Using Coupled Energy, Airflow and IAQ Software (TRNSYS/CONTAM) to Evaluate Building Ventilation Strategies.

Abstract

CONTAM has been in practical use for many years allowing building designers, as well as IAQ and ventilation system analysts, to simulate the complex interactions between building physical layout and HVAC system configuration in determining building airflow and contaminant transport. It has been widely used to design and analyse smoke management systems and evaluate building performance in response to chemical, biological and radiological events. While CONTAM has been used to address design and performance of buildings implementing energy conserving ventilation systems, e.g., natural and hybrid, this new coupled simulation capability will enable users to apply the tool to couple CONTAM with existing energy analysis software to address the interaction between indoor air quality considerations and energy conservation measures in building design and analysis. This paper presents two practical case studies using the coupled modelling tool to evaluate IAQ performance of a CO2-based demand-controlled ventilation system under different levels of building envelope airtightness and the design and analysis of a natural ventilation system.