English

The use of thermal insulation in the building envelope in hot and humid climate is investigated through computer simulation. A total of 1,944 parametric simulation runs were carried out for three different cities and climate zones in Brazil (Curitiba, Brasilia and Salvador), considering variation of window-to-wall ratio, SHGC of the glazing system, insulation thickness in exterior walls, type of walls, and internal load densities. The results have confirmed that the building envelope has more influence on cooling energy consumption for building models with low interior load densities.

This research studies the influence of changing patterns of land use on natural ventilation using a cfd tool, with a case study in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. This urban area is intensifying its occupation through tall buildings and constructive densification. Virtual three-dimensional models were reproduced. The first model represents the present situation of this part of the city, the second one expresses the maximum occupancy permitted by urban legislation and a third scenario indicates an intermediate proposal as a criticism of law permissiveness.

Within the scope of the HOMES programme, five pilot sites (real buildings) were chosen to study the benefits of active energy efficiency on building energy performance. This article deals with using simulation to assess control functions impact on energy consumption and comfort. Model’s data came from audit report, expert knowledge but also from the use of site monitoring. Main goal for this first step was to compare the actual building performance with a similar building equipped with HOMES control solution. 

This paper presents a novel simulation system which couples a computational fluid dynamics program with a model of human thermal comfort and thermo-regulation. The coupled system is used to predict the performance of a buoyancy-driven natural ventilation strategy for a typical school classroom in the UK. Results of the coupled system are compared with uncoupled (CFD alone) approaches to simulation. These comparisons highlight areas where a coupled modelling approach is likely to be beneficial. 

The need to reduce radically the energy used by buildings is leading to new design practices.  Current design and simulation software are used in very different ways, with energy simulation generally employed to check energy code compliance after the design stages are mostly finished.  This linear approach to working practices, the modelling methods used and poor interoperability inhibit iterative design practices.  This paper outlines a case study to elicit early software requirements for combined simulation and design software.

The purpose of the CEBO research project is to propose a tool to assess the Effective Consumption of Occupied Buildings by calculation, which will be adjusted by measurement parameters that are limited in number and monitoring time. In this paper the method to identify the parameters that have to be measured is presented on a single family housing, using the TH-CE ex model (French regulation model for existing buildings).  The method is based on uncertainty analysis with fractional factorial design.

A coupled analysis of heating, ventilation and air-­conditioning (HVAC) system simulation tool and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was carried out to assess the mixing energy loss in an air-­conditioned room where heating and cooling operate in the perimeter and interior zones simultaneously. To evaluate the mixing energy loss, we conducted two simulations;; one was the case with airflow mixing between the perimeter and interior zones and the other was the case without airflow mixing between the zones.

This paper reports how the coefficient of performance (COP) of air-cooled chillers can be improved by adopting variable condensing setpoint temperature control and using mist evaporation to pre-cool ambient air entering the condensers to trigger a lower condensing temperature. Chiller models without and with water mist system were established, and the former was validated by using measured operating data of an installed screw chiller.

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the thermal comfort of users of a naturally ventilated building, located in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil. The analysis was performed by using the EnergyPlus computer programme. Different window areas, with automated and manual control of windows were simulated in order to improve the natural ventilation efficiency. The assessment of thermal comfort of users for the actual building and for the models simulated was performed by using the method proposed by Givoni and the method indicated in ASHRAE Standard 55.

This report describes the utility of coupling an energy simulation tool and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for modelling a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and demonstrates the application of this method in the design phase. A case study was conducted for the design phase of an air-conditioning system with an under floor air distribution system.  First, the cooling load for the target room was estimated, and the air-handling unit was designed based upon the estimated peak load.