The short-term demand response potential and thermal characteristics of a ventilated floor heating system in a nearly zero energy building

Exploiting the thermal storage of building thermal mass is promising to increase the load shifting capacity. In this study, the energy consumption and thermal performance of a novel ventilated electric heating floor in a nearly zero-energy building in an extremely cold region in China were investigated. The numerical model of the heating system was first established and validated, then the energy consumption over one month were simulated through a rule-based control strategy in a traditional power system and a system with demand response, meanwhile, the impact of key structural and operational parameters was also analyzed. Results show that the energy consumption flexibility can be significantly increased through ventilation in both energy systems. Specifically, when ventilation is on throughout the period in the first energy system, the sum of energy consumption is reduced by 62.3% compared to that under non-ventilation mode. In the second energy system, the consumed energy can be reduced through ventilation in downward demand response period by 26.1%, and the energy storage is increased in upward demand response period by 4.6%. Besides, thermal stability can be increased through ventilation, and heat recovery time is reduced.