Thermal building simulation and computer generation of nodal models

Abstract

The designer's preoccupation to reduce the energy needs and get a better thermal quality of ambiances helped in the development of several packages simulating the dynamic behaviour of buildings. This paper shows the adaptation of a method of thermal analysis, the nodal analysis, linked to the case of building's thermal behaviour. We take successively an interest in the case of conduction into a wall, in the coupling with superficial exchanges and finally in the constitution of thermal state models of the building. Big variations existing from one building to another, it's necessary to build the thermal model from the building description. This article shows the chosen method in the case of our thermal simulation program for buildings, CODYRUN.

Identifying suitable models for the heat dynamics of buildings

“…Rabl (1988) gives an overview of techniques for steady state and for dynamic analysis of energy use in a building, the latter implicate modelling of the heat dynamics of the building. Such dynamic models can be realized with a set of differential equations, as carried out by Sonderegger (1978) and Boyer et al (1996). Parameter estimation in dynamical models is known as system identification and a survey of different approaches for buildings is found in Bloem (1994).…”

Evolution of CODYRUN from Thermal Simulation to Coupled Thermal and Daylight Simulation Software

“…In the example of a wall, the user must enter its surface, constitution (layers, materials, and thermo-physical properties), and radiative properties. The description of the windows and structures was previously described in Boyer et al [5,14]. …”

“…Developed by the Physics and Mathematical Engineering Laboratory for Energy and Environment at the University of Reunion Island, CODYRUN [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] is a multi-zone software program integrating ventilation and moisture transport transfer in buildings. The software employs a zone approach based on nodal analysis and resolves a coupled system describing thermal and airflow phenomena.…”

A thermal model for phase change materials in a building roof for a tropical and humid climate: Model description and elements of validation

“…It is able to simulate the temperature and flux fields of monozone and multi-zone buildings according to its location and climate. Usually, ISOLAB is dedicated to test models before integration in the building simulation software CODYRUN, developed and distributed at the Physics and Mathematical Engineering Laboratory for Energy and Environment of the University of Reunion [3,4]. The building thermal model used by ISOLAB is based on the discretization of the transient heat transfer equation (1) :…”