Thermal modelling of manufacturing processes and HVAC systems

Abstract

The two main energy consumers within a manufacturing plant are the HVAC systems and manufacturing processes. Studies have predominately looked at energy demand associated with manufacturing a single product or a production line, as well as analysis of energy use within a building, but little work has investigated the interaction between manufacturing processes and the surrounding building. Dynamic time based building energy simulation was used to determine the thermal behaviour of the manufacturing facility. The study establishes the importance of analysing manufacturing energy flows alongside that of the building in order to capture all thermal and energy flows. The relationship between the energy demand of HVAC systems with manufacturing productivity is determined. The use of the current degreeday method of building analysis was proven inappropriate for manufacturing facilities, due to such significant heat gains from manufacturing equipment, and impact of equipment on indoor conditions. The need for a proactive HVAC system based on manufacturing demand is introduced, allowing for control of the environment prior to significant temperature or humidity changes.

Development of a Process Automation System for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning for the Food Industry on the Basis of Honeywell Equipment

“…Some research [8] examined recent research in the HVAC sector to improve system efficiency and provide occupants with more thermal comfort in climate-controlled interior spaces. A recent study on thermal modelling [9] underscored the pivotal role of HVAC systems in humidity and temperature control to ensure production quality in manufacturing processes. Despite the relatively stable energy consumption of the machinery sector, escalating production demands necessitate a strategic focus on energyefficient management, with HVAC systems identified as a key area for potential energy reduction.…”

Digital Twin Value in Intelligent Building Development

“…It could represent a system, part or a family of parts while the Digital Twin represents an instance. Simulation has been underlined as the most appropriate method to model dynamic material and energy flows in the conditions of the complexity of process interactions and a large volume of variables [33,34]. The purpose of a simulation is to study behaviour and performance of a physical device [14] and to determine the characteristics or make predictions about the real system using the data that cannot be measured during the operation process.…”

Bi-objective green in-house transportation scheduling and fleet size determination in mixed-model assembly lines with mobile robots

“…With the public awareness of environmental protection and energy saving increasing over the decades, energy-efficiency has become one of the most concerned standards that cannot be ignored in the industrial sector. Manufacturing activities play a main role in industrial energy consumption, accounting for 55% of global energy consumption and 21% of greenhouse gas emissions (Mawson and Hughes, 2020). What's more, logistics including in-house material handling is another chief consumer among the industrial sectors, responsible for nearly 20% of total (Fan and Lei, 2016).…”