Demonstration of an easy-to-apply, automated control tuning method for typical PID control loops in building energy systems

Within custom-made energy or HVAC systems, control quality of the widespread PI and PID controllers is in general poor due to high tuning costs for each controller and almost unique specifications of each controlled system. We propose a control tuning method, which needs as little as possible a priori knowledge, which runs as far as possible automated, and which is applicable for all state-of-the-art building automation systems. The method is non-adaptive and suitable for initial set up as well as retuning purposes. We demonstrate the method within a multifunctional office building with a complex energy system, where the method's application led to high control quality improvements.