Building Retrofitting through Coupling of Building Energy Simulation-Optimization Tool with CFD and Daylight Programs

Abstract

Simultaneous satisfaction of both thermal and visual comfort in buildings may be a challenging task. Therefore, this paper suggests a comprehensive framework for the building energy optimization process integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) daylight simulations. A building energy simulation tool, IDA Indoor Climate and Energy (IDA-ICE), was coupled with three open-source tools including GenOpt, OpenFOAM, and Radiance. In the optimization phase, several design variables i.e., building envelope properties, fenestration parameters, and Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system set points, were selected to minimize the total building energy use and simultaneously improve thermal and visual comfort. Two different scenarios were investigated for retrofitting of a generic office building located in Oslo, Norway. In the first scenario a constant air volume (CAV) ventilation system with a local radiator in each zone was used, while an all-air system equipped with a demand control ventilation (DCV) was applied in the second scenario. Findings showed that, compared to the reference design, significant reduction of total building energy use, around 77% and 79% in the first and second scenarios, was achieved respectively, and thermal and visual comfort conditions were also improved considerably. However, the overall thermal and visual comfort satisfactions were higher when all-air system was applied.

Assessing the Energy, Indoor Air Quality, and Moisture Performance for a Three-Story Building Using an Integrated Model, Part Two: Integrating the Indoor Air Quality, Moisture, and Thermal Comfort

“…A paired sample t-test is performed as a statistical verification method in two steps: (1) paired samples' differences and (2) paired samples' correlations. Each simulated and actual data are compared with each other during these two steps using the paired sample t-test method and when the results of these comparisons are positive, the accuracy of the integrated model is confirmed and verified as per the References [3,4,59]. The results of the paired samples' differences and paired samples' correlations analysis for the simulated and actual data for the case of the leaky-fan on in Vancouver are shown in Tables 5 and 6, respectively.…”

“…Residents' satisfaction with the thermal condition of the indoor environment increases the performance of the buildings [1]. Energy models are accurate tools for optimizing active and passive building systems [2][3][4].…”

“…The reason for this difference is that in the CONTAM model method, effective leakage area of 0.04 m 2 and exhaust fan airflow of 24 L/s are defined as input airflows data by the user. Thus, in the integrated model method, with the help of the co-simulation mechanism of CONTAM-WUFI, the airflows values have been corrected 4…”

Validation of Modified Algebraic Model during Transitional Flow in HVAC Duct

“…The presented method and its equations were solved using OpenFOAM (Open-source Field Operation And Manipulation) framework. OpenFOAM can be applied to simulate the condition occuring in HVAC systems [30]. It is open-source software with full access to the source code, thus facility the implementation of a subordinate models like the modified algebraic intermittency k − ω turbulence model [16].…”

Improving Visual Comfort and Health through the Design of a Local Shading Device

“…The research on the thermal and visual comfort of the built environment not only exists in academic research but also should be considered in modern architectural design [ 1 , 2 ]. Visual comfort has an impact on people’s mental state and psychological feelings [ 3 ].…”