Building performance simulation modeling techniques

Abstract

This research aims at demonstrating techniques in complex dynamic building energy simulation methods that greatly reduce the otherwise very time-consuming - in particular cases even week-long - computation time of simulation models, however marginal difference arises in the energy results of the simulations. Different test simulations were created to examine how to simplify the models without altering the energy and comfort results, which lead to reduce also the working hours spent on building the model. The building physics behavior of the zones, heating and cooling equipment in the complex model were studied and tested to understand how those can be used, merged or simplified in order to speed up both computation time and model building phase. The IDA ICE complex dynamic building energy simulation program offers two methods - periodic and dynamic - for calculation, which were compared in this program. Test simulations provide information about possible differences between the results of these calculatio...