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Symbolfoto: Das AIT ist Österreichs größte außeruniversitäre Forschungseinrichtung

Digitalisation and HVAC Technologies

Buildings must meet challenges of economy, sustainability and comfort at the same time. This requires the consideration of planning, implementation and operation with integrated thinking and planning approaches over the entire life cycle. In particular, the integration of renewable energy systems and heat pumps plays an important role here.

Based on digital solutions and methods, we develop sustainable, future-oriented building concepts with efficient energy supply and high thermal comfort levels at minimal life cycle costs.

Digital building technologies

  • Data analysis of operating data for statistical evaluation and error detection using artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Quality assurance of BIM models with rule-based algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI)
  • Thermal simulation of buildings and energy systems with IDA ICE, EnergyPlus, TRNSYS and Modelica
  • Testing of building controllers for HVAC systems in simulation-based real-time environment via BACnet, KNX, Modbus or 0-10V interface

Heat pump systems

  • Developments and optimizations in the refrigeration circuit of heat pumps (compression heat pumps as well as open sorption systems) on component and system level
  • Simulations from the component level to the building level
  • Experiments under controlled climatic conditions and under building-specific operating and load conditions

Acoustic signature of heat pumps and HVAC components

  • Measurement of acoustic emissions and vibrations
  • Time, frequency and direction dependent measurement with up to 72 microphones
  • Transient determination of directional dependence and maximum sound pressure level in 5 directions accompanying thermodynamic tests
  • Sound source localization by means of beamforming techniques

Fluid mechanical methods for buildings and energy systems

  • Determination of fluidic parameters such as velocities, turbulence levels and temperatures
  • Numerical analyses using the Navier-Stokes solvers with OpenFoam and ANSYS Fluent
  • Calculation of derived variables like air age and comfort parameters
  • Experimental investigations using probe- and tracer-based methods such as CTA (Constant Temperature Anemometry) and PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry)

SOLUTIONS