VINCI Energies, QuantumBasel, and D-Wave have collaborated on a project to optimise the design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for complex buildings using quantum computing. The project’s first phase successfully transformed the complex HVAC network generation problem into a constrained quadratic model (CQM), which was then processed by D-Wave’s hybrid solvers. The new approach yielded solutions more quickly with shorter duct lengths and fewer construction elements. The results were based on one representative building plan and diverse HVAC systems, setting the stage for broader application in the industry.
International Collaboration for Quantum Computing in HVAC System Design
A collaborative project involving VINCI Energies, uptownBasel | QuantumBasel, and D-Wave has made significant strides in sustainable building design. The project, a quantum proof of concept (qPoC), aimed to optimize the design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for complex buildings. The first phase of the project successfully transformed the complex HVAC network generation problem into a constrained quadratic model (CQM), a task potentially efficiently solvable by D-Wave’s quantum-classical hybrid solvers. This marked a significant shift from traditional computational methods to a more innovative, quantum-classical hybrid approach.
Implementation and Experimentation Phase
The implementation and experimentation phase saw the CQM translated into Python code and processed by D-Wave’s hybrid solvers. These solvers, utilizing both classical and quantum devices, identified superior HVAC network designs, outperforming the existing data-driven method in significant ways. The new approach yielded solutions more quickly with shorter duct lengths and fewer construction elements, such as elbows. Subject matter experts from VINCI Energies visually and manually inspected these solutions, confirming their superiority in terms of quality. These results were based on one representative building plan and diverse HVAC systems, setting the stage for broader application in the industry.
Interdisciplinary Team and Global Collaboration
A crucial factor in the project’s success was the interdisciplinary team. Team members from Europe (Switzerland, France, Germany) and North America (Canada, USA) brought specialized knowledge and experience, resulting in rapid progress and efficient problem-solving. This global team operated seamlessly through collaboration tools, demonstrating the power of virtual teamwork in achieving cutting-edge innovation.
Future Focus and Business Impact
As the project moves forward, the focus will shift to translating these technical improvements into tangible business impact, such as reduced computation time and less manual engineering effort. This quantum computing project stands as a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in driving sustainable and efficient solutions in building design. It marks another important step towards a more sustainable future, in which human expertise and technology join forces to create environmentally friendly and cost-effective building solutions.
VINCI Energies is a company that contributes to the environmental transition by helping bring about major trends in the digital landscape and energy sector. VINCI Energies’ teams roll out technologies and integrate customized multi-technical solutions, from design to implementation, operation, and maintenance. With their strong local roots and agile and innovative structure, VINCI Energies’ 1,900 business units have positioned themselves at the heart of the energy choices of their customers, boosting the reliability, efficiency and sustainability of their infrastructure and processes.
uptownBasel serves as a global hub for Industry 4.0, seamlessly connected to the world while firmly rooted in Basel, Europe. QuantumBasel, a wholly owned subsidiary of the uptownBasel Group, runs “QuantumBasel” its Center of Competence for Quantum and Artificial Intelligence and the first commercial quantum hub in Switzerland. Collaborating with esteemed technology partners like IBM, D-Wave, and IonQ, QuantumBasel is also expanding its global network to encompass research institutes and universities.
This quantum computing project stands as a testament to the power of collaborative innovation in driving sustainable and efficient solutions in building design. It marks another important step towards a more sustainable future, in which human expertise and technology join forces to create environmentally friendly and cost-effective building solutions.
Summary
An international collaboration has successfully used quantum computing to optimise the design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for complex buildings, resulting in quicker solutions with fewer construction elements. This innovative approach, which combines quantum and classical computing, could have broader applications in the industry, potentially reducing computation time and manual engineering effort.
- An international collaboration between VINCI Energies, QuantumBasel, and D-Wave has made significant strides in sustainable building design using quantum computing.
- The project focused on optimising the design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for complex buildings.
- The first phase of the project successfully transformed the complex HVAC network generation problem into a constrained quadratic model (CQM), which was then processed by D-Wave’s quantum-classical hybrid solvers.
- The new approach outperformed existing methods, producing superior HVAC network designs more quickly, with shorter duct lengths and fewer construction elements.
- The results were based on one representative building plan and diverse HVAC systems, indicating potential for broader application in the industry.
- The project’s success was attributed to the interdisciplinary team from Europe and North America, who brought specialised knowledge and experience.
- As the project progresses, the focus will shift to translating these technical improvements into tangible business impact, such as reduced computation time and less manual engineering effort.
- The project demonstrates the potential of collaborative innovation in driving sustainable and efficient solutions in building design, marking a step towards a more sustainable future.
