Robert Geryło

The main goal of the research is effective BMS parameterization based on automatic evaluation systems, both manual and data-based decisions generated by a central automation system. Building management systems, accelerating historical data, may be used as crucial tools to achieve high energy efficiency in a building of high heterogeneity with low cost. The study aims to test innovative mechanisms for automatic group changes in temperature parameters and control of air conditioning and ventilation systems without the involvement of large human resources. This is possible thanks to the use of HMI operator panels and freely programmable controllers, whose control can be changed by modifying comfort parameters (lowering the set temperature in the room, increasing the inertia of the system – hysteresis setting, distinguishing between seasons and weather-based control, reducing the operation of HVAC systems according to a schedule based on building occupancy). Centralized control allows application of parameters with a single click, ensuring stability and speed of the applied settings. The tested public utility building with a heterogeneous purpose consists of many groups of rooms: approximately 700 office rooms, server rooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms including a director’s room, archives, underground parking, VIP rooms, restaurants, technical rooms (heat nodes, gray water tanks, internal patio, monitored elevators, kitchens – two on each floor). Due to their geographical location and the system of opening and closing window frames with reed switches, office rooms are the most complex in terms of thermal comfort control. This is an effect of diverse user needs and different heating and cooling requirements resulting from additional solar heat gain in some offices. Research on such a diverse building ensures that the solutions developed can be applied to other buildings. This article will examine the possibility of zero-cost BMS parameterization using the example of a building with high functionality and safety requirements. The aim is to demonstrate that the parameterization of the building management system, based on historical data and analysis of a 13-storey building (even after 11 years of use, it shows certain design limitations), increases the comfort and energy efficiency of the building and it is the first step to connect buildings in smart cities. Increasing the level of building smartness by integrating all installations creates the highest potential to reduce the carbon footprint over the entire life cycle of a building in cities. Prediction of energy consumption, for each building based on historical data accumulated by BMS, is the first step to conduct cloud-based building integration into an energy cooperative of buildings, within the framework of a smart city.

The paper analyses the loss mechanism of roof insulation kits’ performance due to dampness increase in the insulation layers. The analyzed structures were used in standard conditions for ten years and had thermal insulation made of expanded polystyrene with a hydrophobized surface. The dampness of the thermal insulation materials was determined after the referenced period for their future fitness as roof insulation, based on laboratory tests of material samples collected from the structures. They were completed with a computer simulation of heat transfer and dampness in the partition for working conditions specified for ten years, assuming the thermal conductivity was determined for the materials collected from the analyzed roofs. It was discovered that simulation-based calculation dampness values are much lower than those observed after ten years of roof utilization. Additionally, the authors attempted to determine the correlations between the period of thermal insulation materials used in real conditions and the selected properties of the products determined in laboratory tests. To that end, the collected material was dried to constant weight and then subjected to accelerated aging through total immersion in water at room temperature, for twenty-eight days, followed by 300 freeze-thaw cycles at –20°C and +20°C. The results helped conclude that the abovementioned laboratory testing cycle does not allow for assessing the fitness for the use of the referenced products for ten years. The directions of future laboratory tests were set, suggesting extending the testing cycle at least twice.

Celem artykułu była analiza oceny gotowości budynków do obsługi inteligentnych sieci (SR). Przedstawiono istniejący stan wiedzy, wyniki badań czynników klimatycznych (temperatury, wiatru itp.), analizę dyrektyw i raportów Komisji Europejskiej (w tym domen i usług). Mając to na uwadze oraz obecne zainteresowanie urządzeniami typu smart home, stwierdzono, że ich rozwój stanowi podstawę bieżących potrzeb oraz podstawę budownictwa przyszłości.

The research paper presents a novel approach toward constructing motion equations for structures with attached MTMDs (multiple tuned mass dampers). A primary system with MDOF (multiple dynamic degrees of freedom) was reduced to an equivalent system with a SDOF (single degree of freedom) through the modal approach, and equations from additional MTMDs were added to a thus-created system. Optimization based on ℌ₂ and ℌ_∞ for the transfer function associated with the generalized displacement of an SDOF system was applied. The research work utilized GA (genetic algorithms) and SA (simulated annealing method) optimization algorithms to determine the stiffness and damping parameters for individual TMDs. The effect of damping and stiffness (MTMD tuning) distribution depending on the number of TMDs was also analyzed. The paper also reviews the impact of primary system mass change on the efficiency of optimized MTMDs, as well as confirms the results of other authors involving greater MTMD effectiveness relative to a single TMD.

The research paper presents a new approach towards constructing motion equations for structures with attached MTMDs (multiple tuned mass dampers). A primary system, with MDOF (multiple dynamic degrees of freedom) was reduced to an equivalent system with a SDOF (single degree of freedom) through the modal approach, and equations from additional MTMDs were added to a thus-created system. Optimization based on H2 and H∞ for the transfer function associated with the generalized displacement of an SDOF system. The research work utilized GA (genetic algorithms) and SA (simulated annealing method) optimization algorithms to determine the stiffness and damping parameters for individual TMDs. The effect of damping and stiffness (MTMD tuning) distribution depending on the number of TMDs was also analyzed. The paper also reviews the impact of primary system mass change on the efficiency of optimized MTMDs, as well as confirms the results of other authors involving greater MTMD effectiveness relative to a single TMD.

The repairs of building structures are inevitable and indispensable. Repairs are used to restore or maintain the usability of existing facilities, often contributing to the extension of their expected service life, increasing the sustainability of building resources. Given that conservation rules are observed, repairs are also used to save monuments. The concept of repair durability brings to the foreground the durability of the repaired structure (after repair): what service life has been obtained/recovered as a result of the repair. Based on the available data (limited set), a generalised distribution function of repair durability was developed, with a disappointing course. This, however, applies (necessarily) to the past. Significant progress was shown to have been achieved in the theoretical and technical fundamentals of technical repair measures. In this situation, a prognostic distribution function was also designed for future repairs according to EN 1504. A rule of thumb called estimating concrete repair durability, CRD was proposed. The risk associated with estimating the durability of repairs was indicated. A reason for optimism is that proactive monitoring of the condition of the structure and, consequently, management of the repair strategy allows to reach the designed life of the structure.

External thermal insulation systems (ETICS) are relevant facade applications of functional components allowing to reduce energy consumption in buildings to fulfill the provisions of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs). ETICS systems generally are made of adhesives, thermal insulation material, renders with mesh reinforcement, primers, and finish coats. Their main parameters are thermal characteristics and durability, both determined by the specific composition of the systems. Growing concerns on the environment and depletion of natural resources drive the need for the determination of the environmental characteristic of ETICS due to its growing market demand. This analysis focuses on a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a commonly used EPS based ETICS system with four different renderings, produced in several locations. The scope of this study concerns raw materials extraction, transport, production, and energy provision up to the finished, packed, and ready-for-sale product at the factory gate. The authors compared the environmental impact allocated to the 1 m² of the produced system by taking into account the thickness of EPS and within different environmental impact categories. The results of the current impacts were compared to those obtained five years earlier, considering the technological and environmental progress of the production process.

In the paper there was analyzed a mechanism of loss of performance properties of inverted roof insulation kits resulted by moisture increase of the insulation layers. This problem is very important in such systems because the thermal insulation is placed above the waterproofing layer and is not protected against water absorption. Abovementioned problem is more and more common in the course of building’s utilization in Polish climate conditions. Because inverted roof kits are based on extruded polystyrene (XPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS), those materials have been used in tested samples. The results of laboratory tests showed the phenomenon and its effect on durability and sustainability of roof covering performance. It was also found that the biggest influence on the increase of moisture in the thermal insulation layer has not the long term water absorption by immersion but freeze –thaw cycles.