Comfortable microclimate in a room is integral to well-being. At the same time, devices, which ensure healthy and enjoyable air quality, are costly, add significantly to energy consumption of buildings, and may overload the power grid. Currently, most of the individual climate and air-quality devices (heat, ventilation, air conditioners and air purifiers and humidifiers) operate independently and don’t “talk” to one another. This status-quo will likely change with the advent of Internet of Things. However, data assimilation and control architectures that would enable seamless and efficient cooperation of multiple components are still lacking.
Business and scientific communities have been looking for opportunities in this sphere recently, and collaboration among them intensifies. One of the emerging partnerships involves Novosibirsk-based company “Tion”, which develops high-tech products for smart and energy efficient ventilation, air purification and disinfection. Six scholars from Skoltech Centre for Energy systems, joined by two MIT colleagues, were invited to “Tion” HQ to discuss professional interests and plans to build a testing site at Skoltech.
After the trip around the technology park Academpark, participants shared the results of their recent research. Among others, Konstantin Turitsyn (MIT) presented modern approaches to engagement of buildings in demand response technologies. Aldo Bischi (Skoltech) discussed Combined cooling, heat and power systems operation planning & design. Alexey Strelnik and Anastasia Kozhukhar (“Tion”) shared results of their study at own testing site, involving Tion MagicAir – smart microclimate system.
Expanding experimental platforms is a foremost task in empowering internet of things with workable solutions in indoor climate. Participants of the meeting in Novosibirsk discussed their plans to build a testing site at one of Skoltech rooms. This site will become a platform for research in how different devices and systems define indoor microclimate. It will allow rigorous testing of new climate devices, and algorithms that control devices, along with modelling of various room types.