Lecture 30 : The Heat Balance Method

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Lecture 30,. : The Heat Balance Method

30.1 Objectives:

1) To acquire knowledge of the heat balance method.

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Objectives:

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At the end of this lecture, the student should

1) To acquire knowledge of the heat balance method for calculation of the cooling loads.

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30.2 Overview of The Heat Balance Method (HBM)

In the HBM, it is ensured that all of energy transfer due to different modes of
radiation, convection and conduction that flow in each zone are balanced. In
this method, a set of equations which govern the energy balance for the zone
air and for the internal and external surfaces of all the walls including each
wall, roof, and floor are solved.
These energy balance equations are combined with equations that describe the
transient (unsteady) conduction heat transfer. These govern the heat transfer
through the walls and roofs. They also include data for weather conditions or
algorithms that describe these conditions. The weather conditions include the
outdoor air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures and solar radiation, etc.

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Introduction

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In the heat balance method, it is ensured that all energy flows due to different
modes of radiation, convection and conduction in each zone are balanced. In
this method, a set of energy balance equations which govern the energy
balance for the zone air and for the internal and external surfaces of all the
walls including each wall, roof, and floor are solved.

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 These energy balance equations are combined with equations for transient
conduction heat transfer. These govern the heat transfer through the walls and
roofs. They also include algorithms or data for weather conditions. The
weather conditions include the outdoor air dry bulb and wet bulb temperatures
and solar radiation, etc.

30.3 Description of the method

To illustrate the heat balance method, a simple zone having six surfaces is
considered. It includes four walls, a roof, and a floor.
The zone has solar energy transfer through windows, heat conduction through
the external walls and roof as well as internal heat gains. This gain is due to
lights, equipment, and occupants.
The heat balances on both the interior and exterior surfaces of a single wall or
roof element are illustrated in Fig. 30.1 and Fig. 30.2.
The heat balance on the j exterior surface at time is represented conceptually
by Fig. 30.1 and that for the interior surface is shown in Fig. 30.2

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Description of the method

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To illustrate the heat balance method, a simple zone having six surfaces is
considered. It includes four walls, a roof, and a floor.
The zone has solar energy transfer through windows, heat conduction through
the external walls and roof as well as internal heat gains. This gain is due to
lights, equipment, and occupants.
The heat balance on the interior surface of a single wall or roof element is
illustrated in Fig. 30.1. Also, the heat balance on the exterior surface of a
single wall or roof element is illustrated in Fig. 30.2.

The heat balance on the j exterior surface at time 6 is represented conceptually

by Fig. 30.1 and that for the interior surface is shown in Fig. 30.2

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 Figure 30.1 The heat balance on the exterior surface of a single wall or roof element

Energy balance at the exterior surface

The energy balance at the exterior surface is given in Fig. 30.1.

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Energy balance at the exterior surface
The energy balance at the exterior surface is given in Fig. 30.1.

q"cond, ext, j, = q"solar, ext, j , + q"conv, ext, ,j, + q"rad, ext, ,j, (30.1)

where:

q"cond, ext, j, is the conduction heat flux, W/m2

q"solar, ext, j , is the absorbed solar heat flux, W/m2

q"conv, ext, ,j, is the convection heat flux, W/m2

q"rad, ext, ,j, is the thermal radiation heat flux, W/m2

Energy balance at the interior surface

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Energy balance at the interior surface
The energy balance at the interior surface is given in Fig. 30.2.

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The energy balance at the interior surface is given in Fig. 30.2.

Figure 30.2 The heat balance on the interior surface of a single wall or roof element

q"cond, in, j, = q"solar, in, j , + q"conv, in, ,j, + q"rad, in, ,j, (30.2)

where:

q"cond, in, j, is the conduction heat flux, W/m2

q"solar, in, j , is the absorbed solar heat flux, W/m2

q"conv, in, j, is the convection heat flux, W/m2

q"rad, in, ,j, is the thermal radiation heat flux, W/m2

With the assumption that the zone air has a negligible thermal storage capacity, a heat
balance may be presented as shown in equation 30.3.

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With the assumption that the zone air has a negligible thermal storage capacity, a heat
balance may be presented as shown in equation 30.3.

In this equation, the energy transfer by conduction is balanced by the convection, the
infiltration and the system energy.

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 N

A q
j 1
j
"
cond ,in , j , q inf
.
iltration , q sys , q int,conv , 0
. .
(30.3)

where:

A j is the area of the jth surface m2

.
q inf iltration , is the heat gain due to infiltration, W

.
q sys , is the heat gain due to the heating/cooling system, W
.
q int,conv , is the convective portion of internal heat gains due to people, lights, or
equipment, W

Each of these terms is to be calculated separately. The conduction term is to be evaluated

through calculation of the transient conduction heat transfer. The transient conduction is to be
used in both the interior surface and exterior surface heat balances.

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Due to the complications of the transient analysis, the heat balance method is normally
performed using available softwares.

Assessment

For the following schematic of the energy flux at the exterior surface, define each of the
shown terms and express the heat balance equation.

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Solution

Energy balance at the exterior surface

The energy balance at the exterior surface is given by

q"cond, ext, j, = q"solar, ext, j , + q"conv, ext, ,j, + q"rad, ext, ,j,

where:

q"cond, ext, j, is the conduction heat flux, W/m2

q"solar, ext, j , is the absorbed solar heat flux, W/m2

q"conv, ext, j, is the convection heat flux, W/m2

q"rad, ext, ,j, is the thermal radiation heat flux, W/m2