English

In this work two numerical models are presented. The first one simulates the buildings thermal response and evaluates the internal air quality, while the second one simulates the human and clothing thermal systems and calculates the thermal comfort level in non-uniform environments.

The aim of the presented work is to refine the ESP-r system by incorporating phase change materials (PCM) modelling. The behaviour of PCMs is modelled using ESP-r’s special materials facility. The effect of phase transition is added to the energy balance equation as a latent heat generation term according to the so-called effective heat capacity method. Numerical simulations were conducted for a multi-zone, highly glazed and naturally ventilated passive solar building. PCM impregnated gypsum plasterboard was used as an internal room lining.

Present  international  standard  for  thermal  comfort such as ASHRAE Standard 55 and ISO 7730 were developed to serve as a guideline for moderate thermal environments e.g. mechanically air- conditioned spaces [CEN ISO 1995]. Recent thermal comfort studies had reported that some discrepancies were observed in its application for Naturally Ventilated (NV) buildings in hot and humid tropical climate [Feriadi et.al 2003]. The standard  failed  to take into considerations tolerance and different perception of thermal comfort from different environmental setting.

In tropical humid climate, thermal environment can be controlled using natural ventilation. But this technic raises the problem of acoustic comfort. Some technical devices coping with aeraulic and acoustic comfort constraints exist but they are not suitable in all economic context. Thus the urban research is exploring built configurations performances for future urban planning. This article  presents an exploratory simulation method of these physical parameters, and analyses results of two guadeloupean urban fabric tests.

This paper describes modelling and simulation of a space with radiant cooling ceiling (CC). The computer model represents a      test chamber,  which is located in a laboratory of  the  Department of Environmental   Engineering in Prague. The simulation  results  were  obtained  with  the ESP-r  software. These   results   will   be used   for comparison with experimental data. The main goal is to determine conditions of thermal comfort of occupants in a room with cooling ceiling and various heat gains. The paper also presents the influence of the room height on thermal comfort.

Whole building simulation may play a key role in the optimization and assessment of the market potential of new building components. In the SOLVENT Project, ESP-r was used for such purposes, in the case applied to a new reversible ventilated window. The innovative character of the window required the development of a specific simulation approach within ESP-r, in order to account for buoyancy in the air channel. A multi-zone approach with an air flow network was developed, and several variations studied.

We define building systems as systems that not only consist of the load bearing building structure and its environment, the service systems (installations), and the control systems, but also include building usage and users. Our ultimate goal is a virtual building labo- ratory for the concurrent simulation of all components of such building systems. This will be an extension of performance simulators.

This   article   presents   a   simulation   method   for predicting the long-term energy performance of a central air-conditioning system serving interior zones of buildings with similar daily cooling load profiles. The method is based on a multiple psychrometric analysis of the system, frequency-based climate model, and a measured daily cooling load profile. Comparison  with  existing simulation  software  is discussed.

The   Industry   Foundation   Classes   (IFC)   has established a standard for defining interchangeable data formats among various computer models in  Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) domains. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to make their data models compliant to the IFC standard through either adopting new data structures or creating bridges that can convert IFC data to be used by the various proprietary models.