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Operational Performance and Load Flexibility Analysis of Japanese Zero Energy House

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  • Xiaoyi Zhang

    (Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Fushun Road 11, Qingdao 266033, China
    Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 808-0135, Japan)

  • Weijun Gao

    (Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Fushun Road 11, Qingdao 266033, China
    Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 808-0135, Japan)

  • Yanxue Li

    (Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Fushun Road 11, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Zixuan Wang

    (Innovation Institute for Sustainable Maritime Architecture Research and Technology, Qingdao University of Technology, Fushun Road 11, Qingdao 266033, China)

  • Yoshiaki Ushifusa

    (Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu 802-8577, Japan)

  • Yingjun Ruan

    (Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, China)

Abstract

ZEHs (Zero Energy House) featuring energy-efficient designs and on-site renewable integration are being widely developed. This study introduced Japanese ZEHs with well-insulated thermal envelopes and investigated their detailed operational performances through on-site measurements and simulation models. Measurement data show that ZEHs effectively damped the variation of indoor air temperature compared to conventional houses, presenting great ability to retain inside heat energy, and are expected to potentially deliver energy flexibility as a virtual thermal energy storage medium. We developed a simplified thermal resistance–capacitance model for a house heating system; response behaviors were simulated under various scenarios. Results compared the variations of indoor temperature profiles and revealed the dependence of load flexibility on the building’s overall heat loss performance. We observed that overall heat loss rate played a crucial role in building heat energy storage efficiency; a well-insulated house shortened the heat-up time with less energy input, and extended the delayed period of indoor temperature under intermittent heating supply; a high set-point operative temperature and a low ambient temperature led to lower virtual thermal energy storage efficiency. The preheating strategy was simulated as an effective load-shifting approach in consuming surplus PV generation; approximately 50% of consumed PV generation could be shifted to replace grid import electricity for room heating during the occupied period.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyi Zhang & Weijun Gao & Yanxue Li & Zixuan Wang & Yoshiaki Ushifusa & Yingjun Ruan, 2021. "Operational Performance and Load Flexibility Analysis of Japanese Zero Energy House," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6782-:d:581188
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Yanxue & Wang, Zixuan & Xu, Wenya & Gao, Weijun & Xu, Yang & Xiao, Fu, 2023. "Modeling and energy dynamic control for a ZEH via hybrid model-based deep reinforcement learning," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    2. Wang, Zixuan & Xiao, Fu & Ran, Yi & Li, Yanxue & Xu, Yang, 2024. "Scalable energy management approach of residential hybrid energy system using multi-agent deep reinforcement learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).

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