Simulation and control of thermally activated building systems (TABS)

• TABS are a technology with potential for reducing energy use in buildings.
• Study of heat transfer in buildings with TABS is complex.
• TABS control is challenging.
• Modelling is essential for optimizing the design and the control of TABS.

Buildings account for a significant amount of global energy use and CO2 emissions. Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) are a technology with potential for significantly reducing buildings energy use. TABS are heating and cooling systems that are integrated in the building structure. They mainly exchange heat through radiation and are able to store heat in the building thermal mass. TABS high thermal mass and their interaction with the building structure make their energy evaluation and design process difficult. Development of simulation models has been essential to study the design and control of TABS. Control of TABS is challenging due to the slow response time and storage capacity. A lot of research has been conducted to develop control strategies that fully exploit its energy saving potential and that maximize the use of renewable energies. This paper summarizes the main characteristics of TABS and presents the developed simulation models and control strategies.