IBPSA2011

In this paper, numerical building energy simulations were  carried  out  with  weather  data  for  Karasjok,  Stuttgart  and  Seville,  to  evaluate  the  energy  saving potential of a floor with integrated PCM panels.  The  reference  case  was  a  lightweight  wood  frame  floor  construction.  The  effect  of  adding  different thicknesses  of  PCM,  concrete  and  wood  was  investigated. The main conclusions are: 

--There  is  a  significant  energy  saving potential  by  adding  thermal  mass  in  the  warmer climates in Stuttgart and Seville. 

This paper describes the full scale tests for air flows in a test chamber subject to heat loads generated by human occupancy and equipment. The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique was used to investigate buoyancy-driven flows near the human thermal manikin “Victoria”. Based on the experimental facility details, a full scale 3-D CFD model of the test facility was generated. The results obtained from the CFD simulation were compared with data obtained from the PIV results. Results compare very well and demonstrate the potential usefulness of PIV as a CFD validation technique.  

A simulation study was undertaken to assess the effects of vegetated walls on the thermal performance of a building. A thermal model of climbing plants was formulated using ECOTECT environmental simulation software and was validated against the data obtained by field measurements. This model was applied to a further simulation study and the results showed that plant cover improved indoor thermal comfort in both summer and winter, and reduced heat gains and losses through the wall structure.

Energy savings in the residential area are essential in order to achieve the overall goal for energy savings outlined in the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. This was adopted by the European Parliament in 2010. Unfortunately, the large focus on energy performance has reduced the focus on indoor environment. This has, among other problems, resulted in problems with overheated buildings. Therefore, a need for a simple and cheap method for evaluation of possible problems with overheating has arisen among the designers.

This paper evaluates the daylighting performance of a prototype external dynamic integrated shading and light redirecting system. The demonstration project was carried out on a building with an open-plan office. The prototype and original façades were placed on the same floor with the same orientation and similar surroundings. The existing façade was used as the reference for measurements and simulations. The focus of this research project was to employ available simulation tools for the system performance evaluation.

The insulation glass unit as a part of a window plays a key role in the design of low energy buildings. The paper focuses on a selection of glass units and the analysis of their contribution to the design of a low-energy school in Slovak climate conditions. The analysis was performed using “Designbuilder” software. The glass units were used in simulations with an emphasis placed on maximizing heat gains while minimizing heat losses in winter and minimizing heat gains in summer.

The paper presents a comparison of the simulation results and measured operating parameters of building in Slovakia. Attention is paid to the overall energy performance of the building during annual operations. Paper contains basic information on the building, technical equipment, design, material solutions as well as information from in-situ measurements. Paper presents simulation results of the building under the boundary conditions obtained from measuring in-situ. Energy performance of buildings during the actual operation and simulation are  generally identical.

As the solar thermal system with the floor heating and the hot-water supply system need low temperature of 40-50 degC, the effectiveness of solar collector is high. However, in the summer season, floor heating is unnecessary, and so there emerges a lot of surplus solar heat. By utilizing such surplus heat in summer as heat source for desiccant dehumidification activated with hot water at a temperature of about 70 degC 1) , it would be possible to use a solar heat collecting system efficiently all year round.

In an international simulation study, the measures to be taken with an example retrofit building at different locations were quantified in order to reach the energy demand goal of 30 to 50 kWh/m2 a of primary energy for heating, ventilation and domestic hot water production. A systematic difference in the results from the simplified and the detailed calculation tools for the building "as is" at its original location could be identified mainly by the different treatment of losses to unheated spaces.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy conservation potential of an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system integrated with an indirect and direct evaporative cooling assisted 100% outdoor air system (IDECOAS) in hot and humid climate. It is assumed that an office space is served by five different HVAC systems. Energy simulation for each system was performed using a commercial equation solver program, and the operating energy consumption in each system is compared.