Modelling double skin façades (DSFs) in whole-building energy simulation tools: Validation and inter-software comparison of naturally ventilated single-story DSFs

Abstract

Building energy simulation (BES) tools offer the possibility to integrate double skin façade (DSF) technologies into whole building simulation through dedicated modules or possible workarounds. However, the reliability of such tools in predicting the dynamic heat and mass transfer processes within the DSFs is still to be determined. Therefore, this paper aims to assess the performance of four popular BES tools (i.e. EnergyPlus, TRNSYS, IDA-ICE and IES-VE) in predicting the thermal behaviour of one-storey naturally ventilated DSF in three different ventilation modes. To evaluate their capability to predict thermophysical quantities, we compared the simulation results with experimental data. The results show that it is not possible to identify a tool that outperforms the others for all the analysed quantities, especially for the cavity air temperature, which is the least accurate parameter in all software due to underestimation of the daytime peak. IES-VE seems to be most accurate for Supply Air and Thermal Buffer modes when shading is deployed, while EnergyPlus appears most accurate for Outdoor Air Curtain mode. When it comes to surface temperatures and transmitted solar radiation, TRNSYS appears to be the best-performing software. In addition, this study investigated the challenges that designers may face when modelling a naturally ventilated DSF using whole-building simulation tools. Moreover, the investigation elucidates the challenges that have a more significant effect on the performance of the BES tools in order to reinforce their reliability.