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• The latest update of jEPlus (ver. 0.5b) (multi-thread bug fixed) is now available to download!
• Presentation at CIBSE Intelligent Buildings Group seminar Evolution and the Optimum Design of Buildings (20/10/2009, London Programme) is available here (PDF, 6,108KB)
• Abstract and presentation at the NCEUB Autumn Conference (Edinburgh, September 2009) is available here

Dr. Yi Zhang
Senior Research Fellow

Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development,
De Montfort University,
Queens Building, The Gateway,
Leicester, LE1 9BH
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)116 2078712
Fax: +44 (0)116 2577981
Email: yizhang@dmu.ac.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/zyyz_2000
Website: http://www.iesd.dmu.ac.uk/~yzhang/

I joined the IESD as a Research Fellow in January 2004 to work on the research project “Optimal Supervisory Control of Renewable Energy Systems in Buildings” (EPSRC GR/S30467/01). The project investigated the application of optimization algorithms in model-based predictive control strategies, to tackle the complex dynamics of the renewable energy systems in buildings. In 2006, I was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow to continue my research in building simulation and optimization.

I got my PhD in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University. Between 2000-2003, I was working on the project entitled “Building System Design Synthesis and Optimization” (ASHRAE RP-1049). The innovative aspect of this work was the use of topological optimization to automatically generate conceptual designs for air-conditioning systems. The research provided the first step towards the optimal design of the whole building. This work has also won an “Honourable Mention” award in the “2005 Human-Competitive Results” competition.

I graduated from Tsinghua University in 1995 with BEng degrees in HVAC&R Engineering and Environmental Engineering. My MSc degree was obtained from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC, previously known as the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine) in 1998. My work there included the development of a personal indoor thermal environment monitor. Between 1999 and 2000, I spent 12 months as a visiting researcher in the International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy of the Technical University of Denmark, where I participated in the EU project “Uncertainty of Draught Measurement with Thermal Anemometers”.

For a brief period of time (9 months) between 1998 and 1999, I worked as a software engineer for an IT company developing operating systems for cash machines (ATM). I cannot quite remember the magic word, though. It was something like “open, watermelon …”

My research interests include computer modelling and optimization, particularly in the areas of building and HVAC system design, and human thermal comfort. I am currently responsible for the further development of the IESD-Fiala model, which was originally developed in the Institute in the 1990s. Over the years the model has been enhanced and validated extensively. It is now one of the most advanced human thermal regulatory models in existence. Latest development of the Fiala model focuses on two directions: individualization and integration. More details of the model can be found in the “Projects” and “Software” section.

• CityNet - EU FP6 Marie-Curie Research Training Network
• DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus + Optimization - DesignBuilder Software Ltd.
• Optimal Supervisory Control - EPSRC
• Building System Synthesis and Optimization - ASHRAE

• Ageing and Thermal Comfort Modelling - De Montfort University
• Development of Software Tools
• Web-based Questionnaire - ICIEE, Technical University of Denmark

• IESD-Fiala model - Multi-nodal human thermal regulatory model originally developed by Dr Dusan Fiala at the Institute in 1995-2006
• Matlab/Simulink models for the BrocksHill Visitor Centre - Model of the building and the energy system developed as part of the EPSRC project
• Psychrometric models of secondary HVAC components - developed as part of the ASHRAE RP1049 project

• jEPlus - the Java EnergyPlus shell that supports parametric study and multi-processor platforms
• jCFX5 - the Java shell for Ansys CFX (version 5 and above). It can be used for parametric studies using CFD models
• jFiala - a Java implementation (therefore supports multiple platforms) of the IESD-Fiala model
• EA_Java - an JDEAL-based Evolutionary Algorithm package. Significant extensions include graph encoding and many new operators
• WebQuest - a tool kit for designing questionnaires for thermal comfort or IEQ surveys. It is completely written in Java, and suitable for local network deployment
• More Java tools - miscellaneous Java tools including a weather forecast retriever

• Psychrometric Calculator - A pocket psychrometric calculator (runs on Java-enabled mobile phones) for HVAC engineers
• PMV/PPD Calculator - this mobile phone utility calculates ISO7730 PMV/PPD indices for given environmental conditions

• Zhang, Y. (2009) “‘Parallel’ EnergyPlus and the development of a parametric analysis tool”, IBPSA BS2009, 27–30 July 2009, Glasgow, UK pdf
• Zhang, Y., Novieto, D.T., Ji, Y. (2009) “Human Environmental Heat Transfer Simulation With CFD – The Advances And Challenges”, IBPSA BS2009, 27–30 July 2009, Glasgow, UK pdf
• Wright, J. A., Zhang, Y. (2008) “The Minimum Capacity of HVAC Secondary Systems (with Capacity Reduction by Inter-zonal Air-flow)”, HVAC&R Research, Vol. 14(3):397-416 link
• Wright, J. A., Zhang, Y. (2008) “Evolutionary Synthesis of HVAC System Configurations: Experimental Results”, HVAC&R Research, Vol. 14(1):57-72, link
• Wright, J. A., Zhang, Y., Angelov, P.P., Buswell, R. A., Hanby, V. I. (2008) “Evolutionary Synthesis of HVAC System Configurations: Algorithm Development (RP1049)”, HVAC&R Research, Vol. 14(1):33-55, link
• Zhang, Y., Hanby, V. I. (2007) “Short-Term Prediction of Weather Parameters Using Online Weather Forecasts”, IBPSA BS’2007, 3 – 6 September 2007, Beijing, China, pp. 1411-1416, pdf
• Zhang, Y., Wright, J. A., Hanby, V. I. (2006) “Energy aspects of HVAC system configurations – problem definition and test cases”, HVAC&R Research Special Issue, Vol. 12(3c):871-888, ISSN: 1078-9669, link
• Zhang, Y., Hanby, V. I. (2006) “Model-Based Control of Renewable Energy Systems in Buildings”, HVAC&R Research Special Issue, Vol. 12(3a):577-598, ISSN: 1078-9669 link
• Zhang, Y. (2005) “Synthesis of Optimum HVAC System Configurations by Evolutionary Algorithm”, PhD thesis, Loughborough University, UK, pdf

... More publications

The Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development

De Montfort University

Department of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University

International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark

Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Tsinghua University