Configuration

The project uses Gin configuration files (*.gin) to manage simulation settings, reward function parameters, and environment configurations.

1. Gin Configuration Files

Gin is a lightweight configuration framework for Python that allows parameter bindings via configuration files or command-line arguments.

Structure of Gin Files

• Parameter Definitions: Define values for various parameters used throughout the simulation.
• Function and Class Bindings: Bind parameters to specific functions and classes.
• References: Use @ to reference functions or classes, and % to reference parameters.

Example from a Gin File

To illustrate, here is an example of a Gin configuration:

# paths
controller_reader.ProtoReader.input_dir = @get_histogram_path()
floor_plan_filepath = @get_zone_path()
zone_map_filepath = @get_zone_path()
metrics_path = @get_metrics_path()

2. Key Configuration Parameters

Simulation Parameters

• Weather Conditions:
  • convection_coefficient: Coefficient for heat convection between the building and the environment.
  • ambient_high_temp, ambient_low_temp: High and low ambient temperatures for sinusoidal temperature variation.
• Building Properties:
  • control_volume_cm: Size of the control volume in centimeters.
  • floor_height_cm: Height of each floor.
  • initial_temp: Initial temperature inside the building.
  • exterior_cv_conductivity, exterior_cv_density, exterior_cv_heat_capacity: Thermal properties of the exterior building.
  • interior_wall_cv_conductivity, interior_wall_cv_density, interior_wall_cv_heat_capacity: Thermal properties of the interior walls.
  • interior_cv_conductivity, interior_cv_density, interior_cv_heat_capacity: Thermal properties of the interior air.
• HVAC Settings:
  • water_pump_differential_head, water_pump_efficiency: Parameters for the water pump.
  • reheat_water_setpoint: Setpoint temperature for reheating water.
  • boiler_heating_rate, boiler_cooling_rate: Heating and cooling rates for the boiler.
  • fan_differential_pressure, fan_efficiency: Parameters for the HVAC fan.
  • air_handler_heating_setpoint, air_handler_cooling_setpoint: Temperature setpoints for the air handler.
  • air_handler_recirculation_ratio: Recirculation ratio for the air handler.
  • vav_max_air_flowrate, vav_reheat_water_flowrate: Maximum flow rates for VAV boxes.
• Occupancy Model:
  • morning_start_hour, evening_start_hour: Hours defining the occupancy schedule.
  • heating_setpoint_day, cooling_setpoint_day: Setpoints during the day.
  • heating_setpoint_night, cooling_setpoint_night: Setpoints during the night.
  • work_occupancy, nonwork_occupancy: Occupancy levels during work and non-work hours.
  • earliest_expected_arrival_hour, latest_expected_arrival_hour: Arrival times.
  • earliest_expected_departure_hour, latest_expected_departure_hour: Departure times.
• Time Settings:
  • time_step_sec: Simulation time step in seconds.
  • start_timestamp: Start time of the simulation.
  • time_zone: Time zone for the simulation.

Reward Function Parameters

• max_productivity_personhour_usd, min_productivity_personhour_usd: Productivity per person-hour.
• productivity_midpoint_delta, productivity_decay_stiffness: Parameters for productivity decay curve.
• max_electricity_rate, max_natural_gas_rate: Maximum energy rates for normalization.
• productivity_weight, energy_cost_weight, carbon_emission_weight: Weights for reward components.

Action Normalization Parameters

• Supply Water Setpoint:
  • min_normalized_value, max_normalized_value: Normalized action value range.
  • min_native_value, max_native_value: Native action value range (e.g., temperature in Kelvin).
• Supply Air Heating Temperature Setpoint:
  • Similar normalization parameters as above.

Observation Normalization Parameters

• Per-Measurement Normalizers:
  • For each measurement (e.g., building_air_static_pressure_sensor, cooling_percentage_command), define:
    • field_id: Identifier for the field.
    • sample_mean: Mean value used for normalization.
    • sample_variance: Variance used for normalization.

Environment Parameters

• discount_factor: Discount factor for future rewards.
• num_days_in_episode: Number of days in an episode.
• metrics_reporting_interval: Interval for reporting metrics.
• label: Label for the simulation or environment.
• num_hod_features, num_dow_features: Number of hour-of-day and day-of-week features.

Bindings and References

Bind classes and functions to configured parameters, for example:

sim_building/TFSimulator:
  building = @sim/FloorPlanBasedBuilding()
  hvac = @sim/FloorPlanBasedHvac()
  weather_controller = %weather_controller
  time_step_sec = %time_step_sec
  convergence_threshold = %convergence_threshold
  iteration_limit = %iteration_limit
  iteration_warning = %iteration_warning
  start_timestamp = @sim/to_timestamp()

Reference parameters using % and functions or classes using @.

---

Back to Home