Real-Time Control of HVAC Systems Using Artificial Intelligence

This chapter explores how artificial intelligence in real-time control of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment has significantly changed the face of the operations. Conventional heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems tend to rely on strict timetables and rule-driven programming, making them inefficient, wasteful of energy resources, and nonadaptable to variable conditions of the environment and persons occupying the area. Using artificial intelligence methods like machine learning, deep learning, and reinforcement learning, the latest heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems have become capable of operating in real-time reaction and learning mode, delivering predictive solutions, and employing adaptive control measures. The historical advancements toward thermal comfort, energy efficiency, and system reliability were reviewed in the chapter, tied with some of the major algorithms in artificial intelligence such as artificial neural networks, reinforcement learning, and support vector machines, which have been major contributing factors toward establishing the said solution. In addition, the chapter talks of the practical applications of it in different industries, such as the healthcare industry, education, and home and office buildings. Such highlights include predictive maintenance, personalized comfort, and environmental sustainability. Future directions such as edge computing, smart grid integration, and explainable artificial intelligence are outlined in the chapter. The chatper highlights the role of artificial intelligence in the control of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, which should help build intelligent, sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings in the future.