Performance evaluation of controlling thermostatically controlled appliances as virtual generators using comfort-constrained state-queueing models

This study presents a detailed performance evaluation of comfort-constrained state-queueing model for integration of thermostatically controlled appliances (TCAs) as virtual generators (VGs). The configuration of VG models is presented. The heating mode of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) unit - heat pump is used as an example TCA load to demonstrate VG operation. First, an estimated baseline of the aggregated HVAC loads is obtained based on outdoor temperature forecasts using thermal dynamic models. Then, the control method of HVAC units for intra-hour load balancing is proposed. The effects of different comfort-constraints, outdoor temperature profiles and thermal deadbands are modelled to evaluate the performance of TCAs as VGs. The technical functionality of the TCA-VG is described and demonstrated by the modelling results.