounds. Both natural and mechanical ventilation are considered consisting of the control action provided by the windows opening and by a mechanical ventilation device. Input measured disturbance variables are taken into account, e.g., wind speed and occupancy. A nonlinear model of the considered process has been developed in order to provide a simulation framework. Restrictions on the opening of the windows were included in the model in order to guarantee a major fidelity to the real process. A nonlinear Model Predictive Control strategy has been formulated. The performance of the control system 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.