Design of air conditioning systems for efficient life-cycle operation using the ZEBRA software package

Life-cycle design of air conditioning systems requires that plant should be capable of maintaining zone comfort conditions within specified limits, while minimising capital and operating costs. Lack of suitable design tools often prevents these objectives being met in conventional design practice. ZEBRA is a software package designed to simulate the performance of air conditioning plant across the whole range of operation. The structure of the package, which uses object-oriented methodologies, is described, as is its relationship to existing plant modelling codes. The programme’s capabilities are illustrated by reference to a novel type of air conditioning system.