NVAPF: an adaptive particle filter algorithm for CO2-based natural ventilation rate estimation with high temporal resolution and stability

CO2-based ventilation rate estimation techniques have been widely used in relevant studies in naturally ventilated educational buildings. Such techniques are non-invasive, low-cost, simple, accurate, and do not interfere with the activities of indoor occupants. However, the estimation is significant...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Miao, Sen|||0000-0003-0266-9405, Gangolells Solanellas, Marta|||0000-0001-7921-595X, Tejedor Herrán, Blanca|||0000-0002-2064-0617
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/439449
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/439449
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113432
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Natural ventilation rate
CO2 tracer gas
Bayesian filter
Adaptive particle filter
Educational buildings
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Edificació::Instal·lacions i acondicionament d'edificis::Instal·lacions de ventilació
Descripción
Sumario:CO2-based ventilation rate estimation techniques have been widely used in relevant studies in naturally ventilated educational buildings. Such techniques are non-invasive, low-cost, simple, accurate, and do not interfere with the activities of indoor occupants. However, the estimation is significantly affected by the CO2 measurement noise, the uncertainties associated with CO2 generation rate, and complex natural ventilation dynamics. Existing techniques were found to have limited capabilities to deal with these aspects. Therefore, this research proposed an adaptive particle filter algorithm for CO2-based natural ventilation rate estimation and validated it through a case study in an educational building. Compared with the existing transient mass balance model and the extended Kalman filter technique, the estimation stability has been improved by nearly 6 times and 3 times, respectively. More importantly, the proposed algorithm is significantly more robust to abrupt changes in indoor CO2 and can effectively avoid large drifts in the estimated ventilation rate due to sudden window opening and sudden changes in room occupancy, demonstrating great practical applicability for real-time estimation with a high temporal resolution of 1 minute. To help relevant users with practical applications, the study also analyzed the algorithm parameter settings and the impact of simplification strategies commonly used in relevant studies, such as the use of a fixed outdoor CO2 concentration, an averaged CO2 generation rate, and an assumed constant room occupancy. Finally, considering that applying the proposed algorithm requires programming skills, an open, user-friendly software has been developed for relevant users for a convenient implementation.