Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems

Yuyang Gong; Hang Wan; Yujiao Du; Gongsheng Huang

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53

Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems

Yuyang Gong
, Hang Wan
, Yujiao Du
, Gongsheng Huang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are commonly employed in TES systems due to their ability to store and release substantial latent heat during phase transitions. Typically, PCMs are passively integrated into building envelopes to reduce thermal demand or incorporated into HVAC systems to lower operating costs. However, these applications do not actively improve the operational efficiency of building energy systems. Considering that chillers are the most energy-intensive components in HVAC systems and their coefficient of performance (COP) is highly dependent on the partial load ratio (PLR), this study proposes an active load regulation strategy to enhance chiller energy efficiency. A PCM-based load regulator was designed to integrate with an air handling unit (AHU), charging or discharging in response to AHU load variations to maintain the chiller’s operation within a high-COP range. The energy-saving rates of four chiller brands were analyzed, showing that chillers with COP-PLR curves that rise and then fall achieved the highest energy-saving potential, with a maximum energy-saving rate of 26.19%. This study provides a valuable reference for optimizing flexible load regulation and improving energy efficiency in HVAC systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025
Editors	Claudio Zilio, Filippo Busato, Livio Mazzarella, Marco Noro
Publisher	Springer, Cham
Pages	549-554
Number of pages	6
Volume	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032068064
ISBN (Print)	9783032068057
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53
Publication status	Published - Jun 2025
Event	15th REHVA HVAC World Congress (CLIMA 2025): Decarbonized, healthy, and energy-conscious buildings in future climates - Politecnico Di Milano - Campus Bovisa, Milan, Italy Duration: 4 Jun 2025 → 6 Jun 2025 https://2025.climaworldcongress.org/

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Volume	762
ISSN (Print)	2366-2557
ISSN (Electronic)	2366-2565

Conference

Conference	15th REHVA HVAC World Congress (CLIMA 2025)
Abbreviated title	CLIMA2025
Place	Italy
City	Milan
Period	4/06/25 → 6/06/25
Internet address	https://2025.climaworldcongress.org/

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong (Project 7005973).

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Research Keywords

chiller plant
COP
Load regulation
TES system

RGC Funding Information

RGC-funded

Access Output

10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53

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Cite this

Gong, Y., Wan, H., Du, Y., & Huang, G. (2025). Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems. In C. Zilio, F. Busato, L. Mazzarella, & M. Noro (Eds.), Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025 (Vol. 1, pp. 549-554). (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering; Vol. 762). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53

Gong, Yuyang ; Wan, Hang ; Du, Yujiao et al. / Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems. Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025. editor / Claudio Zilio ; Filippo Busato ; Livio Mazzarella ; Marco Noro. Vol. 1 Springer, Cham, 2025. pp. 549-554 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering).

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title = "Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems",

abstract = "Phase change materials (PCMs) are commonly employed in TES systems due to their ability to store and release substantial latent heat during phase transitions. Typically, PCMs are passively integrated into building envelopes to reduce thermal demand or incorporated into HVAC systems to lower operating costs. However, these applications do not actively improve the operational efficiency of building energy systems. Considering that chillers are the most energy-intensive components in HVAC systems and their coefficient of performance (COP) is highly dependent on the partial load ratio (PLR), this study proposes an active load regulation strategy to enhance chiller energy efficiency. A PCM-based load regulator was designed to integrate with an air handling unit (AHU), charging or discharging in response to AHU load variations to maintain the chiller{\textquoteright}s operation within a high-COP range. The energy-saving rates of four chiller brands were analyzed, showing that chillers with COP-PLR curves that rise and then fall achieved the highest energy-saving potential, with a maximum energy-saving rate of 26.19\%. This study provides a valuable reference for optimizing flexible load regulation and improving energy efficiency in HVAC systems. {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.",

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booktitle = "Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025",

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Gong, Y, Wan, H, Du, Y & Huang, G 2025, Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems. in C Zilio, F Busato, L Mazzarella & M Noro (eds), Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025. vol. 1, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol. 762, Springer, Cham, pp. 549-554, 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress (CLIMA 2025), Milan, Italy, 4/06/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53

Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems. / Gong, Yuyang; Wan, Hang; Du, Yujiao et al.
Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025. ed. / Claudio Zilio; Filippo Busato; Livio Mazzarella; Marco Noro. Vol. 1 Springer, Cham, 2025. p. 549-554 (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering; Vol. 762).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems

AU - Gong, Yuyang

AU - Wan, Hang

AU - Du, Yujiao

AU - Huang, Gongsheng

PY - 2025/6

Y1 - 2025/6

N2 - Phase change materials (PCMs) are commonly employed in TES systems due to their ability to store and release substantial latent heat during phase transitions. Typically, PCMs are passively integrated into building envelopes to reduce thermal demand or incorporated into HVAC systems to lower operating costs. However, these applications do not actively improve the operational efficiency of building energy systems. Considering that chillers are the most energy-intensive components in HVAC systems and their coefficient of performance (COP) is highly dependent on the partial load ratio (PLR), this study proposes an active load regulation strategy to enhance chiller energy efficiency. A PCM-based load regulator was designed to integrate with an air handling unit (AHU), charging or discharging in response to AHU load variations to maintain the chiller’s operation within a high-COP range. The energy-saving rates of four chiller brands were analyzed, showing that chillers with COP-PLR curves that rise and then fall achieved the highest energy-saving potential, with a maximum energy-saving rate of 26.19%. This study provides a valuable reference for optimizing flexible load regulation and improving energy efficiency in HVAC systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

AB - Phase change materials (PCMs) are commonly employed in TES systems due to their ability to store and release substantial latent heat during phase transitions. Typically, PCMs are passively integrated into building envelopes to reduce thermal demand or incorporated into HVAC systems to lower operating costs. However, these applications do not actively improve the operational efficiency of building energy systems. Considering that chillers are the most energy-intensive components in HVAC systems and their coefficient of performance (COP) is highly dependent on the partial load ratio (PLR), this study proposes an active load regulation strategy to enhance chiller energy efficiency. A PCM-based load regulator was designed to integrate with an air handling unit (AHU), charging or discharging in response to AHU load variations to maintain the chiller’s operation within a high-COP range. The energy-saving rates of four chiller brands were analyzed, showing that chillers with COP-PLR curves that rise and then fall achieved the highest energy-saving potential, with a maximum energy-saving rate of 26.19%. This study provides a valuable reference for optimizing flexible load regulation and improving energy efficiency in HVAC systems. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

KW - chiller plant

KW - COP

KW - Load regulation

KW - TES system

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DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-06806-4_53

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 9783032068057

VL - 1

T3 - Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering

SP - 549

EP - 554

BT - Proceedings of the 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress - CLIMA 2025

A2 - Zilio, Claudio

A2 - Busato, Filippo

A2 - Mazzarella, Livio

A2 - Noro, Marco

PB - Springer, Cham

T2 - 15th REHVA HVAC World Congress (CLIMA 2025)

Y2 - 4 June 2025 through 6 June 2025

ER -

Research and Development of Active Load Regulation Strategy and PCM-Based Load Regulator for HVAC Systems

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

RGC Funding Information

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