Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts

Building Energy Simulation Tools:

An Overview
Dr. D. Charlie Curcija
Dr. Mahabir Bhandari
Dr. Lawrence L. Ambs

University of Massachusetts
MIE Dept.
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
160 Governors Dr.
Amherst, MA 01003-9265
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Overview
Why building simulation (BS) tools?
Application of BS tools
Available BS Tools
How to choose a simulation tool?
Performing building simulation
Example: Case Study

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Why Building Simulation (BS) Tools?
To answer What If questions
An inexpensive means for exploring a plethora of different design
options and HVAC systems
Aid in the analysis of energy usage in building
Energy conservation studies
Building design studies
Energy saving potential: energy efficient design and operation
Building performance involves complex interactions and designer
can experiment with different strategies quickly
Help in designing the buildings to conform with Building codes


Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Application of BS Tools
Building heating/cooling load calculation (peak
energy Demand and its profile)
Building energy performance analysis,
Building energy management and control system
design,
Building regulations/codes/standards compliance
checking
Life Cycle Cost analysis
Quality Assurance (Commissioning)
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Available BS Tools
DOE-2 : Whole building analysis program
Interface as eQuest, PowerDoe, VisualDoe, etc.
BLAST: building Load Analysis and System Thermodynamics.
Uses heat balance method
EnergyPlus : Combination of DOE & Blast + additional
features
Energy10 : For residential and small commercial buildings
I.e. buildings with one or two zones or small (<10, 000 ft
2
)
Building Design Advisor: Early stages of design and
optimization
TRNSYS : Designed to simulate the transient performance of
thermal energy system
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
BS Tools Contd.
TSBI3 : Easy to use flexible program developed by
Danish Building Research Institute, Modular
ESP-r : Major European tool. Public domain
program, only Unix env., self learning modules
COMBINE : Integrates more than 10 design tools
into an Intergraph based architectural CAD system
More information on these and other simulation
tools: www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/tools_directory/
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Specialized/Component Tools
To provide the detailed description of key
components such as
Detailed Frame calculations
Thermal bridges or 2-D heat transfer at window wall
interface
Air flows
Fenestration systems
The detailed results are more accurate and act
as input to the whole building simulation model
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Specialized/Component Tools: Partial List
For daylighting
Superlite, Radiance
For building envelopes:
THERM: Detailed 2D Analysis of heat transfer
WINDOW/OPTICS: Fenestration heat transfer, solar heat
gain and solar-optical properties
For selecting energy efficient fenestration: RESFEN
For multi-zone airflow: COMIS
For moisture transport phenomenon : WUFI

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Life Cycle Analysis Tools: Partial List
BEES 2.0
Based on consensus standards (ASTM
E917, ASTM E1557, ISO 14040 and ASTM
E1765)
www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/bees.html
BLCC
Evaluation of Energy & water
conservation and Renewable energy
projects; Comparative economic measures
www.doe2.com
ATHENA
environmental measures: embodied
energy, resource use, air and water
pollution, greenhouse gas effects
and total solid wastes produced.
http://www.athenaSMI.ca
LISA
LCA in Sustainable Architecture
Most case studies for Australia and
UK
LCCID
Ranking of projects, savings-
to-investment ratio, discounted
payback period
University of Illinois, UC
Envest
For Office building : - ecopoint
Available from BRE UK


Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE2
A public domain program for building energy analysis; sponsored by DOE
It is a portable FORTRAN program and can be used in large variety of
computers including PCs
Predicts hourly energy use and energy cost
INPUTS: Hourly weather information, building description and HVAC
system and utility rates
Structure
BDL, Loads, Systems, Plants and Economics
Sequential method to link these models
Uses weighting factor method
Default libraries for building construction
Can use Metric and English units
Uses
Energy conservation studies
Building design studies


Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE 2 flow diagram
Loads
Output reports
HVAC ECON
Report processor
(rep, hrp)
Simulation
(doesim)
Building description
BDL Processor
(doebdl)
User Input
Weather
processor
Packed
weather
Keyword file
(BDLKEY.BIN)
Std Lib
(BDLLIB.DAT)
User lib
(USRLIB.DAT)
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE2: Input File Format
DOE2 uses BDL Language processor
KEYWORDS are used for the description
"Dirt" = MATERIAL
TYPE = PROPERTIES
THICKNESS = 2
CONDUCTIVITY = 0.5
DENSITY = 100
SPECIFIC-HEAT = 0.25
"Lay 8in CMU" = LAYERS
MATERIAL = ( "Dirt", "CMU HW 8in ConcFill (CB12)",
"Polystyrene 1.25in (IN34)", "GypBd 1/2in (GP01)" )
..
"Cons 8in CMU" = CONSTRUCTION
TYPE = LAYERS
ABSORPTANCE = 0.65
ROUGHNESS = 2
LAYERS = "Lay 8in CMU"

"East Wall Z1" = EXTERIOR-WALL
CONSTRUCTION = "Cons 8in CMU"
..

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE2 : GUIs
BDL file is difficult to create and users need to
remember a number of related keywords
Graphical User Interfaces:
eQuest : Freeware and easy to use. PowerDoe :
Graphical presentation of both building description and
display of results
PowerDoe: Comprehensive GUI
VisualDoe : Rooms can be represented by block, ease
facades, design alternatives of drag drop, Custom
block editor, custom
Other
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE with GUI: eQuest
Easy to use and free simple Graphical User
Interface for quick energy analysis
Only 31 sheets of details and can be mastered in
2-3 hours
Default values and online help available
Uses DOE 2.2 as simulation engine
Wizard mode has no flexibility of changing data
but user inputs can be provided in spreadsheet
mode and/or by editing the default library
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eQuest: Wizard
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
eQuest: Important Data
Building geometry :
Footprint shape :Triangle, rectangle. L shape, T shape, + shape,
U shape, H shape (accordingly the length and width parameters)
Number of floors floor height
Zoning pattern: 1 per floor, Perimeter/core
Construction: walls/roof, floors/ceiling
Windows area, type, frame, overhangs/fins
Internal load
Lighting, Occupancy, Equipment with schedules
Distribution by spaces
HVAC systems
System description
Heating/cooling set points and Schedules



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eQuest: Spreadsheet view
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
eQuest: Online Help
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
eQuest: 3D view
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
eQuest: EEM wizard
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
eQuest: Reports
Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
Summary of eQuest
Advantages:
Easy to use interface
Detailed interface spreadsheet view : data can be changed but
wizard mode can no more be utilized
Energy Efficiency Measure wizard
Can be used as a preliminary tool for a rough and quick
estimation
Limitations:
Can not accommodate building shape accurately (e.g. assumes
that all the floor plans are same). Only 3 floors :ground, middle
and top floor can be defined
Only one wall type can be defined
Only 3 different type of windows and not flexible for window area
Materials can not be added in wizard mode

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at University of Massachusetts
DOE with GUI: PowerDOE
A window based user friendly and comprehensive
graphical user interface
DOE2.2 as simulation engine
Shapes & Geometry all opaque surfaces, floors and
spaces can be described as arbitrary polygons
3D view-any surface can be selected by just clicking on it
4 modules: Locate site, Describe building, Run
calculations and review results
Comprehensive online help - data entry field & screen
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Building description
Building View
Floor view
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Polygon :Separate spaces for zoning
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Locate site
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Schematic view of Systems
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Review Results