Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Active Buildings'

Thermal mass can be used in buildings to reduce the need for and dependence on mechanical heating and cooling systems whilst maintaining environmental comfort. Active thermal mass strategies further enhance the performance of thermal mass through integration with the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. For the design of new buildings to include active thermal mass strategies, experience from operational projects and design guidelines are normally used by engineers. However, dynamic thermal modelling is required in most cases to accurately determine the performance of its integration with the environmental systems of the building. Design decisions made in the preliminary stages of the design of a building often determine its final thermal characteristics. At this stage, reasons for not integrating active thermal mass strategies include the lack of knowledge about the performance of previous buildings and the time and resources required to carry out detailed modelling. In this research project a commercially available dynamic building thermal program has been used to construct models for active thermal mass strategies and compare the results with monitored temperatures in buildings incorporating the strategies in the UK. Four active thermal mass strategies are considered (a) hollow core slabs (HCS), (b) floor void with mass, (FVWM) (c) earth-to-air heat exchanger (ETAHE) and (d) thermal labyrinth (TL). The operational strategies and monitoring are presented and their modelling is described in terms of geometrical configuration and input parameters. The modelling results are compared with the measured parameters successfully. Using the calibrated model, an excel based tool (TMAir) was then developed that can be used at the concept design stages of a typical office building to determine the benefits of integrating an active thermal mass strategy. Key design parameters were identified for each system. These parameters can be split into two categories; fixed parameters and user selected parameters. The fixed parameters are pre-selected for the design tool and have to be a fair representation of the projects that the tool will be used for. The user selected parameters are chosen by the user to represent the way the building will be used, and to look at the effect of key design decisions on the performance of the building. The tool has an easy-to-use interface which allows direct comparison of the different active thermal mass strategies together with the effects of changing key design parameters. Results are presented in terms of thermal comfort and energy consumption. TMAir has then been used to carry out a series of parametric analyses. These have concluded the following:  There is only a benefit in integrating a HCS strategy when night cooling is introduced  There is no benefit in integrating a FVWM strategy when only one parameter is improved  An ETAHE and TL strategy will always provide a benefit, although the benefits are greater when night cooling is introduced, solar and internal gains are reduced and when the air change rate is increased. When all of the parametric improvements are applied to the test room the results show that all of the active thermal mass strategies can provide a reduction in annual overheating hours when compared to the Standard Strategy. Only a small benefit is found for the FVWM Strategy, however around a 25% reduction is found for the HCS Strategy, over a 50% reduction for the TL Strategy and nearly a 75% reduction for the ETAHE Strategy. This demonstrates the importance of applying a low energy, passive approach when considering the application of active thermal mass strategies. The key results have shown that when comfort cooling is provided, adding a HCS or FVWM strategy always results in an increase in the annual cooling load. This is as a result of the temperature of the air being supplied into the cores or floor void being higher than that of the internal surface temperatures of the cores or void. This results in the supply air being heated, and less cooling provided to the test room per cooling energy delivered. Due to the pre cooling effect of the ETAHE and TL strategies, these strategies always result in a reduction in the annual cooling load. The key results have shown that the annual heating load is reduced by a small amount for the HCS and FVWM strategies unless the solar gains or internal gains are reduced, whereas the ETAHE and TL strategies always result in a around a 10% reduction in annual heating load as a result of the preheating effect these strategies have on the supply air.

Thesis: S.M. in Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, Technology and Policy Program, 2015.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 135-140).
Under the broad context of decarbonization of the energy sector, commercial buildings are well-suited for providing ancillary services to the electricity grid and poised to transform from passive consumers to active electricity market participants. A data-driven multi-zonal thermal response model is formulated and fit to EnergyPlus simulation data from a Department of Energy Small Office Reference Commercial Building for the months of June, July and August. When validated and tested against EnergyPlus simulation data, the thermal response model performs well. The thermal response model is then used in a co-optimization of energy and ancillary provision for a small office building with a variable air volume system from [9] using summer wholesale electricity and ancillary services prices from ISO-NE. Under six different price cases, the individual small office building provides maximum hourly regulation and spinning reserve capacities of 3.2 and 4.4 kW respectively and daily total regulation and spinning reserve capacities of 51 and 46 kW respectively. When scaled up over similar building stock in New England, small office buildings can provide up to 9.5% of ISO-NE's daily regulation requirement and 8% of the daily spinning reserves requirement. From an economic perspective, a small office building's potential summer ancillary services' revenues are not sufficient to drive investment in installation of a building automation system, variable air volume system and associated metering. However, buildings may invest in the necessary equipment for energy cost reductions and to participate in other demand response programs. Increasing building participation rates in ancillary services markets requires addressing the principal-agent problem, building-specific concerns such as program controllability and convenience and targeted policies aimed at increasing availability of clear aggregator-enabled building participation avenues.
by Nora Xu.
S.M. in Technology and Policy

Buildings account for approximately 40% of the energy demand and 33% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union. Accordingly, there are several efforts that target energy efficiency in buildings both at the European and Swedish levels. The role of buildings in climate change mitigation, however, is not limited to energy savings. Buildings are expected to become key elements of the future smart energy systems by supplying and using energy in a more flexible way. Reducing the energy demand in buildings effectively and shifting the role of buildings in energy systems from ‘passive’ consumers to ‘active’ prosumers, however, require close interaction and cooperation between the energy and buildings sectors. Based on the data collected from interviews and a web survey, this doctoral thesis investigates the relationship between the energy and buildings sectors in Sweden at the inter-company level, presents key stakeholder views on smart energy features in buildings and investigates the opportunities and barriers for their adoption in Sweden and Hong Kong. The results of this thesis suggest a potential for improving the cooperation between the Swedish energy and buildings sectors, which was identified to be influenced by the following factors: district heating monopolies; energy efficiency efforts in the buildings sector; unsuccessful technology-neutrality of the building regulations; self-generation systems in buildings; and energy use patterns. Shifting the focus from self-gains to mutual gains appears crucial to strengthen the inter-sectoral cooperation, as there are several opportunities for achieving mutually beneficial solutions for the two sectors. This would, however, require significant changes in current practices and business models as well as the introduction of new technologies, which would allow for a more flexible energy supply and use. Accordingly, technologies that target flexible energy use in buildings are considered the most important smart energy features in buildings. The current high costs of technologies, such as home automation and smart electrical appliances, however, create the strongest barrier to adoption. Therefore, the introduction of new business and ownership models and the elimination of the institutional and regulatory barriers are crucial to achieve a wide-scale development of smart energy features in buildings. The results from Hong Kong suggest that institutional and regulatory barriers can particularly create strong hinders to the adoption of technologies. It is possible to achieve more sustainable energy systems, where buildings are active elements of networks that supply and use energy in a more flexible and ‘smarter’ way. Cooperation between the energy and buildings sectors can play a key role in the adoption of smart energy features in buildings and pave the way for the smart built environment of the future.

This thesis studies the applicability of the Dynamic model reduction method that is used for direct plant order reduction in the active vibration control of large and flexible structures. A comparison of the performances between the reduced models produced by the Dynamic model reduction method and those obtained by other common model reduction methods such as the Guyan method, and the Mode-displacement method have been carried out. By using a full analytical model of a twenty storey building as the reference, each three degrees of freedom model was compared by computer simulation. The open-loop frequency response simulation, open-loop earthquake simulation, and the closed-loop earthquake simulation were all used to initially evaluate the reduced models. The accuracy of the frequency responses was assessed with sinusoidal applied forces, and for the closed-loop dynamic analysis, an active mass damper at the top storey and a recorded earthquake excitation was used. When compared with the simulation results of the Guyan method, the Dynamic method has many advantages, especially in terms of its accuracy at the high frequency range. The Mode-displacement method produces reduced models that are good for dynamic analysis of open-loop systems, but it was found to be inconvenient for use in active control. Finally, the Dynamic model reduction method and Guyan method were compared using experimental test results. A 2.5m tall building model with 20 floors was used as the plant, with a linear motor installed at the top storey for the purposes of active-damping. Although the results of simulations would suggest that both models perform sufficiently, experimental testing proved that only the Dynamic model performs adequately for this specific application of active control. The problem associated with most model reduction methods, such as the Guyan, is that they are based on full-order models that were derived from the linear elastic theory. The versatility of the Dynamic model reduction method is such that it provides the option of obtaining system parameters directly from experiment, not just from theory. The experimental procedure ensures that the Dynamic model reduction method forms an accurate description of the real system dynamics. The applicability of this method for obtaining low-order plant models was demonstrated through real-time active control testing of the model structure, while it was subject to a sinusoidal excitation. The tests have shown that the Dynamic model reduction method can be used as an alternative approach for the model reduction of structural systems for the purpose of active vibration control.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2000.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 295-300).
A system-based framework creates the ability to integrate operational, aesthetic, and construction process performance. The framework can be used to evaluate innovations within residential construction. By reducing the constraints for use, the framework is adaptable and flexible to specific projects and to the alternatives developed by the user. Passive and active solar design strategies are brought together in the creation of the Energy Producing Wall (EPW) components. Two component types, EPW1 & EPW2, can be adapted to create five different panel types. These units can be installed on the roof or vertical walls, and provide the innovative subject for evaluation within the framework. Four alternatives within two prototype homes, located in two climates, were analyzed to represent the existing and potential stock of housing and to provide the source of input data into the framework. An adaptable spreadsheet analysis, based on past and current analytical methods, establishes the EPW's potential benefit on the heating, cooling, electricity and total energy consumption loads within the prototype designs . Visualization models combined with physical models assess the aesthetics. The development of a Dynamic Process Model for Light Wood Framing (DPM-LWF) represents the framing construction process for the prototype designs, and provides time and cost impacts of the EPW alternatives. The. results from each analytical tool are combined to analyze the impacts of implementation, case results and sensitivities within the cases. A 'case result format' presents the results of the multiple alternatives for direct comparison, and can guide further investigations and information within the document. The EPW components demonstrated a 95% benefit for the electrical load of the "Modern Design" in Phoenix (currently), and the potential to reach over 100% benefit of the heating load in Boston for the "Sears Design."
by Kevin Settlemyre.
S.M.

This thesis investigates the implications of incorporating active vibration control (AVC) into floor structures from the initial design stage, with the goal of enabling the construction of more slender long-span floors. The original contributions to knowledge in this work are the investigations into: the development of a novel walking force that simulates the in-service loading of an office environment; the comparison between the effectiveness of AVC and tuned mass dampers (TMDs) when used on floor structures; the investigation into the effect of AVC over the entire floor area rather than considering single locations only, leading to conclusions about typical numbers of actuators that would be required; the investigation into the trade-off between power demand and the performance of an AVC system; and the initial life cycle analysis (LCA) of a floor that incorporates AVC at the design stage. The force model utilises simultaneous pedestrians walking throughout the structure and was calibrated and verified using experimentally acquired data. AVC was found to be a significant improvement upon TMDs in that the response of the structure was reduced to a greater extent using a much smaller inertial masses. The effectiveness of AVC was generally limited to within a single bay. However, large reductions in response were observed within each controlled bay. Therefore, it is suggested that a rule of thumb of one actuator per significant panel is required to control a given floor area, and that the size of these bays should be maximised to increase the effectiveness of AVC. High feedback gains resulted in only slight improvements in structural response, therefore improvements in the non-overhead power demand for AVC can be achieved through a simple decrease in the feedback gain. This has the additional benefit that smaller actuators could be utilised. The initial LCA highlighted the high financial cost of AVC but also demonstrated that potentially significant material savings could be realised through incorporation of AVC at the design stage.

This thesis explores semi-active structural control methods for mitigating damage during seismic events. Semi-active devices offer the adaptability of active devices in conjunction with low power requirements and thus the reliability of passive devices. A number of structural applications utilising semi-active resetable devices in structural control are described and analysed. A distinguishing feature of this research is the novel design of a large-scale resetable device developed, manufactured and extensively tested. This design dramatically extends the capabilities of resetable devices by readily manipulating the device response to the structural demands and specific structural control requirements. In particular, the unique ability to use these devices to reshape or sculpt structural hysteretic behaviour offers significant new opportunities in semi-active structural control. The results indicate improvements in structural performance during seismic events is gained by approaches to structural control and enhanced damping methods that challenge conventional methods. Using an array of performance metrics the overall structural performance is examined without the typically narrow focus found in other studies. Suites of earthquake ground motion records are utilised to avoid bias to any particular type of motion and statistical analysis of the performance over these suites indicates the overall efficacy of the resetable devices in each case considered. A model that accurately captures all the device dynamics is developed, which can be used for a variety of device types and designs. In addition, the testing capabilities of structural control methods is enhanced by the development of a high speed, real-time hybrid test procedure providing a link between pure simulation and full-scale testing to increase confidence before investing in large experiments. Finally, the resetable devices are extended to improve the response force to size ratio, which additionally increases the force-displacement manipulation ability. Large-scale shake table experiments validate the findings of the analytical results. Very close correlation between analytical and experimental results including overall trends and numerical values verifies the analytical methods used and increases confidence in continuing research in this area. Furthermore, these large-scale experiments confirm the efficacy and accuracy of the the device model developed, leading to highly accurate quantitative prediction of the overall structural system response. Overall, this research presents a methodology for designing, testing and applying resetable devices in structural control. The devices developed in this research and the extensive modelling and testing dramatically extend the understanding and scope of these devices. Guidelines developed for these large-scale resetable device designs including a validated dynamic model brings the application of resetable devices closer to real structural control applications.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis was initiated by a Consulting Engineering Company (KV3) as a research project to investigate various options in which the efficiency and energy utilisation of conventional air conditioning systems may be enhanced by using alternative and renewable energy. Initially, eight options had been identified and through a process of determining the degree of commercialisation the alternative options were reduced to three. These options, referred to as the sustainable cooling alternatives, are active mass cooling, night flushing and roof cooling system. The roof cooling system comprised a roof-pond, roof-spray, pump and storage tank. The roof cooling system was mathematically and experimentally modelled. The roof cooling experiment was performed under a variety of weather conditions with the roof-pond and storage tank temperatures continuously recorded. The experimentally recorded temperatures were compared to the temperatures generated by the theoretical simulation calculations for the same input and weather conditions. Good agreement was found between the mathematical and experimental model. The largest discrepancy found between the simulated temperature and the experimental temperature was in the order of 1 ºC. A one-room building has been assumed to serve as a basis to which the sustainable cooling alternatives could be applied to for theoretical simulation. The one-room building had four façade walls and a flat roof slab. Night flushing, active mass cooling and the roof cooling system were applied to the one-room building such that the room air temperature and space cooling load could theoretically be simulated. The theoretical simulations were also repeated for the case where the roof-pond and roof-spray were applied as standalone systems to the one-room building. The theoretical simulation calculations were performed for typical summer weather conditions of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Under base case conditions and for a room thermostat setting of 22 ºC the peak cooling load of the one-room building was 74.73 W/m². With the application of night flushing between the hours of 24:00 and 07:00, the room cooling load was reduced by 5.2% by providing 3.9 W/m² of cooling and reducing the peak room temperature by 1.4 ºC. The active mass cooling system was modelled by supplying water at a constant supply temperature of 15 ºC to a pipe network embedded in the roof slab of the one-room building. The sea may typically be considered as a cold water source for buildings situated at the coast. The active mass cooling system reduced the peak cooling load of the one-room building by 50% by providing 37.2 W/m² of cooling and reducing the peak room temperature by 6.7 ºC. When the roof-spray and roof-pond systems were applied as standalone systems to the oneroom building, the peak cooling load of the one-room building could be reduced by 30% and 51% respectively. This is equivalent to 22.3 W/m² of peak cooling by the roof-spray and 38 W/m² of peak cooling by the roof-pond. The roof-spray reduced the peak room temperature by 3.71 ºC while the roof-pond reduced the peak room temperature by 5.9 ºC. Applying the roof cooling system to the one-room building produced 46 W/m² of peak cooling which resulted in a 61.1% reduction in peak cooling load. The roof cooling system reduced the peak temperature by 8 ºC. By comparing the sustainable cooling alternatives, the roof cooling system showed to be the most effective in reducing the one-room building peak cooling load. Over a 24 hour period the roof cooling system reduced the net heat entry to the one-room building by 57.3%. In a further attempt to reduce the peak cooling load, the sustainable cooling alternatives were applied in combinations to the one-room building. The combination of night flushing and roof-spray reduced the peak cooling load by 36% while a combination of night flushing and active mass cooling reduced the peak cooling load by 55%. Combining night flushing with the roof-pond also yielded a 55% peak cooling load reduction. The combination of roofpond, active mass cooling and night flushing provided 51 W/m² of cooling which corresponded to a 68% reduction in peak cooling load. Utilising the sustainable cooling alternatives in a combination in the one-room building gave improved results when compared to the case where the sustainable cooling alternatives were employed as standalone systems. It is illustrated by means of a sensitivity analysis that the ability of the roof cooling system to produce cool water is largely influenced by ambient conditions, droplet diameter and roofspray rate. Under clear sky conditions, an ambient temperature of 15 ºC, relative humidity of 80%, a roof-spray rate of 0.02 kg/sm² and a roof-pond water level of 100mm, water could be cooled at a rate of 113 W/m². The roof-spray energy contributed to 28 W/m² whilst the night sky radiation was responsible for 85 W/m² of the water cooling. It must however be noted that the water of the roof cooling system can never be reduced to a temperature that is lower than the ambient dew point temperature.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis is geïnisieer deur ‘n Raadgewende Ingenieurs Maatskappy (KV3) as a navorsingsprojek om verskeie opsies te ondersoek waarmee die effektiwiteit en energie verbruik van konvensionele lugversorgingstelsels verbeter kan word deur middel van alternatiewe en hernubare energie. Agt opsies is oorspronglik geïdentifiseer en deur middel van ‘n proses waarby die graad van kommersialisering van hierdie alternatiewe maniere bepaal is, kon die opsies verminder word tot drie. Hierdie opsies, ook verwys na as die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe, sluit in aktiewe massa verkoeling, dakverkoeling en nagventilasie. Die dakverkoelingstelsel bestaan uit dakwater, ‘n dakspuit, ‘n pomp en ‘n stoortenk. Die dakverkoelingstelsel is wiskundig en eksperimenteel gemodelleer. Die dakverkoelingseksperiment is uitgevoer onder ‘n verskeidenheid van weersomstandighede. Die dakwater asook die stoortenk se water temperatuur is voortdurend aangeteken. Dieselfde weer- en insetkondisies is gebruik vir die simulasie berekening en die temperature van die stoortenk se water en die dakwater is vergelyk met die temperatuurlesings van die eksperimentele werk. Die temperature van die eksperimentele lesings het goed vergelyk met die temperatuur simulasie berekeninge. Die grootste verskil tussen die simulasie en eksperimentele temperatuur was in die orde grootte van 1 ºC. ‘n Een-kamer gebou is aangeneem om as basis te dien waarop die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe aangewend kon word vir teoretiese simulasie. Die een-kamer gebou het uit vier buite mure en ‘n horisontale beton dak bestaan. Nag ventilasie, aktiewe massa verkoeling en die dakverkoelingstelsel is toegepas op die een-kamer gebou en die kamer se verkoelingslas asook die kamer se lugtempertuur is teoreties gesimuleer. Die teoretiese simulasies is ook herhaal vir die geval waar die dakwater and dakspuitstelsel apart aangewend is op die een-kamer gebou. Die teoretiese simulasie berekeninge is uitgevoer vir tipiese somer weersomstandighede vir Stellenbosch, Suid Afrika. Onder basisgeval omstandighede, waar die een-kamer gebou gesimuleer is, sonder enige volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe en ‘n termostaat verstelling van 22 ºC, is die piek verkoelingslas bereken as 74.73 W/m². Met die toepassing van nagventilasie tussen die ure 24:00 en 07:00 was die piekverkoelingslas van die kamer verminder met 5.2% deur 3.9 W/m² se verkoeling te verskaf en die piekkamer temperatuur te verminder met 1.4 ºC. Aktiewe massa verkoeling is gesimuleer deur water teen ‘n konstante temperatuur van 15 ºC te verskaf aan ‘n pypnetwerk, geïnstalleer in the beton dak, van die een-kamer gebou. Geboue geleë aan die kus kan tipies seewater oorweeg as ‘n bron van koue water. Aktiewe massa verkoeling het die piekverkoelingslas van die een-kamer gebou verminder met 50% deur 37.2 W/m² se verkoeling te verskaf en die piekkamer temperatuur te verminder met 6.7 ºC. Wanneer die dakspuit- en dakwaterstelsel aangewend is op die een-kamer gebou as enkel staande stelsels, is die piekverkoelingslas verminder met 30% en 51% onderskeidelik. Dit is ekwivalent aan 22.3 W/m² se verkoeling vir die dakspuitstelsel en 38 W/m² se verkoeling vir die dakwaterstelsel. Die dakspuitstelsel het die piekkamer temperatuur verminder met 3.71 ºC terwyl die dakwaterstelsel ‘n 5.9 ºC verlaging in piekkamer temperatuur tot gevolg gehad het. Die dakverkoelingstelsel het 46 W/m² se piekverkoeling verskaf wat ‘n 61.1% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas tot gevolg gehad het. Die ooreenstemmende piek temperatuur vermindering is 8 ºC. Deur die verskeie volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe met mekaar te vergelyk, word getoon dat die dakverkoelingstelsel die mees effektiefste manier is om die een- kamer se piekverkoelingslas te verminder. Oor ‘n tydperk van 24 uur het die dakverkoelingstelsel die totale energievloei na die een-kamer gebou met 57.3% verminder. In ‘n verdere poging om die piekverkoelingslas te verminder, is die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe toegepas in kombinasies op die een-kamer gebou. Die kombinasie van nagventilasie met die dakspuitstelsel het die piekverkoelingslas met 36% verminder, terwyl ‘n kombinasie van nagventilasie en aktiewe massa verkoeling ‘n 55% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas tot gevolg gehad het. Die kombinasie van dakwater en nagventilasie het ook ‘n piekverkoelingslas vermindering van 55% teweeggebring. Die kombinasie van dakwater, aktiewe massa verkoeling en nagventilasie het 51 W/m² se verkoeling veskaf, wat ooreenstem met ‘n 68% vermindering in piekverkoelingslas. Deur die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe in kombinasies toe te pas op die een-kamer gebou, kon beter resultate verkry word toe dit vergelyk is met die geval waar die volhoubare verkoelingsalternatiewe as enkelstaande stelsels toegepas is. Dit is geïllustreer deur middel van ‘n sensitiwiteitsanalise dat die vermoë van die dakverkoelingstelsel om koue water te produseer, beïnvloed word deur buitelug kondisies, waterdruppel deursnee en dakspuit massa vloeitempo. Onder die oop hemelruimteomstandighede, ‘n buitelug temperatuur van 15 ºC, ‘n relatiewe humiditeit van 80%, ‘n dakspuit massa vloeitempo van 0.02 kg/sm² en dakwatervlak van 100 mm, kon water verkoel word teen ‘n tempo van 113 W/m². Die dakspuit gedeelte het 28 W/m² bygedra terwyl die nagruim radiasie sowat 85 W/m² se verkoeling verskaf het. Daar moet egter kennis geneem word dat die water temperatuur van die dakverkoelingstelsel nooit verminder kan word tot onder die buitelug doupunttemperatuur nie.

Growth in Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and low-inertia renewable energy sources in smart grids require imperative Volt-VAR Control (VVC). Moreover, this growth combined with increasing deployment of information technologies in smart grids fuels communication uncertainties and reveals transient stability challenges for Distributed Network Operators (DNOs). Innovative approaches have been proposed to use the inherent thermal inertia of buildings to provide ancillary services to the grid to tackle the problems posed by the increasing trend of volatile DERs. Although numerous approaches harness traditional VVC devices to compensate for voltage violations, synthetic inertia and control of Energy Storage System (ESS) exist to improve transient stability with an increase of DERs. While ample strategies tackle these two problems separately, the ability of smart buildings to provide active and reactive power support simultaneously has not yet been exploited. This study explores the concurrent effects of modulating loads’ apparent power consumption on the grid’s frequency and voltage profile. A Distributed Model Predictive Control (DMPC) strategy for voltage and frequency control in the DN is employed by using smart buildings and sensitivity analysis without compromising customers’ climate control performance in smart buildings. The robustness of this strategy is validated on a modified IEEE 13 bus system modelled in MathWorks Simulink.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005.
Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xvii, 221 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 210-221). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Bibliography: leaves 177-187.
This dissertation presents a novel system for semi-automatic modeling of buildings in informal settlement areas from aerial photographs. The building extraction strategy is developed and implememed with the aim of generatinga a desk top Informal Settlement Geographic lnformation System (ISGIS) using felf developed and available PC-based GIS tools to serve novice users informal settlement areas.

One of prospective procedures of absorbing thermal energy and releasing it during the required time is the application of phase change materials known as PCMs in building envelopes. High thermal energy storage (TES) materials has been a technology that effects the energy efficiency of a building by contributing in using onsite resources and reducing cooling or heating loads. Currently, many TES systems are emerging and contributing in building assemblies, however using an appropriate type of TES in a specific building and climate requires an in-depth knowledge of their properties. This research aims to provide a thorough review of a broad range of thermal energy storage technologies including their potential application in buildings. Subsequently, a comparative study and simulation between a basecase and an optimized model by PCM is thoroughly considered to understand the effect of high thermal storage building's shell on energy efficiency and indoor thermal comfort. Specifically this study proposes that the incorporation of PCM into glazing system as a high thermal capacity system will improve windows thermal performance and thermal capacity to varying climatic conditions. The generated results by eQUEST energy modeling software demonstrates approximately 25% reduction in cooling loads during the summer and 10% reduction in heating loads during the winter for optimized office building by PCM in hot arid climate of Arizona. Besides, using PCM in glazing system will reduce heat gain through the windows by conduction phenomenon. The hourly results indicates the effect of PCM as a thermal energy storage system in building envelopes for building's energy efficiency and thermal regulation. However, several problems need to be tackled before LHTES can reliably and practically be applied. We conclude with some suggestions for future work.

The aim of this study was to investigate the passive and active parameters affecting energy efficiency of two office buildings with sun spaces, namely the MATPUM Building and the Solar Building on the Middle East Technical University (METU) Campus, Ankara and the effect of sun spaces on temperature patterns within mentioned buildings. Both buildings were oriented in the same direction, namely south. However, the location and the type of the sunspaces differed from each other. The sun space in the MATPUM Building is an atrium which has southerly glazed faç
ade. On the other hand, the sun space in the Solar Building is an enclosed conservatory which has southerly glazed faç
ades and roof. The effect of sun spaces on temperature patterns within case study buildings was determined by collecting internal temperature and humidity data from different locations within the buildings and external temperature and humidity data on certain days of the week from May to August and October and November. Data loggers were used to collect these data. The collected data was then compared for the two buildings and also for the different months. In conclusion, more heat gain resulting in temperature increase inside the buildings was obtained in conservatories when compared to the atria which have glazed faç
ade instead of glazed roof. This was also proved by the analysis of variance method which was used for the comparison of temperature data of two buildings

CHDS State/Local
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
States incidents (Columbine High School shooting (April 20, 1999) and North Hollywood Bank shoot out (February 28, 1997) were studied. Individuals from the U.S. cases were interviewed to explore information not necessarily documented. Data from the case studies and interviews were collated and reviewed for common themes. These themes were analyzed to draw conclusions on how smaller jurisdictions should proceed in building capacities to deal with active shooter scenarios. Findings suggest that smaller jurisdictions can build capacities by creating a megacommunity within local law enforcement. This includes developing systems to share smart practices, training for small unit attacks, and creating multi-jurisdictional interoperability standards.

In this thesis I use a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate two areas of active mountain-building within the Alpine-Himalayan belt: the Altai range in western Mongolia, and the Zagros mountains in southern Iran. I begin by studying a clustered earthquake sequence that struck a previously unrecognised fault zone in the NW Altai mountains in 2003. By combining seismology and field observations with satellite radar interferometry (InSAR), I attempt to unravel the detailed history of faulting in time and space. Differences between body-wave and InSAR-based models prevent me from matching individual seismic events with individual fault segments, and I explore the cause of these discrepancies. In the following two chapters, I establish late Quaternary slip-rates on major right-lateral and thrust faults in the eastern part of the Altai. In particular, I explore the use of in situ-produced cosmogenic Be-10 and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) for dating offset alluvial fans and river terraces. My results suggest that faulting has migrated toward the eastern margin of the range from the high, interior Altai, presumably in response to stresses introduced by topography. In the final, main chapter, I investigate a link between buried reverse faulting and surface folding in the Zagros Simply Folded Belt. Using surface displacements measured with InSAR, I show that a major anticline on Qeshm Island was uplifted during an earthquake in 2005. However, the pattern of uplift is discordant with the growth of neighbouring folds, preventing us from establishing a simple connection between faulting and folding. All in all, my work demonstrates the importance of using several techniques in parallel when studying regions of active continental deformation.

Thesis: M. Eng., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2018.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 85-88).
Over the last few years, cyber attacks have become increasingly sophisticated. In an effort to defend themselves, corporations often look to machine learning, aiming to use the large amount of data collected on cyber attacks and software systems to defend systems at scale. Within the field of machine learning in cybersecurity, PDF malware is a popular target of study, as the difficulty of classifying malicious files makes it a continuously eective method of attack. The obstacles are many: Datasets change over time as attackers change their behavior, and the deployment of a malware detection system in a resource-constrained environment has minimum throughput requirements, meaning that an accurate but time-consuming classier cannot be deployed. Recent work has also shown how automated malicious file creation methods are being used to evade classication. Motivated by these challenges, we propose an active defender system to adapt to evasive PDF malware in a resource-constrained environment. We observe this system to improve the f₁ score from 0.17535 to 0.4562 over five stages of receiving PDF files that the system considers unlabeled. Furthermore, average classication time per le is low across all 5 stages, and is reduced from an average of 1.16908 seconds per le to 1.09649 seconds per le. Beyond classifying malware, we provide a general active defender framework that can be used to deploy decision systems for a variety of resource-constrained adversarial problems.
by Zara Perumal.
M. Eng.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-65).
by David M. Murphy.
M.Eng.

Human efforts to increase their comfort rise in density of population in congested city areas, rapid growth of traffic and electric smog created due to constantly transforming communication technologies all resulted in an increase of stress in the immediate human environment. All of this, along with frequent reports about changes in global climate, gradually contributes to an alteration of thinking of the whole society, which is forced to face the consequences of economic damages caused by climatic changes. If we want to tenably assert adequate economic and social living conditions, we have to approach the natural environment in a more profound way. In accordance with the trend of substantional development for the purpose of enhancement of the quality of the living environment in the field of building industry, it is logical to concentrate on buildings, which are conceptually focused on saving of the energy. That is on energy-efficient houses. Pathway to sustainable building is not based on discovering one or several multipurpose technological solutions, but on usage of new designing principles, new materials and methods of processing them as well as new techniques of construction. For an effective creation of a building concept it is essential to have that kind of device which quickly responds to changes performed on a design, enables an easier work on variants and produces the most accurate results. Consistent application of energy optimizing methods is necessary particularly for designs of energy saving houses. Beginning efficient building design is the most “abstract factor of concept linked with very uncertain inputs,” because a lot of parameters in that moment is still unknown. Many mutually connected factors are invoked during designing passive house e.g. trajectory of the sun and the shielding effect of the surroundings, the aspect of sunlight and interior lighting, power quality construction, etc. Currently, the architect has no choice, he can use only well-known precepts, such as large windows are facing the South not the North. Unfortunately this "empirical formula" for the design of a real passive house is not enough. And yet the first draft of the house is most affected by not only its shape, form, but user´s comfortable, cost, feasibility and future energy behavior of buildings and related operating costs of the house too. It is obvious that this stage should not be underestimated, because “minor variation of the initial inputs greatly influence the outcomes.” With this reasoning, the work focuses on early stage design decision, i.e. the architectural concept of a passive house (an idea, vision). Therefore the aim of this work is to simplify the issue into understandable form, i.e. the creation of relatively simple and illustrative sketches, which generalize the issue satisfactorily, show the individual parameters (glazing, shading, shape, size, etc.) and change need of heat for heating passive house. The results of the work will be useful when the architect picks up the pencil and starts to think about his future house. At this point, he will have on hand sketches, which give him an idea and streamline his further design. Therefore the main goal is to create new outcomes and identify energy behaviour of buildings with a computational tool. This research works with virtual idealized mathematical model in the software PHPP 2007 CZ and uses "phenomenon" of parametric equations and sensitivity analysis.

Thesis (Master of Architecture)--University of Cincinnati, 2009.
Advisor: Vincent Sansalone. Title from electronic thesis title page (viewed Aug. 3, 2009). Includes abstract. Keywords: architecture; acoustics; aural; UC; Cincinnati; University of Cincinnati; campus; performance; amphitheater; theater; sound; noise; music. Includes bibliographical references.

Les emissions de gasos d’efecte hivernacle i el consum energètic dels edificis han incrementat de forma constant durant els últims quaranta anys, representant al 2010 el 25% de les emissions totals i el 32% del consum energètic a nivell global. Les institucions internacionals preveuen que aquestes emissions poden duplicar-se o inclús triplicar-se al 2050. Un dels objectius d’aquesta tesi és estudiar el consum energètic dels edificis a Europa durant els últims vint anys i demostrar la necessitat de reduir el consum energètic dels edificis per mitigar el canvi climàtic. L'Agència Internacional de l’Energia recomana millorar l’envolvent de l’edifici amb materials i sistemes constructius apropiats com a principal acció per reduir el seu consum energètic. Per aquest motiu, aquesta tesi està enfocada principalment en millorar les propietats tèrmiques dels materials que formen l’envolvent mitjançant l’ús de materials de canvi de fase per l’emmagatzematge d’energia tèrmica en sistemes passius i/o materials sostenibles.
constantemente durante las últimas cuatro décadas, representando en 2010 el 25% de las emisiones totales y el 32% del consumo energético a nivel global. Las instituciones internacionales prevén que pueden duplicarse e incluso triplicarse en 2050. Un objetivo de esta tesis es estudiar el consumo energético de los edificios residenciales europeaos en las últimas dos décadas y demostrar la necesidad de reducir el consumo energético de los edificios para mitigar el cambio climático. La Agencia Internacional de la Energía recomienda mejorar la envolvente del edificio con materiales y sistemas constructivos apropiados como principal acción para reducir su consumo energético. Por este motivo, esta tesis está enfocada en mejorar las propiedades térmicas de los materiales que conforman la envolvente incorporando materiales de cambio de fase para el almacenamiento térmico de energía en sistemas pasivos y/o materiales sostenibles.
Greenhouse gases emissions and energy consumption in buildings were constantly increasing the last 4 decades, representing 25% of total emissions and 32% of global final energy consumption in 2010. These emissions are expected to double or even triple by 2050 according to international institutions projections. Therefore, the reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and energy consumption becomes a necessity to encompass pollution and climate change mitigation. One of the objectives of this PhD thesis is to analyse the trends of the energy consumption of European residential buildings. The main action recommended by the International Energy Agency to reduce significantly the energy consumption in buildings is to improve their envelopes with appropriate materials and construction systems. For this reason, this PhD thesis is focused on materials with thermal properties improved using phase change materials (PCM) for latent thermal energy storage in passive systems and/or sustainable materials to be placed in building envelopes.

This thesis explores next generation passive and semi-active tuned mass damper (PTMD and SATMD) building systems for reducing the seismic response of tall structures and mitigating damage. The proposed structural configuration separates the upper storey(s) of a structure to act as the 'tuned' mass, either passively or semi-actively. In the view point of traditional TMD system theory, this alternative approach avoids adding excessive redundant mass that is rarely used. In particular, it is proposed to replace the passive spring damper system with a semi-active resetable device based system (SATMD). This semi-active approach uses feedback control to alter or manipulate the reaction forces, effectively re-tuning the system depending on the structural response. In this trade-off parametric study, the efficacy of spreading stiffness between resetable devices and rubber bearings is illustrated. Spectral analysis of simplified 2-DOF model explores the efficacy of these modified structural control systems and the general validity of the optimal derived parameters is demonstrated. The end result of the spectral analysis is an optimally-based initial design approach that fits into accepted design methods. Realistic suites of earthquake ground motion records, representing seismic excitations of specific return period probability, are utilised, with lognormal statistical analysis used to represent the response distribution. This probabilistic approach avoids bias toward any particular type of ground motion or frequency content. Statistical analysis of the performance over these suites thus better indicates the true overall efficacy of the PTMD and SATMD building systems considered. Several cases of the segregated multi-storey TMD building structures utilising passive devices (PTMD) and semi-active resetable devices (SATMD) are described and analysed. The SATMD building systems show significant promise for applications of structural control, particularly for cases where extra storeys might be added during retrofit, redevelopment or upgrade. The SATMD approach offers advantages over PTMD building systems in the consistent response reductions seen over a broad range of structural natural frequencies. Using an array of performance metrics the overall structural performance is examined without the typically narrow focus found in other studies. Performance comparisons are based on statistically calculated storey/structural hysteretic energy and storey/structural damage demands, as well as conventional structural response performance indices. Overall, this research presents a methodology for designing SATMD building systems, highlighting the adaptable structural configuration and the performance obtained. Thus, there is good potential for SATMD building systems, especially in retrofit where lack of space constrains some future urban development to expand upward. Finally, the approach presented offers an insight into how rethinking typical solutions with new technology can offer dramatic improvements that might not otherwise be expected or obtainable.

From the field of control theory, we can see that varying communication delays in a control system may be hard or even impossible to handle. From this point of view it is preferable to have these delays bounded and as small and as possible in order to adapt the control process to them. On the other hand, in some cases delays are inevitable and must be handled by the control system.

A control system may for different reasons be distributed, e.g., because of a distributed environment or severe environment demands such as heat or dust at some locations. Information in such a system will suffer from delays due to transportation from one place to another. These delays often show up in a random fashion, especially if a general network is used for transportation. Another source of delays is the system environment itself. For predictability reasons a real-time database is preferable if the delays are to be controlled.

A straightforward way of handling delays in a control system is to build the system such that delays are constant, i.e., to build a time invariant system. The time from sensor reading to actuation is made constant either by adding a suitable delay to achieve a total constant delay or by using time-triggered reading and actuation. These are simple ways of controlling the delays, but may be very inefficient because worst-case execution time must always be used. Other ways of handling varying delays are by using more tolerant control algorithms. There are two suitable control models proposed by Nilsson (1998) for this purpose. The tolerant algorithm approach is assumed in this work.

This thesis uses a distributed active real-time database system as a basis for building control systems. One of the main objectives is to determine how active functionality can be used to express the control system, i.e., how rules in the database can be used to express the control algorithm and for handling propagation of information. Another objective is to look at how the choice of consistency level in the database affects the result of the control system, i.e. how different consistency level affects the delays. Of interest is also to characterize what type of applications each level is suited for.

May 25, 2011, Reuters’ headline read: "New York State is prepared for summerelectricity demand". The NY operator forecasts for next summer a peak of 33GW, close to therecord ever reached. With soaring cooling demands, the electricity peak load represents a substantialconcern to the energy system. In the goal of peak shaving, research on alternative solutions based onThermal Energy Storage (TES), for both cooling and heating applications, has been largely performed.This thesis addresses thermal comfort applications with use of active free cooling through implementationof latent heat based TES. Active free cooling is based on the use of the freshness of a source, the outsideair for example, to cool down buildings. This work conceptualizes the implementation of TES basedcooling system with use of Phase Change Material in an in-house-built model. The principle of PhaseChange Material, or Latent Heat TES (LHTES), lies on latent energy which is the energy required for thematerial to change phase. In order to properly size this cooling system, a multi-objective optimization isadopted. This optimization, based on minimization of multi-objective functions, led to optimal designconfigurations. In parallel, the electrical consumption of the system and the volume uptake of the systemwere also considered. Through the obtained optimization studies, we identified non-linearinterdependency between the two objective functions: the cost of the system and the acceptable remainingcooling needs. By remaining cooling needs, we mean the cooling needs that the system cannot meet. As amatter of fact, sizing the system according to these cooling needs would imply a very high cost. It wasfound that for a certain amount of remaining cooling needs, the PCM-based cooling system reveals to bean interesting solution compared to conventional air conditioning in terms of electrical consumption andoverall system cost.
Best Master Thesis Award, granted by French Academic Institute
Cold Thermal Energy Storage

The building sector has become the largest consumer of end use energy in the world, exceeding both the industry and the transportation sectors. Extensive types of energy saving techniques have been developed in the past two decades to mitigate the impact of buildings on the environment. Instead of the conventional active building environmental control approaches that solely rely on the mechanical air conditioning systems, increasing attention is given to the passive and mixed-mode approaches in buildings. This thesis aims to explore the integration of passive cooling approaches and active air conditioning approaches with different dehumidification features, by making effective use of the information on: 1) various dynamic response properties of the building system and mechanical plants, 2) diverse variations of the building boundary conditions over the whole operation process, 3) coupling effect and synergistic influence of the key operational parameters, and 4) numerous parameter conflicts in the integrated active-passive operation. These issues make the proposed integration a complex multifaceted process operation problem. In order to deal with these challenges, a systematic approach is developed by integrating a number of advanced building/system physical models and implementing well established advanced dynamic optimization algorithms. Firstly, a reduced-order model development and calibration framework is presented to generate differential-algebraic equations (DAE) based physical building models, by coupling with the high-order building energy simulations (i.e., EnergyPlus) and implementing MLE+ co-simulation programs in the Matlab platform. The reduced-order building model can describe the dynamic building thermal behaviors and address substantial time delay effects intrinsic in the building heat transfer and moisture migration. A calibration procedure is developed to balance the modelling complexity and the simulation accuracy. By making use of the advanced modeling and simulation features of EnergyPlus, the developed computational platform is able to handle real buildings with various geometric configurations, and offers the potential to cooperate with the dominant commercial building modeling software existing in the current AEC industry. Secondly, the physical model for the active air conditioning systems is developed, which is the other critical part for the dynamic optimization. By introducing and integrating a number of sub-models developed for specific building components, the model is able to specify the dynamic hygrothermal behavior and energy performance of the system under various operating conditions. Two representative air conditioning systems are investigated as the study cases: variable air volume systems (VAV) with mechanical dehumidification, and the desiccant wheel system (DW) with chemical dehumidification. The control variables and constraints representing the system operational characteristics are specified for the dynamic optimization. Thirdly, the integrated active-passive operations are formulated as dynamic optimization problems based on the above building and system physical models. The simultaneous collocation method is used in the solution algorithm to discretize the state and control variables, translating the optimization formulation into a nonlinear program (NLP). After collocation, the translated NLP problems for the daily integrated VAV/DW operation for a case zone have 1605/2181 variables, 1485/2037 equality constraints and 280/248 inequality constraints, respectively. It is found that IPOPT is able to provide the optimal solution within minutes using an 8-core 64-bit desktop, which illustrates the efficiency of the problem formulation. The case study results indicate that the approach can effectively improve the energy performance of the integrated active-passive operations, while maintaining acceptable indoor thermal comfort. Compared to the conventional local control strategies, the optimized strategies lead to remarkable energy saving percentages in different climate conditions: 29.77~48.76% for VAV and 27.85~41.33% for DW. The energy saving is contributed by the improvement of both the passive strategies (around 33%) and active strategies (around 67%). It is found that the thermal comfort constraint defined in the optimization also affects the energy saving. The total optimal energy consumption drops by around 3% if the value of the predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD) limit is increased by one unit between 5~15%. It is also found that the fitted periodic weather data can lead to similar operation strategies in the dynamic optimization as the realistic data, and therefore can be a reasonable alternative when the more detailed realistic weather data is not available. The method described in the thesis can be generalized to supervise the operation design of building systems with different configurations.

Thesis: Ph. D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2015.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references.
The aim of this thesis is to propose new control strategies of building energy storage systems and analyze their effects on operations of power grids and electricity markets. Specifically, novel control schemes of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and variable speed heat pumps (VSHPs) are proposed to improve grid frequency regulation (GFR) and day-ahead (DA) electricity market clearing. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed control methods are evaluated using small-signal analysis, simulation case studies, and experimental verifications. An alternative power system for commercial buildings is designed using steady-state and dynamic models of power converters and corresponding controllers. A dynamic model of a VSHP is also presented for real-time simulation studies, while considering the operational characteristics such as the heat rate and coefficient of performance. Using the simulated models, new GFR schemes of PEVs and VSHPs, responding to direct load control (DLC) signals, are proposed and analyzed. First, a small-signal analysis is carried out using transfer functions that represent the aggregated dynamic responses of generators and DLC-enabled PEVs and VSHPs. The closed-loop properties of the proposed GFR scheme are then analyzed using Bode and pole-zero plots. Simulation case studies are then performed using a test grid with various penetrations of PEVs and VSHPs that respond to primary (PFC) and secondary frequency control (SFC) signals. The test grid is implemented using an experimental laboratory-scale microgrid, and its control centers communicate with the hardware units to provide real-time control. In addition, a closed-loop model of an independent system operator (ISO) and a commercial building aggregator (CBA) is presented where the CBA determines optimal energy consumption and reserve deployment of VSHPs and PEVs in response to locational marginal prices (LMPs), while satisfying distribution network (DN) operational constraints. DA market clearing and price-based demand response (DR) are modeled with stochastic optimization problems. Simulated case studies are then performed to estimate variation in the operational costs of the ISO and the CBA, as well as in the LMPs under various conditions, as determined by the temperature control methods, the building energy storage resource penetrations, and the DN operational constraints.
by Youngjin Kim.
Ph. D.

Current building standards for protective design focus on a “fortress” approach that does not effectively protect against contemporary attack vectors such as active shooters. Furthermore, these standards provide little guidance to private building owners whose facilities are increasingly targeted by “active shooters.” This study combines the NetLogo agent-based modeling platform with the Autodesk Revit building design software to test key building geometry configurations for their impact on active shooter event casualties. The findings show that overall building geometry has an effect on active shooter casualties and that modifications to interior door alignment and the addition of direct exit doors can reduce the casualties in active shooter events. This research provides guidance to building designers who want to mitigate the risk of active shooter events with their building designs.

This thesis describes an investigation into a wide range of potential materials for organic photovoltaic (PV) devices. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction relating to donor -acceptor systems and conjugated polymers with photovoltaic applications. Chapter 2 describes the design, synthesis and characterisation of new organic super-acceptors based on an NDI core. An investigation of their optical and redox properties is described. Chapter 3 describes the synthesis of new flavin-functionalised dithienylpyrrole systems. In addition, preliminary polymerisation studies are described, together with a study of their chemical and physical properties. Chapter 4 describes the synthesis and characterisation of new ferrocene and NDI functionalised polymers by ATRP and RAFT techniques. Chapter 5 describes the synthesis of new bis-acceptor systems based on NDI and TCAQ and a brief study their chemical and physical properties. Chapter 6 describes the synthesis of conjug-ated polymers featuring NDI units. Chapter 7 describes the synthesis and characterisation of novel substituted metal phthalocyanines featuring NDI units. Chapter 8 provides the experimental details and characterisation of all the compounds prepared in this thesis. Finally, chapter 9 provides the appendices and additional information.

This research provides information for providing the required seismic mitigation in building structures through the use of semi active and passive dampers. The Magneto-Rheological (MR) semi-active damper model was developed using control algorithms and integrated into seismically excited structures as a time domain function. Linear and nonlinear structure models are evaluated in real time scenarios. Research information can be used for the design and construction of earthquake safe buildings with optimally employed MR dampers and MR-passive damper combinations.

The Egan Report, changes to Part L Building regulations, and the importance of office workers is challenging designers to improve the construction process, reduce operational carbon emissions, and enhance occupant comfort for office buildings in the United Kingdom. This thesis proposes a double skin facade system with integrated environmental systems to overcome these challenges. The Facade deals with a number of conflicting requirements and a single-storey, naturally ventilated cavity, unitised Double Facade has been proposed to resolve them. The two key determinants for the Active Environmental System have been prefabrication and operational carbon emissions. To address these issues a decentralised system, comprising of a Reversible Air Source Heat Pump, Heat Exchanger, Active Beam and Active Trench is proposed, and integrated into the Double Facade. A key part of the design process has been working with industrial partners to develop the design and realise a full-scale prototype. This has been tested and evaluated in terms of key aspects of the comfort, weather and aesthetic performance. An appraisal of the product demonstrates that it achieves proof of concept; it is highly prefabricated and enhanced occupant comfort and carbon emissions targets can be met.

A framework that presents a new methodology for design-evaluation of active solar collection systems was developed. Although this methodology emphasizes the importance of detailed modeling for accurate prediction of building performance, it also presents a process through which the detailed modeling results can be reused in a simplified iterative procedure allowing the designer the flexibility of revising and improving the preliminary design. For demonstration purposes, the framework was used to design and evaluate two case studies located in Blacksburg (VA) and Minneapolis (MN). These locations were selected because they both represent a cold weather region; presenting a need for using solar energy for heating and hot water requirements. Moreover, the cold weather in Blacksburg is not as severe as in Minneapolis. Therefore, the two cases will result in different thermal loading structures enabling the framework validation process. The solar collection system supplying both case studies consisted of a low temperature flat plate solar collector and storage system. Thermal performance of the case study located in Blacksburg was conducted using detailed modeling evaluation techniques; while thermal performance of the case study located in Minneapolis was conducted using a simplified modeling evaluation technique. In the first case study, hourly evaluation of the thermal performance of the solar collection system was accomplished using finite element (FE) analysis, while hourly evaluation of the building thermal performance was made using Energy Plus software. The results of the finite element analysis were used to develop a statistical predictive design equation. The energy consumption for the second case study was calculated using the heating design day method and the energy collection for that case study was calculated using the predictive design equation developed from the first case study results. Results showed that, in the case of the building located in Blacksburg, the solar collection system can supply an average of 85% of the buildingâ s heating and hot water requirements through out the year. In the case of the building located in Minneapolis, the solar collection system can supply an average of 56% of the buildingâ s heating and hot water requirements through out the year given no night time window insulation and using similar insulation thicknesses for both cases.
Ph. D.

The saddle-shaped electron donor 9,10-his(l,3-dithiol-2-ylidene)-9,10-dihydroanthracene (TTFAQ) 49, which oxidises in a single, quasi-reversible, two-electron wave, accompanied by a dramatic conformational change, has been incorporated into donor-acceptor system 130. However, no significant charge-transfer interaction was observed. Pyrrolo-annelated TTFAQ derivatives 173 and 174 were synthesised, and donor-acceptor dyads, which showed intramolecular charge-transfer interactions, derived. TTFAQ cyclophanes 206 and 207 were synthesised in good yields, paving the way for the incorporation of more elaborate functionalities into TTFAQ cyclophanes, as exemplified by the synthesis of a TTFAQ- phenanthroline cyclophane with potential use as an electroactive sensor. A new methodology for the synthesis of TTFAQ derivatives has been developed, allowing the synthesis of cyanoethyl protected TTFAQ thiolate derivatives. These derivatives afforded several TTFAQ cyclophanes, of which the most interesting were the double-bridged cyclophanes 291 and 292. Due to the rigidity imposed by the two bridges, little conformational change is possible upon oxidation, which for the first time allowed us to study the elusive TTFAQ cation radical using cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry, since 291 and 292 are oxidised in two, reversible, one-electron waves. The X-ray crystal structures of numerous new TTFAQ derivatives are also presented.

Supramolecular chemistry involves the study of noncovalent interactions that take place between molecules. A supramolecule or host-guest complex is formed when a noncovalentbinding or complexation event occurs between two such molecules. Hydrogen bonds, electrostatics, ?-stacking, hydrophobic effects and Van der Waals forces are all types of noncovalent interactions. The incorporation of redox active molecules into supramolecular systems is desirable, as they can be used as a convenient way of observing changes in a systems environment. This study involves the synthesis of a range of different redox active molecules, incorporated into supramolecular or materials devices. Firstly, two novel polymerisable flavin monomers have been synthesised. Attempts to polymerise these monomers, followed by characterisation to determine the physical and electronic properties were carried out. Secondly, a porphyrin system capable of binding to a flavin moiety has been prepared, and these complexes have been studied using physical and electrochemical techniques. This system offers an insight into the relationship between the porphyrin and flavin in nature. Furthermore, it would also serve to show how metals in close proximity to the flavin moiety can affect its supramolecular and electrochemical properties. A redox active ureidopyrimidinone system, capable of forming very strong dimer complexes, has been synthesised. This is able to tautomerise in solution, and using a combination of physical and electrochemical techniques, these supramolecular interactions have been studied. A polymer also displaying these properties has also been prepared and studied to understand the supramolecular properties it possesses. The results of this study will hopefully contribute significantly to the body of chemical research in the area of supramolecular and materials chemistry, with a variety of interesting results and scope for further expansion of these projects.

En la ingeniería estructural, uno de los desafíos constantes es encontrar nuevas formas de proteger las estructuras de las fuerzas medioambientales. El aislamiento sísmico se ha mostrado como una forma efectiva de reducir la respuesta de la estructura principal y de mitigar el daño de equipos o elementos secundarios. Una desventaja de la mayoría de los sistemas de aislamiento se hace evidente en el caso de estructuras sometidas a terremotos cercanos. Estos suelen producir grandes deformaciones en los aisladores que pueden llegar a poner en peligro la estabilidad de la estructura. Para evitar esto se ha sugerido combinar aisladores con dispositivos adicionales de disipación de energía (sistema hibrido). En este contexto, se ha potenciado significativamente el interés por incorporar dispositivos cuyas propiedades se pueden ajustar en tiempo real durante un terremoto. Este tipo de sistemas se denominan semi-activos. Las fuerzas de control en los sistemas semi-activos se aplican como resultado del movimiento propio de la estructura. La fuerza en cuestión puede modificarse únicamente mediante el ajuste de ciertas propiedades mecánicas de los actuadores semi-activos. Además, las fuerzas de control actúan siempre en el sentido de oponerse al movimiento del sistema estructural y por tanto garantizan la estabilidad global de la estructura. Específicamente, los amortiguadores magnetoreològicos (MR) parecen tener un buen potencial para avanzar en la aceptación del control estructural como una forma viable de atenuar el riesgo de las estructuras frente a cargas dinámicas. Sin embargo, debido a la inherente no linealidad de los amortiguadores MR, el primer paso en el diseño de una estrategia de control semi-activo es el desarrollo de un modelo matemático adecuado. Aquí, la identificación de sistemas juega un papel clave. La naturaleza de esta investigación es multidisciplinar porque trata con dos conceptos, la identificación de un dispositivo mecánico (amortiguador MR) y la solución de un problema de control estructural en una perspectiva de ingeniera civil. Como primer paso, se ha desarrollado un nuevo modelo, basado en el modelo Bouc-Wen normalizado, para describir el comportamiento de una gama más amplia de amortiguadores MR, de manera especial los que pueden ser más eficaces en el control de estructuras de ingeniería civil (amortiguadores MR de gran escala). Basado en este modelo, se ha extendido un método de identificación de los parámetros. La validación del método de identificación se ha llevado a cabo sobre un modelo caja negra de un amortiguador MR que es parte de un modelo numérico de edificio muy utilizado como banco de pruebas en la comunidad de investigadores en control estructural. La versatilidad del método se ha probado utilizando el amortiguador de MR en forma semi-activa, con un voltaje variable y operando en el edificio bajo la excitación de terremotos. Posteriormente, basado en el modelo Bouc-Wen extendido, se ha propuesto un nuevo modelo inverso para amortiguadores MR, el cual permite calcular el voltaje requerido para manipular los amortiguadores. Finalmente, se ha presentado una estrategia jerárquica de control semi-activo Esta estrategia consta de cuatro pasos aplicados en tiempo real en cada instante de control: 1. Calcular la fuerza de control deseada global para ser aplicada en la base de la estructura. 2. Determinar la fuerza total que se está aplicando en instante de control actual por el conjunto de amortiguadores MR. Si esta fuerza es más pequeña que la fuerza deseada y tienen el mismo signo, esto significa que los amortiguadores MR necesitan aplicar más fuerza de amortiguamiento y entonces se va al paso 3. De lo contrario el voltaje de los amortiguadores MR se pone en 0. 3. Determinar el número de amortiguadores MR que están aplicando fuerza en la misma dirección que la fuerza de control deseada. 4. Calcular el voltaje a aplicar a cada amortiguador MR usando el modelo inverso. El método (algoritmo) completo se ha simulado en el edificio tridimensional de pruebas utilizado por la comunidad de control estructural como modelo realista para experimentos numéricos de control de la respuesta sísmica. Los índices de rendimiento obtenidos muestran que el método semi-activo propuesto puede mejorar eficazmente el rendimiento del edificio bajo diferentes terremotos.
In structural engineering, one of the constant challenges is to find new better means of protecting structures from destructive environmental forces. One approach is seismic isolation, which has shown to not only reduce the response of the primary structure, but also reduce damage to equipment and other non-structural secondary elements. A drawback of most isolation systems appears when one considers the response of isolated structures subjected to earthquakes characterized by near-field motions. Such motions are likely to produce large isolation deformations, which may lead to buckling or rupture of isolators. To control these large deformations one way is to utilize supplemental dampers together with the isolation system (a hybrid system). However the benefits of isolation system may be significantly reduced for both moderate and strong earthquakes due to the transfer of energy into higher modes which can result in increased interstory drift and floor accelerations. One approach to improve the performance of an isolation system is to incorporate devices within the isolation system whose properties can be adjusted in real-time during earthquakes. Such devices are referred to as semi-active. The control forces in semi-active systems are developed as a result of the motion of the structure itself. They can only be modified through appropriate adjustment of mechanical properties of semi-active devices. Furthermore, the control forces act to oppose the motion of the structural system and therefore promote the global stability of the structure. Specifically the MR dampers appear to have significant potential to advance the acceptance of structural control as a viable means for dynamic hazard mitigation. However, because of the inherent nonlinearity of MR dampers, the first step in the design of a semiactive control is the development of an accurate model of the MR device. The system-identification issue plays a key role in control problems. The nature of this research is multidisciplinary because it deals with two concepts, identification of a mechanical device (MR damper) as well as a structural control problem in a civil engineering perspective. As a first step, a new Bouc-Wen based normalized model has been developed to study the behavior of a wider range of MR dampers, specially the devices which can be more effective in the vibration control of real civil engineering structures (large-scale MR dampers). Based on this new model, an extension of a parameter identification method for MR dampers has been proposed. This extension allows to identify a larger class of MR dampers more accurately. The validation of the parameter identification method has been carried out using a black-box model of an MR damper that is a part of a smart base-isolated benchmark building model available in the community of researchers in structural control. The versatility of the parameter identification method has been tested using the MR damper as a semi-active device under time-varying voltage and earthquake excitation. Then, based on the proposed extended Bouc-Wen based normalized model, a new inverse model for MR dampers has been proposed. If two additional practical physical constraints are satisfied, then the voltage of the MR dampers can be manipulated by the inverse model. Finally, a hierarchical semi-active control strategy for the control of the vibration response of the isolated buildings equipped with a set of parallel MR dampers has been presented. This strategy consists of four steps applied in real time at each control instant: 1. Compute the overall desired control force to be applied at the base of the structure. 2. Determine the total force applied at the current control instant by the set of MR dampers. If this force is smaller than the desired force and they have the same sign, this means that the MR dampers need to apply more damping force and go to step 3. Otherwise the voltage of the MR dampers is set to 0. 3. Determine the number of dampers that are applying force in the same direction as the desired control force. 4. Compute the corresponding command voltage for each MR damper using the inverse model. The whole method is simulated by considering the three-dimensional smart base isolated benchmark building which is also used by the structural control community as a state-of-the-art model for numerical experiments of seismic control attenuation. The resulted performance indices demonstrate that the proposed semi-active method can effectively improve the performance of the building under earthquake loading

This thesis deals with the synthesis and study of new electro-active compounds in order to improve understanding of controlling supramolecular interactions between host-guest systems in solution and at the solid-liquid interface ofa conducting polymer backbone. ..... Firstly, a series of flavin functionalised electrodes has been produced by immobilisation of flavin units as an electropolymerised thin film. We have shown that thin films of the flavin polymer can be deposited onto an electrode surface and that electrochemically controllable hydrogen bonding interactions can occur between the pendant flavin units and diaminopyridine units in solution. Electrochemically tuneable flavin-functionalised C60 derivatives have been synthesised and the redox-modulator role of hydrogen bonding interactions with diamidopyridine derivatives has been studied. We have shown that the attachment of the flavin unit onto C60 does not interfere with the ability of the flavin to undergo hydrogen bonding interactions with diamidopyridine. Moreover, hydrogen bonding interactions between the flavin and diamidopyridine units influences the redox properties of the C60 derivative. We have developed an attractive model system for flavoenzymes that have the cofactor directly attached to the apoenzyme,.by producing a flavin unit that is covalently linked to a diamidopyridineunit. The model compound self-assembles into an intramolecularly hydrogen bonded complex both iIi solution and the solid-state. The addition of an external stimulus disassembles the intramolecular hydrogen bonded complex. A CBPQr+ -based rotaxane has also b~en synthesised and electropolymerised onto an electrode surface by oxidative polymerisation of the 2,5-dithienylpyrrole stopper units. We have shown that the rotaxane can be deposited onto a surface. However, electrochemical measurements show that submonolayer coverage occurs. Finally, we have synthesised a range of new flavin building blocks. We have investigated the attachment ofone ofthese systems onto a diamond surface.

High-throughput whole-genome biological assays are highly intricate and difficult to interpret. The molecular interaction networks generated from evaluation of those experiments suggest that cellular functions are carried out by modules of interacting molecules. Reverse-engineering the modular structure of cellular interaction networks has the promise of significantly easing their analysis. We hypothesize that:

1. cellular wiring diagrams can be decomposed into overlapping modules, where each module is a set of coherently-interacting molecules and
2. a cell responds to a stress or a stimulus by appropriately modulating the activities of a subset of these modules.

Motivated by these hypotheses, we develop models and algorithms that can reverse-engineer molecular modules from large-scale functional genomic data. We address two major problems:

1. Given a wiring diagram and genome-wide gene expression data measured after the application of a stress or in a disease state, compute the active network of molecular interactions perturbed by the stress or the disease.
2. Given the active networks for multiple stresses, stimuli, or diseases, compute a set of network legos, which are molecular modules with the property that each active network can be expressed as an appropriate combination of a subset of modules.

To address the first problem, we propose an approach that computes the most-perturbed subgraph of a curated pathway of molecular interactions in a disease state. Our method is based on a novel score for pathway perturbation that incorporates both differential gene expression and the interaction structure of the pathway. We apply our method to a compendium of cancer types. We show that the significance of the most perturbed sub-pathway is frequently larger than that of the entire pathway. We identify an association that suggests that IL-2 infusion may have a similar therapeutic effect in bladder cancer as it does in melanoma. We propose two models to address the second problem. First, we formulate a Boolean model for constructing network legos from a set of active networks. We reduce the problem of computing network legos to that of constructing closed biclusters in a binary matrix. Applying this method to a compendium of 13 stresses on human cells, we automatically detect that about four to six hours after treatment with chemicals cause endoplasmic reticulum stress, fibroblasts shut down the cell cycle far more aggressively than fibroblasts or HeLa cells do in response to other treatments. Our second model represents each active network as an additive combination of network legos. We formulate the problem as one of computing network legos that can be used to recover active networks in an optimal manner. We use existing methods for non-negative matrix approximation to solve this problem. We apply our method to a human cancer dataset including 190 samples from 18 cancers. We identify a network lego that associates integrins and matrix metalloproteinases in ovarian adenoma and other cancers and a network lego including the retinoblastoma pathway associated with multiple leukemias.
Ph. D.

Background: The brand embodied a set of values and attributes which were appropriate, which stimulated consumer interest, which distinguished brand from others and created a unique piece of property for its owners. From marketing point of view, brands are the means that consumers use to distinguish products and services based on essential and non-essential attributes and they are a source of business’s differential advantage. Furthermore, brands communicate tangible and intangible advantages and are attractive to a range of feeling. In order to make decisions for brand strategy, branding plays an important role. Kotler and Keller (2006) state that a brand is needed because it identifies the product, and the responsibility of the product hence lies in the hands of the makers or producers of the product. Brands are important in both consumer and business-to-business situations, where a decision of purchase is needed. A strong brand can create sufficient higher total returns to shareholders than a weak brand. Brands are at the heart of marketing and business strategy ( Doyle,1998, p.165) and building brand equity or strong brands, is considered to be one of the key drivers of a business success ( Prasad & Dev, 2000; p.22). Problem Statement: What are the promotional strategies company’s uses to create International brand in order to pursue the potential customer in B2C marketing environment?? Purpose:The purpose of the thesis is to investigate how firm employ effective promotional tools and techniques to create and sustain international brand in the customers mind. Research design: Both Qualitative and Quantitative method is applied in this thesis. Primary data is collected from interview (E-mail and telephone) and internet survey, while secondary data is gathered from books, journals, and internet source. Conclusion: The promotional tools capabilities can help businesses to spread the messages to the mass market. It is very powerful technique to be used to increase brand awareness of the organization. We found out those promotional tools such as sales promotion, direct marketing, personal selling, publicity, advertisement, and internet marketing play vital role to create international brand.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1996.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-72).
Advances in technology, such as more powerful affordable computers and flexible communication, along with social and economical changes have led to the decentralization of the workplace and have made it possible for, and in some cases have forced, more professionals to work at home. With greater and varied demands on the home, people will require more control over their environments to accommodate multiple uses, including those of professional work. A dwelling for living and working, therefore, must be adaptable. Architecturally this suggests a building that may support a range of programs and ownership. A means of achieving this is to provide a framework in which physical issues of structure, the delivery of services, along with architectural issues of circulation, transition, and context are addressed. My investigation is inspired by urban housing types that have proven adaptable in use and ownership, while maintaining a clear identity, such as the row houses of Boston's Back Bay and the small number of nineteenth century dwelling types used in Cambridge, and most American cities. Because of their density and clear diagrams these urban dwellings may be easily subdivided or combined to support many uses without dramatic alteration. The use of simple available systems allow these dwellings to mediate between built and assembled elements. The built elements represents the framework or more fixed elements of construction, while the assemblies are those elements that can be altered with relative ease in the interest of renewal or adaptation for live-work dwellings and future uses.
by James Francis Rissling.
M.Arch.

Commercial energy use in Arizona is different from the rest of the United States because of their high demand for air conditioning. Nearly half of the energy used in commercial buildings goes to heating, cooling, and ventilation. In an attempt to reduce overall every use in buildings, looking at these categories led to an examination of ventilation in buildings, which is the main cause for high heating and cooling costs. Ventilation of fresh air is required in order to provide a safe, healthy environment, with acceptable indoor air quality. Indoor air quality and pollution has continuously come to light as a major health concern for building occupants. Chemicals used in manufacturing allow consumers to buy and expose themselves to toxic substances such as volatile organic compounds on a daily basis. With minimal regulations on indoor air, it is important to find ways to better filter and clean it. The traditional solution is ventilation, but more fresh air ventilation means more heating and cooling. This paper explores the research that has been done on plants and phytoremediation and the applicability to indoor air quality. With the proof that certain combinations and amounts of plants can filter the air of volatile organic compounds, systems are explored for indoor air filtration instead of mechanical ventilation. This type of system can greatly reduce heating and cooling costs in buildings due to the reduction of outdoor air being brought in and requiring conditioning. A system of this type is a feasible solution to indoor air quality and can lead to a significant reduction in energy use. The proposed AIRMAPS is a system that in certain quantities can reduce the need for fresh air ventilation by 25%, which in turn has shown through the validation by eQUEST, that the energy used for heating, cooling, and ventilation fans can also be reduced by approximately the same amount. The plants used are spider plant, dumb cane, English ivy, and golden pothos. The average formaldehyde removal by each of these plants is a low approximation of 75% per cubic meter. This paper also considers the growing materials used for the plants; activated carbon, potting soil mix, and grow-stones, as well as their formaldehyde removal capabilities.