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Chhavi Nanda
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
This manuscript reviews and experimentally compares control-strategy optimization methods for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems as of 2014. It explores classical feedback schemes, fuzzy logic, and model-predictive control (MPC) within the constraints of building thermal dynamics. A small-scale test rig emulating a single-zone office space was instrumented to evaluate energy consumption, temperature regulation accuracy, and peak electrical demand under each strategy. Statistical analysis via ANOVA highlights significant performance differences, and key research gaps are identified. Recommendations focus on computational tractability and sensor-cost trade-offs.
Keywords
HVAC control optimization, PID, fuzzy logic, model-predictive control, energy efficiency
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