Development of a Thermal Environment Analysis Method for a Dwelling Containing a Colonnade Space through Coupled Energy Simulation and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

In building design, several approaches have been proposed for coupling computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and energy simulation (ES) to perform analyses of thermal environments. The unsteady analysis of thermal environments within buildings containing offices and colonnade spaces is difficult to perform using an ES that represents the space with a single mass point, owing to excessive predictive heat loss; therefore, CFD has typically been used instead. Although it is possible to divide the space into zones using ES, it leads to excessive predicted heat loss and the prediction of heat movement due to the influence of strong air currents, such as those associated with air conditioners. This behavior is observed because these zones are not detailed mesh divisions. To solve these problems, we proposed a method for calculating the ratio of heat contribution to zones that were pre-divided using CFD followed by the distribution of the total thermal load calculated by ES. In this study, we proposed a method for coupling ES and CFD, which enabled the unsteady analysis of a thermal environment in a large space and verified its accuracy.

Energy simulation and CFD coupled analysis for the optimal operation of combined convection and radiant air conditioning considering dehumidification

“…The accuracy of the building model was verified using the equipment model, and that of power consumption of the radiant panels was verified using test data [ 24 ] from an experimental house built in an artificial weather chamber. Fig.…”

“…The heat distribution ratio, which is the ratio between the sum of the heat losses from the wall surfaces of each zone and the heat loss from the temperature increase in the space by the overall heat input [ 24 ], is expressed in equation (1) as follows: …”

“…Using both highly efficient air conditioners and radiant panels in residential buildings would be desirable in the future. Yamamoto et al [ 24 ] developed another method to accurately predict the thermal environment when jointly using air conditioners and radiant panels. However, this analysis method did not incorporate equipment models when calculating the power consumption considering the dehumidification of the air in the space, which can affect the predicted mean vote (PMV).…”

“…However, this analysis method did not incorporate equipment models when calculating the power consumption considering the dehumidification of the air in the space, which can affect the predicted mean vote (PMV). Moreover, the heat distribution method developed by Yamamoto et al [ 24 ] for the combined use of air conditioners and radiant panels is limited to calculating only the thermal environment [ 20 ] and, therefore, does not support energy calculations. In this study, power consumption of air conditioners and radiant panels was calculated using the equipment characteristic model developed by the Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry [ 23 ].…”

Guidelines for implementing advanced thermal analysis methods in building design

“…Additionally, a coupled ES-CRI model was developed for unsteady analysis. 25 Yamamoto et al 26 expressed the heat input to a space as the heat loss from the wall surface and heat resulting from the increased temperature of the space. Furthermore, they developed a coupled ES-CFD analysis method and confirmed the accuracy of radiation calculations performed using ES for the unsteady analysis of radiation panels.…”