Using probabilistic sampling-based sensitivity analyses for indoor air quality modelling

Das, Payel; Shrubsole, Clive; Jones, Benjamin; Hamilton, Ian; Chalabi, Zaid; Davies, Martin; Mavrogianni, Anna; Taylor, Jonathon

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.04.017

Cited by 62 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Furthermore, the probabilistic study shows that the spread in total heat loss decreases as the insulation thickness increases. The characteristics or boundary conditions which provoke these spreads were in a next step determined based on an additional sensitivity analysis with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients [50] [51]. In this analysis, the wind-driven rain load was found to have a significant influence on the heat loss through the walls with a capillary active interior insulation system.…”

Section: Postprintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interior insulation for wall retrofitting – A probabilistic analysis of energy savings and hygrothermal risks

Vereecken

Gelder

Janssen

et al. 2015

Energy and Buildings

117

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Interior insulation is often the only possible post-insulation technique to improve the thermal performance of single leaf masonry walls. As a result of potential damage patterns such as frost damage, interstitial condensation and mould growth however, there is often some reluctance to adopt this technique. To fully exploit the capacity for energy savings offered by interior insulation while avoiding hygrothermal failure, a reliable risk assessment is extremely important. This requires a probabilistic Postprint: Vereecken E, Van Gelder L, Janssen H, Roels S, 2015. Interior insulation for wall retrofitting -A probabilistic analysis of energy savings and hygrothermal risks. Energy and Buildings 89: 231-244. doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.12.031 approach, since the uncertainty of all influencing parameters might result in widely varying results.As, so far, no real methodology is available to select the interior insulation system and thickness resulting in the best balance between energy savings and hygrothermal risks, this paper presents a decision tool based on a Monte Carlo analysis. Additionally, the influence of the rain load and some masonry characteristics is discussed. In the study, both vapour tight interior insulation systems and a capillary active insulation system are considered. Overall, vapour tight systems tend to be preferable for structures that are resistant to frost damage. For buildings sensitive to frost damage or when wooden beam ends are present, however, capillary active systems are shifted forward.

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Section: Postprintmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interior insulation for wall retrofitting – A probabilistic analysis of energy savings and hygrothermal risks

Vereecken

Gelder

Janssen

et al. 2015

Energy and Buildings

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…100 sets of the five inputs are chosen at a time using a Latin Hypercube [44]. Each set is applied to DOMVENT3D to predict the mean heating season infiltration rate (h -1 ) and the total heating season heat loss (MWh).…”

Section: Stochastic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A Monte Carlo approach is used to predict distributions of heating season infiltration and heat loss in English apartments and their sensitivity to model inputs, following the method of Das et al [44].…”

Section: Stochastic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing uncertainty in housing stock infiltration rates and associated heat loss: English and UK case studies

Jones

Das

Chalabi

et al. 2015

Building and Environment

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Strategies to reduce domestic heating loads by minimizing the infiltration of cold air through adventitious openings located in the thermal envelopes of houses are highlighted by the building codes of many countries. Consequent reductions of energy demand and CO 2 e emission are often unquantified by empirical evidence. Instead, a mean heating season infiltration rate is commonly inferred from an air leakage rate using a simple ratio scaled to account for the physical and environmental properties of a dwelling. The scaling does not take account of the permeability of party walls in conjoined dwellings and so cannot differentiate between the infiltration of unconditioned ambient air that requires heating, and conditioned air from adjacent dwellings that does not.A stochastic method is presented that applies a theoretical model of adventitious infiltration to predict distributions of mean infiltration rates and the associated total heat loss in any stock of dwellings during heating hours. The method is applied to the English and UK housing stocks and provides probability distribution functions of stock infiltration rates and total heat loss during the heating season for two extremes of party wall permeability. The distributions predict that up to 79% of the current English stock could require additional purpose-provided ventilation to limit negative health consequences. National models predict that fewer dwellings are under-ventilated. The distributions are also used to predict that infiltration is responsible for 3-5% of total UK energy demand, 11-15% of UK housing stock energy demand, and 10-14% of UK housing stock carbon emissions.3 HIGHLIGHTS  Heating season infiltration and heat loss distributions for English housing stock. Up to 79% of English dwellings may be under ventilated. Exfiltration estimated to be responsible for 3-5% of total UK energy demand. Exfiltration estimated to be responsible for 11-15% UK housing stock energy demand. Exfiltration estimated to be responsible for 10-14% UK housing stock CO 2 emissions.

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“…Das et al (2014) use the term openable area to mean either free or equivalent area as an input to their CONTAM models. Here a discharge coefficient of = 0.6 is used and so either could be true.…”

Section: Ventilation Of Buildingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When investigating airflow through PPOs empirically, Iqbal et al (2015), Karava et al (2004), andEtheridge (2007) use the term opening area to describe the free area given by Equation (1) A variation in terms is also seen in theoretical studies that use models to predict airflow through PPOs. Das et al (2014) use the term openable area to mean either free or equivalent area as an input to their CONTAM models. Here a discharge coefficient of = 0.6 is used and so either could be true.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of ventilation opening area terminology

Jones

Cook

Fitzgerald

et al. 2016

Energy and Buildings

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The design of a natural ventilation strategy requires the establishment of the location and size of a series of purpose provided ventilation openings (PPOs). The success of the design is dependent on knowledge of the aerodynamic performance of the PPOs often described by their geometry (normally an area) and resistance to airflow. The incorrect interpretation of this information can lead inappropriate ventilation strategies and buildings that overheat and have an excessive energy demand.Many definitions of PPO area are used by standards, guidelines, text books, and software tools. Each can be assigned multiple terms and a single term can be assigned to different definitions. There is evidence that this leads to errors in practice. An effective area of a PPO, defined as the product of its discharge coefficient and its free area, is proposed as a standard description because it is unambiguous and its measurement is governed by recognised standards. It is hoped that PPO manufacturers will provide an effective area as standard and that its use will be recognised as best practice. It is intended that these steps will reduce design errors and lead to successful natural ventilation strategies and better buildings. HIGHLIGHTS Definitions of free, effective, and equivalent ventilation opening areas are given  A review of current definitions highlight contradictions in national standards and guidelines  The contradictions are shown to lead to unintended design errors  An unambiguous term that describes ventilation opening performance is proposed  This will help to mitigate against design errors in ventilation strategies KEYWORDS Natural Ventilation; Design; Standards; Effective area; Equivalent area; Free area; Policy. 3 INTRODUCTIONOpenings located in the thermal envelope of a building comprise those that are intentional, known as purposeprovided openings (PPOs), and those that are unintentional, known as adventitious openings (Etheridge, 2012).It is desirable to minimize adventitious openings to minimize a building's energy demand and to ensure the satisfactory operation of a system of PPOs (Jones et al., 2015). When designing a ventilation strategy that comprises a system of PPOs, a fundamental objective is to establish their location and size. Both factors depend on the airflow rates required through each PPO for a given pressure drop in order to maintain adequate indoor air quality (IAQ) and to dissipate heat gains under limiting conditions (CIBSE, 2005). Accordingly, a description of the geometry of each PPO and its resistance to airflow are required in order to enable a designer to establish the performance of a system using envelope flow models (CIBSE, 2005;Etheridge, 2012). The same information can also be used when working with more complex simulation tools to ensure that a building meets relevant energy and indoor environment quality (IEQ) criteria, such as indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal comfort, overheating, and noise levels. The geometrical information and resistance to airflow of a specific P...

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Using probabilistic sampling-based sensitivity analyses for indoor air quality modelling

Cited by 62 publications

References 48 publications

Interior insulation for wall retrofitting – A probabilistic analysis of energy savings and hygrothermal risks

Interior insulation for wall retrofitting – A probabilistic analysis of energy savings and hygrothermal risks

Assessing uncertainty in housing stock infiltration rates and associated heat loss: English and UK case studies

A review of ventilation opening area terminology

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