Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Building Energy Simulation Tools:
An Overview Dr. D. Charlie Curcija Dr. Mahabir Bhandari Dr. Lawrence L. Ambs
University of Massachusetts MIE Dept. Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 160 Governors Dr. Amherst, MA 01003-9265 Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Overview Why building simulation (BS) tools? Application of BS tools Available BS Tools How to choose a simulation tool? Performing building simulation Example: Case Study
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Why Building Simulation (BS) Tools? To answer What If questions An inexpensive means for exploring a plethora of different design options and HVAC systems Aid in the analysis of energy usage in building Energy conservation studies Building design studies Energy saving potential: energy efficient design and operation Building performance involves complex interactions and designer can experiment with different strategies quickly Help in designing the buildings to conform with Building codes
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Application of BS Tools Building heating/cooling load calculation (peak energy Demand and its profile) Building energy performance analysis, Building energy management and control system design, Building regulations/codes/standards compliance checking Life Cycle Cost analysis Quality Assurance (Commissioning) Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Available BS Tools DOE-2 : Whole building analysis program Interface as eQuest, PowerDoe, VisualDoe, etc. BLAST: building Load Analysis and System Thermodynamics. Uses heat balance method EnergyPlus : Combination of DOE & Blast + additional features Energy10 : For residential and small commercial buildings I.e. buildings with one or two zones or small (<10, 000 ft 2 ) Building Design Advisor: Early stages of design and optimization TRNSYS : Designed to simulate the transient performance of thermal energy system Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts BS Tools Contd. TSBI3 : Easy to use flexible program developed by Danish Building Research Institute, Modular ESP-r : Major European tool. Public domain program, only Unix env., self learning modules COMBINE : Integrates more than 10 design tools into an Intergraph based architectural CAD system More information on these and other simulation tools: www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/ Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Specialized/Component Tools To provide the detailed description of key components such as Detailed Frame calculations Thermal bridges or 2-D heat transfer at window wall interface Air flows Fenestration systems The detailed results are more accurate and act as input to the whole building simulation model Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Specialized/Component Tools: Partial List For daylighting Superlite, Radiance For building envelopes: THERM: Detailed 2D Analysis of heat transfer WINDOW/OPTICS: Fenestration heat transfer, solar heat gain and solar-optical properties For selecting energy efficient fenestration: RESFEN For multi-zone airflow: COMIS For moisture transport phenomenon : WUFI
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Life Cycle Analysis Tools: Partial List BEES 2.0 Based on consensus standards (ASTM E917, ASTM E1557, ISO 14040 and ASTM E1765) www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/bees.html BLCC Evaluation of Energy & water conservation and Renewable energy projects; Comparative economic measures www.doe2.com ATHENA environmental measures: embodied energy, resource use, air and water pollution, greenhouse gas effects and total solid wastes produced. http://www.athenaSMI.ca LISA LCA in Sustainable Architecture Most case studies for Australia and UK LCCID Ranking of projects, savings- to-investment ratio, discounted payback period University of Illinois, UC Envest For Office building : - ecopoint Available from BRE UK
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE2 A public domain program for building energy analysis; sponsored by DOE It is a portable FORTRAN program and can be used in large variety of computers including PCs Predicts hourly energy use and energy cost INPUTS: Hourly weather information, building description and HVAC system and utility rates Structure BDL, Loads, Systems, Plants and Economics Sequential method to link these models Uses weighting factor method Default libraries for building construction Can use Metric and English units Uses Energy conservation studies Building design studies
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE 2 flow diagram Loads Output reports HVAC ECON Report processor (rep, hrp) Simulation (doesim) Building description BDL Processor (doebdl) User Input Weather processor Packed weather Keyword file (BDLKEY.BIN) Std Lib (BDLLIB.DAT) User lib (USRLIB.DAT) Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE2: Input File Format DOE2 uses BDL Language processor KEYWORDS are used for the description "Dirt" = MATERIAL TYPE = PROPERTIES THICKNESS = 2 CONDUCTIVITY = 0.5 DENSITY = 100 SPECIFIC-HEAT = 0.25 "Lay 8in CMU" = LAYERS MATERIAL = ( "Dirt", "CMU HW 8in ConcFill (CB12)", "Polystyrene 1.25in (IN34)", "GypBd 1/2in (GP01)" ) .. "Cons 8in CMU" = CONSTRUCTION TYPE = LAYERS ABSORPTANCE = 0.65 ROUGHNESS = 2 LAYERS = "Lay 8in CMU"
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE2 : GUIs BDL file is difficult to create and users need to remember a number of related keywords Graphical User Interfaces: eQuest : Freeware and easy to use. PowerDoe : Graphical presentation of both building description and display of results PowerDoe: Comprehensive GUI VisualDoe : Rooms can be represented by block, ease facades, design alternatives of drag drop, Custom block editor, custom Other Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE with GUI: eQuest Easy to use and free simple Graphical User Interface for quick energy analysis Only 31 sheets of details and can be mastered in 2-3 hours Default values and online help available Uses DOE 2.2 as simulation engine Wizard mode has no flexibility of changing data but user inputs can be provided in spreadsheet mode and/or by editing the default library Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: Wizard Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: Important Data Building geometry : Footprint shape :Triangle, rectangle. L shape, T shape, + shape, U shape, H shape (accordingly the length and width parameters) Number of floors floor height Zoning pattern: 1 per floor, Perimeter/core Construction: walls/roof, floors/ceiling Windows area, type, frame, overhangs/fins Internal load Lighting, Occupancy, Equipment with schedules Distribution by spaces HVAC systems System description Heating/cooling set points and Schedules
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: Spreadsheet view Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: Online Help Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: 3D view Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: EEM wizard Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts eQuest: Reports Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Summary of eQuest Advantages: Easy to use interface Detailed interface spreadsheet view : data can be changed but wizard mode can no more be utilized Energy Efficiency Measure wizard Can be used as a preliminary tool for a rough and quick estimation Limitations: Can not accommodate building shape accurately (e.g. assumes that all the floor plans are same). Only 3 floors :ground, middle and top floor can be defined Only one wall type can be defined Only 3 different type of windows and not flexible for window area Materials can not be added in wizard mode
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts DOE with GUI: PowerDOE A window based user friendly and comprehensive graphical user interface DOE2.2 as simulation engine Shapes & Geometry all opaque surfaces, floors and spaces can be described as arbitrary polygons 3D view-any surface can be selected by just clicking on it 4 modules: Locate site, Describe building, Run calculations and review results Comprehensive online help - data entry field & screen Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Building description Building View Floor view Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Polygon :Separate spaces for zoning Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Locate site Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Schematic view of Systems Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts Review Results