English

This paper focuses on the issue of integrating two or three dimensional models of heat and moisture transfer in porous materials with whole building HAM model-ing. To assess this aim, this paper proposes a reduced order model to simulate 2D Heat, air and moisture (HAM) behaviour in porous material. The reduction method used is the proper orthogonal decomposition. The method is applied on a block of concrete. Reduced order model and large original model are compared. The results illustrate the significant value of model re-duction for modelling 2D heat and mass transfers.

The project “Aktivhaus“-residential estate in Kramsach focuses on (1) energetic aspects and measures to reach the “net-zero-energy-building” and (2) avoidance of low indoor air humidity in winter by using the moisture buffer capacity of loam. The latter is discussed in this paper and results are presented. This investigation includes laboratory measurements on material scale for the characterization of the used loam (sorption isotherm, diffusion resistance). Cross-validation of the building simulation model Dynbil with its hygrothermal wall model is conducted.

This paper presents dynamic sensitivity analysis as a novel design analysis tool for dealing with time-varying performance aspects in the built environment. We highlight some of the limitations of conventional sensitivity analyses in building design and present dynamic sensitivity analysis as an alternative solution. The first part of this paper introduces the basic principles of dynamic sensitivity analysis. In the second part, we illustrate its potential in a simulation-based case study of a typical office zone with external solar shading.

An excessive level of moisture in building damages their quality. Key factors associated to the develop-ment of this damages mainly depend on the hygrother-mal fields inside building envelope. These key factors can be associated with HAM models to predict the de-velopment of moisture damages. Different granulari-ties of HAM modelling exist in literature and can be used. In this paper, main advantages and drawback of most common approaches are presented and dis-cussed. A test case is chosen to illustrate the different issues.

Simulation tools are effective for the commissioning of HVAC systems. In particular, such tools are useful not only for simulating the current state of systems but also for simulating the performance of a system provided with efficiency improvements. The Air-Conditioning System Energy Simulation for Commissioning (ACSES/Cx) tool is a software tool developed to provide specialized functions for the commissioning process.