Development of a Heuristic Control Algorithm for Improving Energy Efficiency in Commercial Refrigerated Systems without Indoor Information

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper is adequate for publication.

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  1. What is the main question addressed by the research? The main question addressed by the paper is the use of heuristic algorithms to predict the thermal behaviour of split air conditioning systems.
2. Do you consider the topic original or relevant in the field? Does it
address a specific gap in the field? The topic is relevant to the field and fills a gap in the energy modelling of small air conditioning systems.
3. What does it add to the subject area compared with other published
material? It provides a new insight in the use of Monte Carlo methodology for thermal behaviour of small air conditioning systems.
4. What specific improvements should the authors consider regarding the
methodology? What further controls should be considered? The paper uses a classic approach for the Monte Carlo methodology that could be improved by adding optimization techniques with IA such neural networks or digital twins.
5. Are the conclusions consistent with the evidence and arguments presented
and do they address the main question posed? The conclusions are consistent with evidence and the main question is well addressed.
6. Are the references appropriate? The references are appropriate.
7. Please include any additional comments on the tables and figures.   No further comments at the moment.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors

Your article provides an intriguing perspective on optimizing energy efficiency in commercial refrigeration systems. It is evident that the writing has been meticulously crafted, and the concepts are presented clearly. However, I would like to suggest some areas that may require further consideration and clarification.

 

Performance Evaluation in a Laboratory Setting: The article conducted performance evaluation in a laboratory setting. While the results obtained are promising, it would be useful to clarify the potential implications of transitioning from a laboratory environment to real and dynamic scenarios. How would your algorithm perform in real-world situations where external conditions could vary considerably?

Assumptions and Simplifications: The effectiveness of your algorithm is based on specific assumptions and simplifications, such as constant external conditions and simplified control models. In practical reality, commercial refrigeration systems often face more complex and variable situations. It would be beneficial to discuss how these assumptions might impact the applicability of your algorithm in real-world contexts and provide suggestions on how to address related challenges."

Further justifications are also required:

Clarify the introduction:

a)  Introduce the article with a more detailed overview of the context and specific challenges addressed in the commercial refrigeration systems sector.

b)   Emphasize the importance and relevance of the addressed problem to motivate readers.

Elaborate on the Algorithm

c)       Provide a more in-depth explanation of the proposed algorithm, including key steps and fundamental concepts.

d)      Integrate numerical examples or illustrations to enhance understanding for users with varying levels of technical familiarity.

Include Equations and Formulas:

e)      Incorporate all mathematical equations or formulas underlying the algorithm, presented clearly and well-formatted.

f)        Ensure that equations are annotated to be comprehensible even to non-specialized readers.

Experimental Results:

g)       Expand the section on experimental results with more quantitative details, such as specific numerical data.

h)      Utilize graphs and tables to clearly visualize the algorithm's performance under different conditions or scenarios.

i)        Consider including detailed case studies to highlight the applicability and effectiveness of the algorithm in real-world contexts.

 

 

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors!

1. This paper represents an interesting work of development of a heuristic control algorithm for improving energy efficiency in commercial refrigerated systems without indoor information.

I consider the work presented well-structured and I propose only a minor review, hoping that the suggestions I propose can improve the quality of the document.

2. I consider the topic relevant in the field of the energy efficiency. This study fills a specific gap in this field. This study aims to address a specific gap in this field.

3. Study adds the experimental results of heuristic energy efficiency improvement algorithm without indoor information.

4. The performance index needs to be better explained of the experimental results of heuristic energy efficiency improvement algorithm without indoor information.

5. In conclusion, it is necessary to present the specific results (what increased or decreased, by how much, etc.) presented in the paper.

6. All references are appropriate.

7. Figures 1, 7 are not clear, please revise them.

Good luck!

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Check the English.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors should include a clear statement of their goal and research questions, as well as more recent literature on the topic.

The authors could provide more specific examples of the challenges faced by commercial refrigeration systems in the era of climate change.

The authors should consider conducting further experiments to validate the algorithm's performance under different operating conditions and describe any limitations they identify.

The authors should investigate the sensitivity of the algorithm's performance to the choice of parameters, such as the number of Monte Carlo iterations, and describe any limitations they identify.

The authors could discuss the potential for commercializing the proposed algorithm.

The authors could acknowledge the limitations of their study and suggest directions for future research.

 

 

 

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The overall quality of the English language in the provided text is good.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf