Search

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have developed rapidly since 2000. Numerous academic papers have been published regarding energy efficiency improvements for air-conditioning systems. This study reviewed 12 review papers and selected 85 specific cases of applications of AI for HVAC energy usage reduction. In addition to academic studies, 31,221 patents related to HVAC energy-saving equipment filed by 11 companies were investigated. In order to analyze the large amount of data, this study developed a resource description framework (RDF) as an analysis tool. This tool was used with a natural language processing (NLP) program to compare the contents of academic papers and patents. With the automated analysis program, this study aimed to link academic research and corporate research and development, mainly the enterprise patent applications, to analyze the reasons why AI can effectively save energy. This represents a complete analysis of the current status of academic and industrial development. Six methods were identified to save energy effectively, including model-based predictive control (MPC), thermal comfort control, model-free predictive control, control optimization, multi-agent control (MAC), and knowledge-based system/rule set (KBS/RS)-based control. The energy savings of these methods were quantified to be 8.8–25.5%. These methods are widely covered by the examined corporate patent applications. After using NLP to retrieve patent keywords, the landscapes of enterprise patents were constructed and the future research directions were identified. It is concluded that 10 topics, including novel neural network designs, smartphone-assisted machine learning, and transfer learning, can be used to increase the energy-saving effects of AI and enable sustainable air-conditioning systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, artificial intelligence (AI) control tools were developed to construct an AI implementation framework for energy saving for buildings. Although numerous AI studies related to energy conservation have been conducted, most of them have reported computing algorithms and control effects for single objects. This is the first study to use a framework to integrate five‐category AI control tools to execute three‐level building energy conservation; the three levels consist of equipment‐level control, facility‐level control, and whole building energy saving. Energy‐saving effects were tested in a real building. The complex three‐floor building primarily with a total area of 9072 m2 serves as an office space and a semiconductor production line. Seventy percent energy consumption comes from air conditioning system and motor power. Twenty percent is lighting system and the other 10% is plug power and office automation equipment. Before implementation, the yearly energy cost reached US$1004339. In 2018, an AI implementation framework was introduced to systematically deploy AI at the site. A total of 47.5%, 37%, and 36.9% of energy was saved at equipment, facility, and whole building levels; up to US$385203 was saved. These energy savings proved the feasibility of the implementation framework. Furthermore, unmet demands of AI studies were met, and an approach to fill the research gap is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]