Genetic algorithm optimisation and scheduling for building heating systems

The utopian vision behind the work described in this paper was that of a design tool which would aid Building Heating Systems design engineers in the modelling, evaluation and optimisation of experimental Building/Heating system scenarios. The imagined design tool would hide all intricacies and problems concerned with mathematical modelling, simulation and optimisation of the heating system so allowing the design engineer to concentrate fully on improvement of the heating system and building design. A system has now been developed and is described in this paper, it includes a new computer language called MDL (Model Description Language) which includes provision for the specification of restraints and cost functions, and a new piece of simulation and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimisation software called QUEST.