As part of the OUR-E project, the Institute for Hydrogen and Energy Technology (iwe) at Hof University of Applied Sciences is developing a predictive building control system for the new institute building being constructed on the Hof campus. The aim is to create an application-oriented model that can efficiently simulate the energy status and thermal behavior of the building. This so-called gray box modeling combines simple structuring with high forecasting accuracy.
The model was developed specifically for the new institute building in the Systems Simulation research group under the direction of Prof. Robert Honke and with the support of Julian Knopp as part of his master’s thesis. A central focus is on the simulation of internal building temperatures, taking into account variable weather conditions and seasonal fluctuations. The building’s innovative dual façade concept plays a key role in this:
- Solar thermal collectors in the external façade optimize energy generation.
- Passive shading ensures increased comfort, especially in summer.
Image: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
International recognition at the ICESA conference
At the 5th International Conference on Environmental Science and Applications, which took place in Lisbon from November 18 to 20, 2024, Robin Fick, research associate at iwe, presented the initial results of this work. His paper entitled “Modeling and Optimization of Thermal Dynamics for MPC Models in Sustainable Building Energy Systems” was met with great interest and is expected to be published in the renowned International Journal of Environmental Pollution and Remediation (IJEPR).
ICESA, organized by the Canadian company International ASET Inc., provided a platform for researchers from all over the world to discuss pioneering approaches in civil engineering and environmental science. Robin Fick was the only German participant to present the iwe’s innovative research work, making a valuable contribution to the discussion on sustainable building technology.
