Thermal energy storage in buildings – Modeling and optimization

Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Tarragona, Spain

Description

This research project will focus on developing novel (global) optimization techniques for the solution of linear/nonlinear and mixed integer nonlinear programming problems (MILP or MINLP) arising in most real case applications. This project will develop decision-making tools based on the combined use of multi-objective optimization, life cycle assessment for the design and planning of more sustainable building designs. To achieve these goals, we will use multi-objective programming tools combined with life cycle assessment for multi-criteria problems. Stochastic programming will assist decision-makers in the face of uncertainty. Life cycle assessment tools will be employed to assess process alternatives from an environmental perspective. We will apply these tools to different case studies that have attracted an increasing interest in the recent past. Particularly, we will focus on applications in the building sector, highlighting the advantages of the proposed methods as compared to traditional design tools. We will consider different options to increase the thermal inertia of buildings including phase change materials (PCM). The main novelties of the project compared to other contributions presented so far in the literature are:

- The combined use of mathematical programming, thermal building simulation and life cycle assessment to describe the thermal behaviour of a building considering different options for construction and materials.

- The systematic analysis of the mathematical structure of multi-objective problems arising in environmental engineering, which will allow us to identify redundant environmental metrics that can be omitted.

- The development of algorithms to expedite the search for optimal solutions in the environmental impact minimization.

Requirements

Candidates should have a bachelor and/or a master degree on Chemical, Industrial, Mechanical or Building Engineering, Physics or similar. Knowledge or experience in modeling as well as basic knowledge of standard modeling software packages (e.g. EnergyPlus, TRNSYS, Designbuilder, Matlab, GAMS...) will be considered as a valuable asset. He should have a good level of English (B2 or equivalent).

More information and applications

Interested candidates should send an electronic version of their CV and an academic expedient (subjects, credits and grades) to laureano.jimenez@urv.cat Skype accounts will be highly appreciated for an on-line interview.