IBPSA1995

Visualize-ITTM is a visual data analysis tool kit. RLW Analytics has developed a number of specific data visualization tools for the study of the total load and end-use data produced by the DOE 2.1 building simulation package. The Visualize-ITTM DOE-2 Calibration Tool is designed to allow an analyst to calibrate simulation results against metered total load or end-use data. These data visualization techniques allow the user to quickly and easily view and analyze data sets that can contain several hundred thousand data points. 

The volume of annual, monthly, and hourly simulation output developed by building simulation packages such as DOE-2.1 presents the building modeler with significant challenges. Developing hourly total load and end-use estimates of building performance calibrated to 15 minute or hourly metered total load or end use data requires new analytic tools that allow the modeler to quickly review the results and make iterative changes to the models.

This paper introduces a new approach towards the assessment of thermal building performance. As a specific aspect of overall building performance, thermal comfort performance is examined in detail. Two issues have been addressed. Firstly, two comfort performance measures, frequently used in Dutch practice, are analyzed and a directive for the assessment of a better comfort performance measure is discussed. Secondly, a probabilistic simulation experiment has been performed that reveals the adequacy of the present day practice.

The objective of this paper is to present an overview of the latest developrnents of the CSTB R&D program Intelligent Simulation Environment (ISE). This project tackles; the problem of fácilitating the transfer of technologies from the research centers to engineers in consulting offices dealing with building related issues (indoor air quality, energy consumption, acoustics, structural analysis, etc.). 

The primary purpose of this paper is to discuss the needs and expectations concerning simulation analysis and evaluation tools from the viewpoint of the design process. The main q questions arising from this viewpoint are those considering the nature of energy use in the building sector as a factor of decision making, building design and sonte of its charac teristics as an information process, and the value added to a particular design by the utilisation of simulation tools.

Thermal bridge (cold bridge) assessment is becoming more important for two reasons: firstly, as legislation and energy awareness lead to increased insulation levels, so losses due to cold bridging form an increasing fraction of building heat losses; and secondly, condensation and mould growth are increasingly a focus for environmental health concern. This paper describes two recent developments aimed at improving thermal bridge assessment. The first is the EUROKOBRA thermal bridge atlas, which was developed with the aim of giving designers an easy to use, flexible, assessment, tool.

The paper presents the results of the simulation of the energy performance of underground buildings variously insulated, in two different climates. The long-term unsteady thermal processes between the building and surrounding soil are considered together with the heat transfer at the ground surface throughout the year. Presented results include the time and space distribution of the heat flow between the building and surrounding soil at different time intervals and during the whole year for various insulation patterns, and the heat flows through the ground surfáce.

This paper describes the implementation of a computational fluid dynamic algorithm within the ESP-r building energy modelling system. While the implementation is specific to ESP-r the conflation approach is general and could be applied to other building performance appraisal programs. The paper also presents an example application to indicate the potential effects of the enhanced modelling resolution and some of the new issues to emerge.

The Heat Balance Loads Calculator (HBLC) is a powerful software tool for calculating heating and cooling loads for buildings. It allows the user to access complex heat-balance algorithms using a Windows interface. Geometric inputs are entered graphically using intuitive click-and-drag mouse functions. HBLC creates an input file for the Building Loads Analysis and System Thermodynamics simulation program (BLAST), making some of the most powerful and accurate algorithms for calculating heating and cooling loads available through a símple, Windows-based program.