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CHAPTER 10 BUILDING THERMAL CONTROL

10.1 Laplace Transfer Functions for
Building Thermal Control

Laplace transforms facilitate the solution of differential equations representing dynamic building thermal
behavior by converting them into algebraic functions of the transform variable s.

Laplace (s-domain) transfer functions may be employed to model the input-output behavior of building
envelope components, heating/cooling system components and the control system. Laplace transfer functions
for the three building subsystems may then be combined by means of simple algebraic equations based on
block-diagram algebra to obtain the overall system response in the Laplace domain. The system Laplace
domain response may be employed for two types of analysis:

1. Transient thermal control studies such as room temperature response to a setpoint change or a heat
source; the transient response may be determined by analytical Laplace transform inversion for simple
cases or numerically.

2. Frequency domain analysis of the open-loop and closed-loop transfer function for stability analysis.

Definitions

The Laplace transform f(s) for a function f(t) is defined as

∞

L (f (t)) ＝ f (s) ＝ ⌠
⌡ f (t) ⋅ exp (−st) d t
0

The Laplace transform is a linear transform. Thus, the superposition principle can be applied to determine
effects of various inputs on building response.

Useful Laplace Transforms

1. Ramp function: (often used in room setpoint profiles)

a
f (t) ＝ at ⋅ (t > 0) f ( s) ＝ ―
2
s

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2. Exponential:

1
f (t) ＝ exp (−at) ⋅ (t > 0) f (s) ＝ ――
s+a

3. Step function: (common in setpoint changes)

A
f (t) ＝ A ⋅ (t > 0) f ( s) ＝ ―
s

4.
w
f (t) ＝ sin (wt) f (s) ＝ ―――
2 2
s +w

5.
s
f (t) ＝ cos (w ⋅ t) f (s) ＝ ―――
2 2
s +w

6. Translation function -- a very common function to model a change (e.g. of setpoint) after a given time
or a time delay:

Given

L (f (t)) ＝ f (s)

If a function f(t) is shifted by time td

then L ⎛⎝f ⎛⎝t − td⎞⎠⎞⎠ ＝ exp ⎛⎝−s ⋅ td⎞⎠ ⋅ f (s)

For example, a duct or pipe transfer function may be modeled by a delay transfer function. If a duct is of
length L and air flows through it with velocity V, then the time taken to travel through the duct = td = L/V.

Therefore,

Tout (s)
――― ＝ exp ⎛⎝−s ⋅ td⎞⎠
Tin (s)

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7. Integral and Derivative

⎛∞ ⎞
⌠ 1
L ⎜⌡ f t d t⎟ ＝ ―⋅ f (s)
( )
⎝0 ⎠ s

⎛ df (t) ⎞
L ⎜――⎟ ＝ s ⋅ f (s) − f (0) f(0) = initial condition
⎝ dt ⎠

Simple Models for Thermal Control Analysis

Simple first-order models are often used for quick analysis of the building or the heating/cooling system.

Simple room model for thermal control (shown in schematic below):

Consider a room with total interior thermal capacity C, determined by summing the thermal capacity of room
interior layers and lightweight contents. Its total conductance between inside and outside is Ut
(thermal resistance R = 1 / Ut).

Let

TR = room temperature
To = outside temperature
qaux = auxiliary heating (positive) / or cooling (negative)

An energy balance for the room yields

energy stored + energy lost = heat input

dTR
C ⋅ ―― + Ut ⋅ ⎛⎝TR − To⎞⎠ ＝ qaux
dt

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In the Laplace domain:

s ⋅ C ⋅ TR (s) + Ut ⋅ TR (s) ＝ Ut ⋅ To (s) + qaux (s)

Rearranging, we can show that

Ut 1
TR (s) ＝ ―――⋅ To (s) + ―――⋅ qaux (s)
C ⋅ s + Ut C ⋅ s + Ut

Transfer functions defined based on the above equation:

Ut 1
―――＝ ――― transfer function for effect of To and TR
C ⋅ s + Ut τ ⋅ s + 1

1 R
―――＝ ――― transfer function for effect of qaux on TR
C ⋅ S + Ut τ ⋅ s + 1

τ＝R ⋅ C room time constant

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Example

Investigate the effect of furnace cycling on room temperature for a house with total U value (including walls,
infiltration, and windows) equal to 500 watt/degC and wall area 200 square meters. The interior lining of the
walls is gypsum board (assume this to be the main thermal capacity element). Assume that the furnace is sized
based on a minimum outside temperature of -5 degC.

We will determine the room temperature swing as a function of time constant.

First determine furnace size based on

Ut ≔ 500 ⋅ ――

2
A ≔ 200 ⋅

To ≔ −5 ⋅ outside temperature

TR ≔ 20 ⋅ room temperature

qmax ≔ Ut ⋅ ⎛⎝TR − To⎞⎠

4
qmax = ⎛⎝1.25 ⋅ 10 ⎞⎠ watt furnace capacity

Gypsum board:

L ≔ 0.013 ⋅ thickness

c ≔ 750 ⋅ ――― specific heat

⋅

ρ ≔ 800 ⋅ ―― density
3

Heat capacity:

6 joule
C≔A⋅L⋅c⋅ρ C = ⎛⎝1.56 ⋅ 10 ⎞⎠ ――

C
τ≔― τ = 0.867 hr time constant
Ut

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We will determine the effect of time constant magnitude:

τvar ≔ τ , 2 ⋅ τ ‥ 10 ⋅ τ

Period of cycling and frequency:

2⋅
P≔1⋅ w ≔ ――
P

Assume on/off cycling (between 0 and qmax ). Then, we will consider the effect of the main harmonic of qaux
on room temperature swing.

qmax qmax
qmean ≔ ―― qaux (t) ≔ ―― ⋅ sin (w ⋅ t) + qmean
2 2

The transfer function G(s) for the effect of a heat source on TR was determined as

R 1
G (s) ＝ ――― ＝ ――――
τ ⋅ s + 1 Ut ⋅ (τ ⋅ s + 1)

Laplace-domain response (harmonic term):

ΔTR (s) ＝ G (s) ⋅ qaux (s)

1 qmax ⋅ w
ΔTR (s) ＝ ―――― ⋅ ――――
Ut ⋅ (τ ⋅ s + 1) 2 ⎛⎝s 2 + w 2 ⎞⎠

It can be shown that

qmax
ΔTR (t) ＝ ――――――― ⋅ sin (w ⋅ t + ϕ)
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
2 2
2 ⋅ Ut ⋅ τvar ⋅ w + 1

where

ϕ ＝ atan (−w ⋅ τ)

qmax
TRswing ⎛⎝τvar⎞⎠ ≔ ――――――
Ut ⋅ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
2 2
τvar ⋅ w + 1

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As can be seen from the above equation, the room temperature swing decreases with decreasing time
constant. This analysis was fairly simple. For a more accurate analysis, a detailed wall model may be used
such as the admittance model described in Section 4.3.

4.85

4.45

4.05

3.65

3.25

2.85

TRswing ⎛⎝τvar⎞⎠ ( ) 2.45

2.05

1.65

1.25

0.85

0.45

0.85 1.65 2.45 3.25 4.05 4.85 5.65 6.45 7.25 8.05 8.85
τvar ( )

First order transfer functions are also commonly used for heating coils and sensors (possibly multiplied by a
time delay).

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