SIMBAD: a simulation toolbox for the design and test of HVAC control systems

The need for a decrease in the energy consumption of buildings implies an adequate understanding of control strategies. This requires an intensive use of simulation tools for the design and test of controllers of HVAC equipment. It is noticed that simulation software commonly used in control engineering do not provide any model of HVAC equipment. The SIMBAD project has been set up to develop a toolbox of such models adapted to the needs in the control field. As the toolbox is mainly conceived for users who are not necessarily "experts" in HVAC equipment, the user-friendliness of the models is a major concern in the development work. This includes a hierarchical structure for the description of systems, an insight of physical phenomena involved in the models visible on the graphical interface, an enhanced parametering mode and availability of parameters of models.