Chilled Water System Control, Simulation, and Visualization Using Java Multi-Agent System

This paper describes a multi-agent application for control of a simulated shipboard chilled water system (CWS) implemented in Java language. The multi-agent approach provides robustness, flexibility, and scalability. Elements of the CWS are represented by three types of agents. Agents of type “Chiller” provide cold water, agents “Service” require cold water, and agents “Valve” connect segments of water piping system. Agents take actions to dynamically create cooling paths, which enables agents “Service” to stay close to their required temperature. Ability to isolate a leakage, when it occurs, to keep other parts of the system healthy, is another feature of the system. The graphical user interface of the application allows a user to watch running processes in the system as well as edit the system configuration.