Rong Xu
Optimal control of air-conditioning with thermal storage
Researchers at the University of South Australia are collaborating with Seeley International to develop a domestic heat pump air conditioning system incorporating thermal energy storage. This system stores thermal energy during winter using rooftop photovoltaics or off-peak grid electricity, whilst storing cooling capacity during summer. Its control principle lies in regulating the heat pump’s power input and the heat delivered to the building by the storage device. This problem can be formulated as a continuous optimal control problem, aiming to maintain indoor temperature constraints at minimum operating cost under time-varying electricity tariffs and environmental conditions.
Building upon prior research employing Pontryagin methods to derive control strategies under simplified heat loss models, this project now aims to refine the model using data from recently installed pilot systems. Specific objectives include:
(1) enhancing the heat loss model through pilot data;
(2) deriving optimal control strategies tailored to real-world scenarios involving outdoor conditions, comfort requirements, storage capacity, and building heat losses;
(3) integrating new findings into a draft paper for publication.
Rong Xu
University of South Australia
Rong Xu is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of Applied Mathematics at the University of South Australia. Her research interests centre on the fields of optimal control and energy-efficient systems, where she endeavours to integrate rigorous mathematical theory with practical applications and operational constraints.
She is experienced in establishing optimisation and simulation workflows for real-world engineering challenges. For the World Solar Challenge, she and her team developed a software for the Adelaide University Solar Racing Team (AUSRT) to deliver optimal driving strategies, whilst also enabling the team to visualise the sensitivity of future vehicle design parameters. She is passionate about collaborative, open research practices and actively engages in student research activities.
She previously participated in the University’s Vacation Research Scholarship programme, undertaking research into optimal control strategies for reducing peak electricity costs through the utilisation of renewable energy sources.
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