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From left, PhD students Sleiman Sleiman and Ana Victoria Palma Florida interact with an Indoor Environmental Quality measurement pole, which measures indoor conditions at different heights. (Submitted Concordia University)<\/p>\nResearchers at Concordia University are looking for ways to make the YUL Montr\u00e9al\u2013Trudeau International Airport more energy efficient using predictive controls without sacrificing passenger comfort.<\/p>\n
Using real-life data collected through sensors installed at different terminals, Concordia\u2019s Volt-Age program uses analytics tools to identify patterns and inefficiencies that can later be used to implement adaptive control systems to adjust the heating, cooling, and ventilation automatically.<\/p>\n
The project\u2014a collaboration between the airport and the university\u2014comes at a perfect time for Mohamed Ouf, the program\u2019s lead researcher, as YUL Montr\u00e9al\u2013Trudeau is currently undergoing major expansions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of buildings coming up,\u201d Ouf said, \u201cand as part of what we\u2019re looking at, we\u2019re trying to see how can we inform the design of different systems that could be incorporated in the new buildings or additions to the airport that can facilitate this smarter operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Harry Vallianos, a postdoctoral fellow working on the project, the aim is to build models that can predict optimal energy use by learning from the behavioural data collected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we have that model that we\u2019re sure that connects to reality and properly reflects the behavior of the building, then we can use it to predictively control the building using weather forecasts and occupancy forecasts to make sure that it will precondition the building before the occupants even feel that it\u2019s too cold or too hot,\u201d said Vallianos.<\/p>\n
To ensure that the project places human needs first, researchers like Concordia PhD student Ana Victoria Palma Florido also use questionnaires as part of their field measurements to get an insight into behavioural habits and comfort levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis essentially helps us understand what are the main factors that influence thermal comfort within the airport terminal and how we can optimize the indoor environment in such a way to achieve energy efficiency, as well as ensuring that staff and occupants alike are still comfortable within the indoor environment,\u201d said Florido.<\/p>\n
From left, PhD students Sleiman Sleiman and Ana Victoria Palma Florida interact with an Indoor Environmental Quality measurement pole, which measures indoor conditions at different heights. (Submitted Concordia University)<\/p>\n
Research on energy efficiency is especially important now, says Ouf, because, while most Canadians feel that the country is energy secure, the increasing demand combined with a push towards electrification can lead to an excessive load on the electrical grid during peak time\u2014especially in winter\u2014resulting in a need to import energy or use fossil fuels to meet the demand.<\/p>\n
To address this problem, his team is looking into implementing control strategies in the airport to conserve energy for when the grid is close to reaching its maximum capacity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes, I try to simplify it as we look at the building as a potential battery,\u201d Ouf said. \u201cThe building itself is a battery, in a sense, that can store heat, that can store energy, that could be used at times when we\u2019re expecting those peaks. And that\u2019s for short periods, but this is actually what\u2019s critical for those times.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the project\u2019s focus is the Montreal airport, researchers\u2019 findings on smart controls, renewable energy integration and demand management strategies can be applied to other large buildings with changing environments across the country, like office towers, hospitals and universities.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt\u00a0the end of the day, buildings have a similar structure,\u201d Ouf added.\u00a0\u201cSo\u00a0we look at how we can learn from this\u00a0in order to\u00a0have strategies that can work for other types of buildings, like offices and even industrial buildings and so on, and\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project is expected to continue until 2030, with researchers hoping that the showcased results, once the airport construction is finished, can help turn Montreal into a pioneering city for energy-efficient design.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tAssociate Concordia University professor Mohamed Ouf looks out over the domestic terminal at YUL Montr\u00e9al\u2013Trudeau International Airport. (Submitted Concordia University) <\/p>\n
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