Benoit Delcroix

Hydro-Québec · Laboratoire des Technologies de l'Énergie

Biomass frequently constrains its widespread application due to its low economic efficiency. In this project, a new approach of biomass application was explored to reduce bio-syngas production cost. A model for the bio-syngas production from biomass gasification and bio-syngas purification (Selexol and water scrubbing) were studied. Based on the si...

Smart thermostats have become a promising device to control electric baseboard heaters' energy consumption while considering their flexibility in the demand response (DR) context. This article applies a shrinked-space search method to identify the tuning parameters of line voltage communicating thermostats (LVCTs). The proposed approach based on Ba...

A 1 st -order gray-box archetype is developed using high-quality measurements from an unoccupied experimental house to investigate the sensitivity of economic model-based predictive control performance under Québec’s dynamic electricity tariff for the residential sector, rate Flex-D, to uncertainty in the weather forecast. The archetype incorporate...

Direct load control (DLC) is a prominent solution for demand-side energy management, where utility providers adjust consumers' temperature setpoints through smart thermostats. However, occupant overrides can have a detrimental impact on the overall efficacy of DLC. This study focuses on understanding override mechanisms and occupant responses durin...

Direct load control (DLC) is considered a viable solution to promote demand-side energy management, in which the utility provider adjusts consumers’ temperature setpoints via smart thermostats. Users commonly have the option to interrupt DLC and override them by adjusting their thermostat setpoints. However, the occurrence of overrides can have a d...

Electrification of space heating can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially when coupled with advanced control strategies and leveraging building energy flexibility. A methodology to automatically generate accurate control-oriented building models is an important part of quantifying the energy flexibility of a house. This study presents a...

This paper simulates the thermal response of a single-family house to power outages during extremely-cold periods, using a multi-zone data-driven energy model. The archetype model is developed with data from an unoccupied research house at Laboratoire des Technologies de l’Energie, Québec. Indoor air temperature is first simulated, assuming no auxi...

This paper proposes a novel frequency domain methodology for identification of the thermal response of representative houses in Québec. The methodology, developed in a MATLAB environment, is based on a data-driven frequency domain approach. Since buildings have a strongly periodic thermal behaviour during different seasons, frequency domain analysi...

This paper examines the impact of building zoning on demand flexibility potentials. The building thermal dynamic response is modeled by using the state-space representation method. The comfort preference of the occupants is defined by statistical analysis of set-point temperature patterns. The created models are used to study energy flexibility thr...

This paper proposes a systematic methodology based on frequency domain techniques to develop reduced order models for building heat flows: providing the right detail of the building and the possibility to optimize the control actions for different thermal zones during demand-response events. This work automatically identifies the best grey box Resi...

Like the Écowatt website (https://www.monecowatt.fr/) developed by RTE in France, this work humbly attempts to achieve the same goal for the province of Quebec (as a preliminary prototype). Using open data from Hydro-Québec and Weather Canada, a Streamlit app was developed and presents the current situation on the Quebec power grid, as well as a fo...

For many years, energy monitoring at the most disaggregate level has been mainly sought through the idea of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). Developing a practical application of this concept in the residential sector can be impeded by the technical characteristics of case studies. Accordingly, several databases, mainly from Europe and the US,...

For many years, energy monitoring at the most disaggregate level has been mainly sought through the idea of Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM). Nevertheless, a practical application of this concept in the residential sector should address the underlying concerns raised by the technical specifications of case studies. From one side, such an operat...

Biomass frequently constrains its widespread application due to its low economic efficiency. In this project, a new approach of biomass application was explored to reduce bio-syngas production cost. A model for the bio-syngas production from biomass gasification and bio-syngas purification (Selexol and water scrubbing) were studied. Based on the si...

A 1st-order gray-box archetype is developed using high-quality measurements from an unoccupied experimental house to investigate the sensitivity of economic model-based predictive control performance under Québec’s dynamic electricity tariff for the residential sector, rate Flex-D, to uncertainty in the weather forecast. The archetype incorporates...

To ensure energy efficiency in new buildings, it is vital to address it at the early design stage, where alternative conceptual layouts remarkably influence energy performance. Designers typically use labour-intensive simulation tools requiring details most of which are not available at the early design stages, making them inefficient for multi-sce...

The Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) concept is suggested as a practical means for energy monitoring at the most disaggregated level. Notwithstanding, a viable solution to this idea for residential applications should overcome its common and specific issues raised by technical specifications of the case study. Knowing the fact that the former h...

An automated methodology that generates sufficiently accurate building models is essential for both the adoption of advanced control strategies like Model Predictive Control, and the estimation of building energy flexibility required for building-grid interactions. This paper presents such a methodology for the generation of multi-zone resistor-cap...

This paper simulates the thermal response of a single-family house to power outages during extremely-cold periods, using a multi-zone data-driven energy model. The archetype model is developed with data from an unoccupied research house at Laboratoire des Technologies de l'Energie, Québec. Indoor air temperature is first simulated, assuming no auxi...

Electrification of space heating can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially when coupled with advanced control strategies and leveraging building energy flexibility. A methodology to automatically generate accurate control-oriented building models is an important part of quantifying the energy flexibility of a house. This study presents a...

This paper examines the impact of building zoning on demand flexibility potentials. The building thermal dynamic response is modeled by using the state-space representation method. The comfort preference of the occupants is defined by statistical analysis of set-point temperature patterns. The created models are used to study energy flexibility thr...

This paper studies recursive Bayesian calibration of archetype building energy models developed for optimal operation, energy flexibility and resilience in the residential sector. Real-time building performance monitoring has been facilitated recently with low cost faster instrumentations. With an online stream of measured data, recursive model cal...

This paper proposes a novel frequency domain methodology for the identification of the thermal response of representative houses in Québec. The methodology, developed in a MATLAB environment, is based on a data-driven frequency domain approach. Since buildings have a strongly periodic thermal behaviour during different seasons, frequency domain ana...

The current deployment of smart meters and home energy management systems provides utilities' residential customers with more customer-centric energy data than ever before. This data can be used to provide residential customers with meaningful insights into their energy consumption and peak power demand. In this paper, machine learning techniques a...

While the potential of model-based control is recognized, the development of reasonably accurate models for control applications remains a challenging, cumbersome and time-consuming task. This paper proposes a systematic and generalizable approach – based on low-order control-oriented thermal network (RC) archetypes – for the development, testing a...

This paper presents a general methodology to model and activate the energy flexibility of electrically heated school buildings. The proposed methodology is based on the use of archetypes of resistance–capacitance thermal networks for representative thermal zones calibrated with measured data. Using these models, predictive control strategies are in...

This paper presents a methodology for development of control-oriented thermal RC network models for optimized HVAC load management in typical electrically heated single-family two-storey detached houses in Québec, assuming that there are three zones and it is equipped with photovoltaics and battery storage. Using data from an unoccupied research ho...

The building sector is responsible for approximately one-third of the total energy consumption, worldwide. This sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, buildings being more and more equipped with connected devices such as smart meters and IoT devices. This transformation offers the opportunity to better monitor and optimize building op...

The building sector is responsible for approximately one-third of the total energy consumption, worldwide. This sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, buildings being more and more equipped with connected devices such as smart meters and IoT devices. This transformation offers the opportunity to better monitor and optimize building op...

Building energy models are critical to forecast the energy use and to improve the operations of HVAC systems. However, these models are building-specific, and their development is tedious, error-prone and time-consuming. Compared to traditional white-box and grey-box models, black-box models need less development time and no information about the b...

In this paper, a model simulating bio-methanol production through gasification of different woody bioresources (pine biomass, biochar, and pyrolysis oil) is investigated using process simulation software Aspen Plus. The process consists of gasification, syngas post-treatment, methanol synthesis with recycling and purification. The model results are...

A novel process model simulating methanol production through pyrolysis oil gasification was developed, validated, then used to predict the effect of operating conditions on methanol production yield. The model comprised gasification, syngas post-treatment, and methanol synthesis units. The model was validated using experimental data from the litera...

Thermal models of buildings are helpful to forecast their energy use and to enhance the control of their mechanical systems. However, these models are building-specific and require a tedious, error-prone and time-consuming development effort relying on skilled building energy modelers. Compared to white-box and gray-box models, data-driven (black-b...

A model for syngas production from pyrolysis oil gasification was developed, validated, and used in this work to predict the effect of operating conditions on syngas properties. The model consists of a process line that includes units for pyrolysis-oil drying, decomposition, combustion, and gasification processes. The model was validated using expe...

Bioenergy is part of the solution to decarbonize energy systems and the economy, and to decrease greenhouse gases emissions drastically. The main goal of this work is to present a participatory database of bioenergy projects, initially based on information available on the International Energy Agency website. This new database aims at being updated...

A decentralized supply chain that integrates biomass depots as an intermediate pre‐processing hub may be an efficient way to obtain stable and dense non‐food carbohydrate commodities that are economically transportable over long distances. This paper presents an integrated geographic information systems (GIS) method based on transport optimization...

This article investigates the application of Artifi cial Neural Networks (ANNs) to model Phase-Change Materials (PCMs) heat capacity using data from Diff erential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) tests and experimentations. Coefficients of determination of 0.99 and 0.66 are respectively obtained using two (DSC test) and four (experimentations) independen...

This TRNSYS model is capable of simulating a wall using a 1-D explicit finite-difference method. This model is able to simulate walls including one or several layers having variable properties (e.g. phase change materials). Type 3258 must be coupled with Type 56 in TRNSYS. For additional details and documentation, see: B. Delcroix, ”Modeling of the...

Presentation of the forest biorefinery project in La Tuque (QC, Canada), promoted by BioÉnergie La Tuque

Analyse technico-économique d'un projet de bioraffinerie forestière, incluant l'application de la méthode de Monte-Carlo

Biofuels have the potential to make a significant contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals while creating long-term operating jobs and energy security. However, the appropriate conversion technology for biofuel production is highly dependent upon feedstock availability, feedstock properties, desired fuel properties, availability of supp...

This paper presents the building-scale experimental validation of a new model for walls equipped with phase change materials (PCM). The 1-D conduction heat transfer equation is solved using an explicit finite-difference method coupled with an enthalpy method to consider the variable PCM thermal capacity. The model is implemented in the TRNSYS simul...

This paper presents a model of a wall with variable properties dedicated to modelling phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes. The model is implemented in the TRNSYS simulation tool and referred to as Type 3258. The 1-D conduction heat transfer equation is solved using an explicit finite-difference method coupled with an enthalpy method...

This paper presents a new model for portable electric spas, also referred to as spas or hot tubs. The developed model is implemented in the TRNSYS simulation tool, and is referred to as Type 3252. It uses two thermal nodes to model the water temperature and the air temperature in the cavity below the spa. The model is calibrated and validated using...

Techno-economic considerations about forest biorefinery projects in North America with a special focus on the La Tuque project in the province of Québec, Canada.

Using remote sensing to assess the forest biomass.

Description of the project ”Vision La Tuque 2023” and the proposed strategy based on pyrolysis for energy densification and on gasification for producing syngas, which is an important building block for further processing or applications.

Utiliser les sources de carbone organique et autres nutriments issus des résidus agroalimentaires régionaux « propres » afin d’en faire un substrat de culture adéquat pour les microalgues.

Building thermal mass is a key parameter defining the ability of a building to mitigate inside temperature variations and to maintain a better thermal comfort. Increasing the thermal mass of a lightweight building can be achieved by using Phase Change Materials (PCMs). These materials offer a high energy storage capacity (using latent energy) and a...

Modeling phase change materials (PCMs) thermal behavior requires solving a system of non-linear equations to account for temperature-dependent thermal capacity and thermal conductivity. These properties depend on the PCM temperature and state (solid, liquid or mushy). Most models rely on enthalpy–temperature or specific heat–temperature curves to c...

This poster presents results of experimental tests performed on a wall section equipped with PCM. The wall is quickly transferred between cold and warm enclosures to observe the PCM behavior when melting or solidification is interrupted. Two scenarios are presented and tested (section 1) when phase change is interrupted: a transition between the he...

This paper presents the results of experimental tests performed on a wall section equipped with phase change materials (PCM). The wall is quickly transferred between cold and warm enclosures to observe the PCM behavior when melting or solidification is interrupted. A 1-D model of the wall based on the enthalpy method is used to identify the enthalp...

Cet article présente le cheminement réalisé pour évaluer la capacité thermique d'un matériau à changement de phase dédié à être incorporé dans l'enveloppe d'un bâtiment. Le banc d'essai développé et les résultats des expérimentations sont d'abord présentés. Ensuite, la méthode de l'historique de température est appliquée afin d'évaluer l'évolution...

Ce poster présente le cheminement réalisé pour évaluer la capacité thermique d’un matériau à changement de phase dédié à être incorporé dans l’enveloppe d’un bâtiment. Le banc d’essai développé et les résultats des expérimentations sont d’abord présentés. Ensuite, la méthode de l’historique de température est appliquée afin d’évaluer l’évolution de...

Type 3252 implements a two-node model of a portable electric spa, i.e. a self-contained, above-ground hot tub which is electrically heated. The model uses overall thermal parameters and rated electrical data to calculate the temperature and energy use of the spa based on usage patterns and setpoints provided as inputs.

Les travaux réalisés dans le cadre d’un second stage en milieu pratique initié par la collaboration entre le LTE et l’Université Polytechnique sont présentés. Ceux-ci portent sur le thème de l’amélioration du réalisme de traitement de la conduction au sein des modèles multizones de bâtiment ; plus particulièrement, sur la modélisation des matériaux...

The performance of a bio-based phase change material (PCM) was ex-perimentally investigated in two identical full scale test huts exposed to the exterior environment. A layer of PCM enclosed in protective light-weight plywood sheets were added on the inside of 50 % of the walls (excluding floor and ceiling) in one of the test huts. Five months of d...

Many building energy performance simulation programs (includmg TRNSYS) use the Conduction Transfer Function (CTF) method to compute 1-D transient heat conduction through multi-layer slabs. Problems have been reported with the current CTF implementation in the TRNSYS multizone building model, especially during the CTF coefficients generation. These...

The Conduction Transfer Function (CTF) method is used by many building energy performance simulation programs to calculate 1-D transient heat conduction through multi-layer envelope components. TRNSYS is one of these programs, and several authors have reported problems with the current CTF implementation in its multizone building model, known as Ty...