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Predicting air temperatures in a naturally ventilated nearly zero energy building: Calibration, validation, analysis and approaches

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  • O' Donovan, Adam
  • O' Sullivan, Paul D.
  • Murphy, Michael D.

Abstract

As the cooling energy demand in buildings is set to increase dramatically in the future, the exploitation of passive solutions like natural ventilation could prove vital in reducing the reliance on mechanical systems. Models that can predict air temperature accurately in naturally ventilated mode are key to understanding the potential of natural ventilation now and in the future. This article presents a simulation based case study of a retrofitted nearly zero energy test-bed university building, in naturally ventilated mode only. The study had three aims: (1) calibration and validation of a whole building energy model, (2) a comparative analysis of occupancy schedules and opening control strategies, and (3) a comparison of researcher and practitioner approaches. Results showed the detailed building model was capable of predicting room level air temperature with a low level of error (0.27 °C ≤ RMSE ≤ 1.50 °C) that was well within the limits of existing calibration standards (MBE ±10%, CVRMSE <20%). The comparative analysis highlighted the need to consider occupancy schedules that have a wide range of diversity, and opening control strategies that reflect the manual and automated relationship in natural ventilation systems. The approach comparison highlighted that both practitioner and researcher approaches to simulating both occupancy schedules and opening control strategies showed similar levels of performance for the application considered. The paper also provides recommendations for those modelling air temperatures and thermal comfort in nearly zero energy buildings.

Suggested Citation

  • O' Donovan, Adam & O' Sullivan, Paul D. & Murphy, Michael D., 2019. "Predicting air temperatures in a naturally ventilated nearly zero energy building: Calibration, validation, analysis and approaches," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 250(C), pages 991-1010.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:250:y:2019:i:c:p:991-1010
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.082
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Pengying Wang & Shuo Zhang, 2022. "Retrofitting Strategies Based on Orthogonal Array Testing to Develop Nearly Zero Energy Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Michael D. Murphy & Paul D. O’Sullivan & Guilherme Carrilho da Graça & Adam O’Donovan, 2021. "Development, Calibration and Validation of an Internal Air Temperature Model for a Naturally Ventilated Nearly Zero Energy Building: Comparison of Model Types and Calibration Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Yishao Shi & Danxuan Liu, 2020. "Relationship between Urban New Business Indexes and the Business Environment of Chinese Cities: A Study Based on Entropy-TOPSIS and a Gaussian Process Regression Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Roya Aeinehvand & Amiraslan Darvish & Abdollah Baghaei Daemei & Shima Barati & Asma Jamali & Vahid Malekpour Ravasjan, 2021. "Proposing Alternative Solutions to Enhance Natural Ventilation Rates in Residential Buildings in the Cfa Climate Zone of Rasht," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Alexander Brem & Ken Bruton & Paul D. O’Sullivan, 2021. "Assessing the Risk to Indoor Thermal Environments on Industrial Sites Offering AHU Capacity for Demand Response," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-28, October.
    6. Rosa Francesca De Masi & Antonio Gigante & Valentino Festa & Silvia Ruggiero & Giuseppe Peter Vanoli, 2021. "Effect of HVAC’s Management on Indoor Thermo-Hygrometric Comfort and Energy Balance: In Situ Assessments on a Real nZEB," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-30, November.
    7. Im, Piljae & Joe, Jaewan & Bae, Yeonjin & New, Joshua R., 2020. "Empirical validation of building energy modeling for multi-zones commercial buildings in cooling season," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    8. Tadeusz Kuczyński & Anna Staszczuk, 2023. "Impact of Uninsulated Slab-on-Grade and Masonry Walls on Residential Building Overheating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.

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