IBPSA2007

The properties of transparent plaster covering transparent insulation materials (TIM) were investigated using a whole building simulation program (ESP-r). The outer plaster was made from glass balls of different diameter, glued together with synthetic resin. The transmittance of the whole transparent covering layer (plaster + TIM) was estimated for different solar incident angles by laboratory measurements. The innovative character of the materials required refining of ESP-r’s optical database in order to take into account these new characteristics.

A new set of climatic data for different kinds of calculations has been compiled for various Swiss localities. This includes the generation of new design reference year data sets with hourly values for e.g. building simulations. The procedure conforms to a set of new European standards describing the algorithms. One key element in this is the processing of solar radiation information, especially for the separation into direct and diffuse components. The most advanced methodology was used.

Rainfall simulation is key problem for the evaluation of the energy saving potential of passive cooling by natural rainfall evaporation in humid and hot areas. This paper used a set of monthly, daily and hourly rainfall data in Guangzhou Area to identify the statistic feathers and distribution of the monthly, daily and hourly rainfall. A one-order AR model was found to be suitable for monthly rainfall estimation by AIC criterion judgment. Using a Gamma distribution model and monthly rainfall, daily rainfall was estimated by stochastically assignment.

Rainfall simulation is a key problem for the evaluation of the energy saving potential of passive cooling by natural rainfall evaporation in humid and hot areas. Using a set of data in Guangzhou Area from weather bureau as the training sample, and the data generated by Medpha (Meteorological Data Producer for HVAC Analysis) as the testing sample, distance discriminant analysis was applied to identify the rainy time.

“Energy performance of buildings” estensive international research activities have been carried out on the elaboration and adoption of standards containing common methodologies for building energy performance assessment. One important item concerns the definition of a simplified method for the calculation of energy use for space heating and cooling (ISO/FDIS 13790). A simplified quasi-steady state calculation method is presented in this standard.

Weather prediction is considered to be essential for the predictive control of HVAC systems in which dynamic components, such as a thermal storage tank or heavy building envelope, exist. This paper proposes a method for revising the prior prediction of ambient temperature and humidity by combining two additionally available different data sources, i.e., observations at the building site and forecasts from a weather station.

Objective of this study is to evaluate the cooling potential of buried pipes and a derivative thereof, for buildings situated in Brazilian climate. In a first step, the cooling potential of these techniques is characterized independently of any building dynamic, in terms of the available temperature differential relatively to a specified comfort set point, with simulation performed by way of a specific model.

The paper discusses the concept of an adaptive thermal comfort design methodology and its impact on the selection, design and performance of climate control systems for large public spaces with transient occupancy in hot and humid climates. It outlines the design methodology which is based on providing localised comfort conditions to zones within a building based on its occupancy patterns, activity of occupants and acceptable thermal comfort criteria. The methodology focuses on quantifying the collective impact of space operating parameters on the thermal comfort of its occupants.

Given the major role played by windows with regard to energy losses and gains from buildings in respectively cold and hot climates, accurate prediction of the heat transfer through its glazing materials is of great importance in building energy simulation. In most of the building energy simulation programs, solar radiation absorption inside glazing layers is usually treated considering that all the radiation is uniformly absorbed in the glazing.

It is well known that humidity influences cooling load, thermal comfort and durability of buildings and various items in them. Many works on prediction of humidity variation in a room have regarded the humidity as unique in a space. However, it does depend on air movement. This paper describes calculations of minute moisture distributions in a room affected by moisture buffering of porous walls. The air velocity distribution is calculated by CFD using two different turbulence models. Then the heat and vapor transient transport in walls and space is calculated.