Abstract:
In the present work, a constrained inverse optimization method for building cooling applications is proposed
to control the mechanical draft wet cooling tower by minimizing the exergy destruction and satisfying
an imposed heat load under varying environmental conditions. The optimization problem is
formulated considering the cooling dominated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and
hybrid ground source heat pump (HGSHP). As per the requirement, new second degree correlations for
the tower outlet parameters (water temperature, air dry and wet-bulb temperatures) with five inlet
parameters (dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, water inlet temperature, water and air mass flow
rates) are developed. The Box–Behnken design response surface method is implemented for developing
the correlations. Subsequently, the constrained optimization problem is solved using augmented
Lagrangian genetic algorithm. This work further developed optimum inlet parameters operating curves
for the HGSHP and the HVAC systems under varying environmental conditions aimed at minimizing
the exergy destruction along with the fulfillment of the required heat load.
