Automatic Load Control and Energy Optimization in Smart Building Using PLC and SCADA

Abstract

The proposed research project seeks to develop an Automatic Load Control and Energy Optimization system of smart buildings based on the principles of SoftPLC technology and Virtual Commissioning. The system is aimed at recreating industrial automation settings to efficiently control energy use without the limitation of physical device. It has a Web-based SCADA Dashboard (WebVisu) that helps to monitor in real time energy metrics, virtual sensor input, and load status, and it can be viewed using any standard web browser. It requires the backend infrastructure to enable the logging of data (high-frequency data) and historical analysis through the integration of a local MySQL database deployed in XAMPP. This paper will deal with the shortcomings of the already existing passive building management systems by proposing a flexible software-based architecture that has the capability to make intelligent decisions. The switch to the hardware-dependent control to a Digital Twin type of simulation is done through the use of CODESYS Control Win V3, the Modbus TCP/IP communication control, and the Node-RED middleware. The initial testing shows that the software layers have indeed been integrated successfully, which proves that the communication backbone is stable and that the data logging pipeline is correct. Future suggestion also involves application of Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC) and Stochastic Occupancy Profiling to increase more on the flexibility of the system. This thorough research does not just confirm the practicability of Virtual Commissioning to build automation, but it also provides a strong ground on the formation of smart, data driven energy management measures.