English

The pollution problems caused by fungi in indoor environments are usually recognized at a stage where colony formation has progressed to a level already enabling visual identification. Thus, the prediction of mould growth risk in early stage is very important for prevention of adverse health effects due to mould growth. This paper presents the results of mould growth risk at specific trouble spots in an apartment house with variation of indoor ventilation rates and internal moisture production using hygrothermal and biohygrothermal simulation approaches.

We present a new analysis and optimisation procedure to aid decision-making regarding Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Combined Cooling, Heat and Power (CCHP) installations. Our holistic model incorporates analysis of plant operation (including part-load perfor-mance) and provides guidance regarding applicability, sizing and phasing of plant.A multi-objective genetic algorithm has been used to optimise a set of possible configurations. This produces a “trade-off front” of solutions. The outputs are reported for a case study.

This paper describes the implementation of the room heat transfer model in the free open-source Modelica “Buildings” library. The model can be used as a single room or to compose a multizone building model. We discuss how the model is de-composed into submodels for the individual heat transfer phenomena. We also discuss the main physical assumptions. The room model can be parameterized to use different modeling assump-tions, leading to linear or non-linear differential algebraic systems of equations.

This paper describes the investigation of the existing VRF system renewal using energy simulation. Both the renewal to the latest VRF systems and to proper capacity VRF systems were examined. The effect of changing the evaporating temperature of the VRF systems was also examined as an example to evaluate the energy saving effect by the operation improvements. In the simulation, the annual energy saving effect of the renewal to the latest VRF systems was 31%.

This study presents optimal control strategies of the system using a Generalized Pattern Search and Genetic Algorithm. Then, the aforementioned two approaches are compared to three other optimal control strategies of a double skin façade reported in the literature. To compare control strategies, the lumped simulation model developed in the previous study (Yoon et al, 2009) is integrated into MATLAB optimization routines (patternsearch, ga) which determine optimal control variables (blind slat angle, airflow regime, and opening ratio of the ventilation dampers).

This study is aimed to implement Augmented Reality (AR) and web-enabled control for a double-skin system. The AR was realized using a marker, a webcam, LabVIEW VIs and a simulation model in MATLAB. AR synchronizes a physical real-world with a virtually computer-generated image. Occupants are capable of selecting control modes (autonomous, energy, thermal comfort, nighttime) or monitoring relevant information (temperatures, energy flow through the façade, PMV) by gesture pattern.

Two globally applicable energy indices, Climate Energy Index (CEI) and Building Energy Index (BEI) were developed as a means of quantifying the climate impact on building energy performance and distinguishing climate related and climate unrelated energy end uses. It provides a common basis for comparisons of building energy performance and different design strategies in a simple and independent fashion. The paper describes the derivation of the indices calculation methods and presents case study results based on two types of building models.

This paper reports a recent longitudinal study observing people’s use of windows in cellular office spaces and suggests that the thermal environmental parameters are not the only factors affecting people’s behaviour. The study focuses on the ‘end-of-day’ window position due to its influence on the next day’s thermal performance of buildings and energy use during the unoccupied night-time period when occupants’ comfort is not important.

In this research, a new energy-­saving design method and a design-­aided program  MEESG  (Most-­Energy-­Efficient-­Scheme-­Generator)  are  developed.  The program aims to aid energy-­saving design by means of  optimization  algorithms  at  a  very  early  design  stage,  when  the  building  shape  is  not  even determined  by  the  architects.  In  this  program,  a  simplified  prediction  model  BEFPM  (Building Energy  Demand  Fast  Prediction  Model)  is  established  to  simulate  the  building  total  energy demand  very  quickly.

This paper proposes an approach to identify the coefficients of the chiller model used by the EnergyPlus program. Data collected every 15 minutes from an existing cooling plant are used to evaluate the approach.