Title: Application of Systems Engineering in Distributed Control and Building Performance Applications
Abstract: Building itself is like a complex system with a number of physical processes that interact with each other and with the environment. From the control point of view, this system is composed of multi dynamic subsystems that must be monitored and controlled in order to achieve occupants' well being and energy efficiency. However, environmental and occupants change in a building, and this increases the complexity in applying control systems. For this reason, this paper presents a comprehensive framework using the systems engineering (SE) concept – a systematic approach for adapting procedures, tools, and standards to all practical problems – in order to analyze and design effective integrated control solutions. Although these solutions are based on the use of SE good practice and corresponding SE standards, the development lifecycle of control systems are covered ranging from the operational needs to implementation, operation and disposal. As an essential step toward this goal, namely using computer simulations to evaluate the impact of advanced control systems on buildings operation and energy use, this paper describes a distributed simulation mechanism that was developed and implemented between different simulation tools such as ESP-r and Matlab/Simulink. The paper also addresses a study of verification and validation (V&V) issues within this framework: inconsistency checking, traceability issues and all requirements related in SE standards, especially EIA-632