Ercan Atam

• Doctor of Philosophy
• Professor (Associate) at Boğaziçi University

In this paper, we present a prediction-based dynamic programming (DP) control approach, a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) approach, and a linear optimal control (LOC) approach to analyze the minimization of the total energy use of a hybrid ground-coupled heat pump (hp) system (incorporating a ground-coupled hp, a gas boiler, a passive coo...

Four closed-loop control strategies are discussed to reduce the drag of a cylinder wake flow: LQG control, gain-scheduled LQG control, gain-scheduled PI control, and multi-model predictive control. The control models are obtained in an input-output framework through ARMAX (for LQG control), multi-ARMAX (for gain-scheduled LQG control and multi-mode...

The residential and commercial building sector is known to use around 40% of the total end-use energy and, hence, is considered to be the largest energy consumer sector in the world [1]. Approximately half of this energy is used for heating/cooling, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC), and this usage is increasing 0.5?5% per year in developed...

In this article, we listed the control requirements and challenges for energy-efficient buildings, and then discussed a set of advanced model based control methods to address the requirements and challenges. A state-of-the-art literature review of the advanced model based control techniques together with their pros and cons were also given. The dis...

Seismic protection of multi-story buildings using friction dampers (FDs) is a cheap and effective passive structural control solution. For optimization of system response, optimal distribution of FDs between floors is required, which is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose novel intelligent computational methods based on reinforcement l...

For fair academic recruitment at universities and research institutions, determination of the right measure based on globally accepted academic quality features is a highly delicate, challenging, but quite important problem to be addressed. In a series of two papers, we consider the modeling part for academic quality quantification in the first pap...

Despite a large body of research, the widespread application of Model Predictive Control (MPC) to residential buildings has yet to be realised. The modelling challenge is often cited as a significant obstacle. This chapter establishes a systematic workflow, from detailed simulation model development to control-oriented model generation to act as a...

Residential buildings account for about a quarter of the global energy use. As such, residential buildings can play a vital role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions through efficient use of energy and balance of intermittent renewable generation. This chapter presents a co-design framework for simultaneous optimisation of the design and operatio...

Frost affects horticultural plants considerably and result in multi-dimensional harms: from economic losses to psychological problems for people involved in horticulture. As a result, prevention of frost in horticulture is of utter most importance for many countries. In this paper, first we propose a novel green energy-integrated solution, a hybrid...

In this article, we used an optimization-based systematic methodology for the challenging, less studied, and important problem of optimal partitioning of multither-mal zone buildings for decentralized control. The proposed methodology consists of: i) construction of a graph-based network to quantitatively characterize the thermal interaction levels...

Buildings are responsible for about a quarter of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Consequently, the decarbonisation of the housing stock is essential in achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Global decarbonisation targets can be achieved through increased efficiency in using energy generated by intermittent resources. The paper presents a co-des...

Accurate modelling and simulation of temperature dynamics in large-scale orchards is important in many aspects, including: (i) for the calculation of minimum energy required to be used in optimal design of active frost prevention energy systems (fully renewable or partially renewable) to prevent freezing of fruit flowers, buds, or leaves; (ii) for...

In this paper, (i) we present a novel approach for easily developing mechanical models of buildings integrated with friction dampers to simplify their numerical simulation, (ii) using the developed approach, friction damper-based passive control and then mass driver-based robust active vibration control strategies are applied on a seismically excit...

Prevention of frost in horticulture is important, but challenging, and its realization, especially using greenenergy sources, will have a huge societal impact. In this paper, first we suggest an integrated solar photovoltaics (PV)-assisted framework where solar energy will be used as a secondary application for frost prevention in large-scale fruit...

In this paper, we develop an extended linear parameter-varying (LPV) model to design an LPV controller for air path system control in diesel engines. The objective is to use a widely used and accepted nonlinear diesel engine air path model, minimize simplifying assumptions on the model, and then design a model-based gain scheduling controller to wo...

Geothermal energy is considered a clean and sustainable form of renewable energy, that can be exploited directly or indirectly by means of specific devices. Ground-coupled heat pumps are widely used systems to obtain this energy. Control of ground-coupled heat pump systems, where thermal energy is extracted or injected from and to a geothermal bore...

Solar photovoltaics (PV) is a popular method of green energy-based electricity generation for regions with rich solar radiation. In this paper, we introduce a conceptual framework where PV can be used for multi-purposes: electricity generation and frost prevention, specifically for frost prevention of apricot orchards. After introduction of the con...

Design of computationally efficient model predictive control (MPC) systems for thermal control of buildings is a challenging task since long prediction horizons may be needed, which can take a significant computational time, especially when multi-zone buildings are considered. In this paper, we investigate the computational performance of a potenti...

Fast and easy advanced model-based control design for energy-efficient multi-zone buildings is crucial for optimal energy savings, and this strongly depends on the availability and capability of advanced simulation and control design software and tools. In this paper, first a state-of-the-art review of the commonly used major software and tools by...

In this paper, a compact overview of the state-of-the-art in modeling of ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems and an in-depth review of their optimal control along with the associated research challenges are given. The main focus is on optimal control but since design of an optimal controller may require a model, a relatively short literature re...

In this paper, a convexification approach is presented for a class of non-convex optimal/model predictive control problems more specifically applied to building HVAC control problems. The original non-convex problems are convexified using a convex envelope approach. The approach is tested on two case studies: a benchmark building HVAC system contro...

In this paper a convex approach through convexification is presented for non-convex optimal control and non-convex model predictive control based energy use minimization of buildings equipped with the hybrid ground-coupled heat pump systems. The original non-convex problems are convexified using a convex envelope approach. The results of convexifie...

In this extended abstract, we give a short overview of the lessons learned from reduced-order modelling and model-based control applications to minimize the total energy use of a hybrid ground-coupled heat pump (HyGCHP) system under operational constraints. The HyGCHP system investigated incorporates a ground-coupled heat pump, a gas-fired boiler,...

In this paper, a methodology to control a class of input-affine nonlinear systems is presented. The method is particularly suitable for systems for which classical feedback-linearization and linear parameter-varying-based control methods are not applicable or difficult to apply. It borrows concepts from both these methods and results in a combined...

This paper proposes to apply the celebrated Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) approach in order to obtain a short-term control model for the temperature dynamics of the borehole system. The main idea behind POD-based modeling is the extraction of a set of optimal basis functions containing the main characteristics of the system from snapshots o...

In this paper, we develop a parameterized state-space model for borehole dynamics in terms of borehole length. The closed form formula can be used explicitly in an optimization framework to determine simultaneously the optimal borehole depth and the optimal control law for energy efficient buildings equipped with ground-coupled heat pumps.

In this paper, an ARMAX-based multi-step model predictive control (ARMAX-MSMPC) strategy is developed and applied to the flow around a 2-D cylinder with the aim of minimizing the near wake fluctuations energy, via blowing/sucking fluid through the cylinder surface. These fluctuations are here represented by the norm of a Proper Orthogonal Decomposi...

In this paper, an online state estimation method for unmeasured states appearing linearly in deterministic non-linear systems is developed. The method is based on a recursive least-squares identification algorithm. The proposed method possesses some superior properties, mainly its simplicity and better estimation performance, compared with other ty...

In this note, we discuss a previously published paper by Chou et al. [Chou JH, Hsieh CH, Sun JH. On-line optimal tracking control of continuous-time systems. Mechatronics 2004;14:587–97]. The method proposed by authors is based on a sequential on-line identification and optimal control idea. We show that the identification part is not correct in th...