A sensor-driven physics-informed neural network for real-time occupant-centric space heating control

Yunfei Bai, Chenghao Li, Sunku Prasad Jenne, Hao Wang, Sizhe Zhang +1

Conventional space heating systems typically rely on single or sparse fixed-point temperature measurements, overlooking non-uniform indoor temperature distributions, transient thermal dynamics, and occupant-specific comfort requirements. This study explores an occupant-centric control strategy that aims to maintain the desired temperature around the occupant location. Spatially and temporally varying temperature fields, together with occupant mobility, make real-time local temperature estimation challenging. To address this challenge, we propose a control-oriented Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) model for indoor temperature-field prediction. Conventional PINNs rely on explicit time inputs and assume consistent temporal patterns across samples, which limits adaptability under variable initial conditions and heating sequences. The proposed model infers temporal dynamics implicitly from spatial coordinates and limited sensor measurements, improving robustness to changes in initial conditions and external disturbances. The method was validated across nine horizontal sensing planes in three controlled room-scale configurations. Against a validated COMSOL Multiphysics…