An open ended modular interface and controller library for clim2000

The CLIM 2000 software environment [1] was developed by the Electricity Applications in Buildings Branch of the French utility company, Electricité de France. This software, which has been in operation since June 1989, allows the behavior of a whole building to be simulated. During the last phase of development, special attention, and hence research resources, were devoted to developing an open-ended software package, where new models of regulator could be added in a user friendly way. The new components that underwent development were: 1) directed at today's demands for analysis of the occupant's comfort; 2) the comparison of different heating or ventilation systems; and 3) the pertinence of a complex control system to meet these demands. This paper addresses the latter of the three areas and the new strategy for control in building simulation is also presented. MATLAB connection allows the development of a new controller prototype. Once the prototype is available, it is transformed with the same interface into a controller model. This is achieved by the use of an open-ended FORTRAN/C computer controller simulation interface. These new modules or tools (denoted as CLIM 2000 - LIBCREG.A connection) provide the user with efficient analysis of system properties i.e performance and robustness. In addition, these tools allow the user to evaluate the complexity of the design versus its system performance, by comparing alternative designs in a user friendly environment.