Familiarizing with modeling & simulation of

Building Energy

Design Data:
1. Place
2. Design Condition

: Lecture Hall A at Colombo

Outdoor design condition

Dry Bulb temperature
Relative Humidity

: 30

: 80 % RH

Indoor design condition

Dry Bulb temperature
Relative Humidity

: 24.0

: 55% RH

3. Glass Window
Type and Thickness

: Single Clear Glazing with 3mm thickness

Frame

: 30 mm Aluminum

Size

: 4000mm1500mm

4. Glass Doors
Type and Thickness

: Double glazing 13mm air space

Frame

: 40 mm Aluminum

Size

: 2000mm2500mm

5. Heat transfer co-efficient of air

Still Air

: 10 W/m2K

Moving Air

: 15 W/m2K

Required Preliminary Data and Assumptions

1.
2.
3.
4.

Design month
Assume :July
Design solar Time
Assume :14.00 hr
Location
:Colombo, Sri Lanka (Latitude-70N)
Material of Construction of the building

External Wall
1.

U value of the wall

Thermal resistance (R) of the outer wall can be calculated as
1 2 1
0.02 0.225 0.02
=
+
+
=
+
+
= 0.345 m2 K/w
1
2
1
0.5
0.85
0.5

Here,
1 : Wall plaster thickness
2 : Brick thickness

1 : Thermal conductivity of wall plaster

2 : Thermal conductivity of Brick
=

0.345

= 2.9 w/m2 K

2. Wall construction Group is Group G

3. Area separated from partition wall is conditioned Area
4. Partition wall construction is same as external wall
Floor and ceiling

: U = 2.9 W/m2

1. U value of the Floor

Thermal resistance (R) of the floor can be calculated as
1 2 3
0.01 0.02 0.2
=
+
+
=
+
+
= 0.15 m2 K/w
1
2
3
1.2
0.85 1.7
Here,
1 : Ceramic Tiles
2 : Ceramic Plaster
3 : Reinforced Concrete

1 : Thermal conductivity of Ceramic Tiles

2 : Thermal conductivity of Ceramic Plaster
3 : Thermal conductivity of Reinforced Concrete
2

0.15

= 6.67 w/m2 K

2. Ground floor space is conditioned

: Ground Floor Conditioned
3. Since the second floor is well insulated, heat transferred to the Lecture halls can be taken as
negligible.
4. U value of the ceiling
Thermal resistance (R) of the ceiling can be calculated as
0.01

=
= 0.125 m2 K/w
=
0.08

Here,
: Ceiling sheet thickness
: Thermal conductivity ceiling sheet
=

0.125

Windows and Doors

= 8.0 w/m2 K

1. U value of the Window is selected as 7.37 w/m2 K as per the given criteria according to table
6.1.6
2. No external fins and overhangs for windows
: No external shade
3. No interior shade (like curtains) for windows
: No internal shade
4. Window made up of
: Aluminum frame without
Thermal Break
5. Convective heat transfer coefficient near the window
: ho = 10.0 W/m2
6. U value of the Door is selected as 4.58 w/m2 K as per the given criteria according to table
6.1.6
Occupancy
1. Considering maximum people in the lecture hall A be 100 persons
2. Activity level of occupancy is seated at rest ( according to table 6.1.5 , Sensible Heat gain = 70
W, Latent Heat gain = 30 W)
Lighting
1. Building is used for day operation, so assume need all light for the same time (Ful = 1.0)
Power
1. Equipments with motors are not used in the office space.
Appliance
1. Computers with CRT monitor. ( Sensible Heat Gain = 155 W)
Ventilation and Infiltration
1. Outdoor air requirement is 2.5 l/s-person
3

Cooling Load Calculation

1. Outdoor Loads
1.1. Roof
Since the Lecture room A is located in the 1st floor of the 3 storied building, no need to
accommodate outdoor load from the roof.
1.2. Walls
There are only three sunlit walls which are North, South and West faced walls
= (C)

Table a: External Wall Details

Direction
N
S
W

Gross wall
area/m2 (a)
52.5
52.5
42.0

Window
area/m2 (b)
12.0
0.0
12.0

Door
area/m2 (c)
0.0
5.0
0.0

Net wall area/m2

[a-(b+c)]
40.5
47.5
30.0

Table b: CLTD Values

Direction
N
S
W

CLTD ( Figure 6.1.16)

Wall group G - Time 14:00 h
12.5
25.0
22.5

Table c: Cooling Load for heat gain from walls

Direction

U/
(W/m2.oC)

A / ( m2)

CLTD

q / (W)

N North

2.9

40.5

12.5

1468.1

S South

2.9

47.5

25.0

3443.8

W-West

2.9

30.0

22.5

1957.5

Total Cooling
Load Walls

6869.4 W

1.3. Windows and Doors

1.3.1. Conduction
= ()

Where;
: Cooling Load in watts
: Window, Door Area
: Overall Heat Transfer Co-efficient of Glass (6.0 W/m2oC)
: Cooling Load Temperature Difference

Table d: Cooling Load for Conduction Heat Gain from windows and doors
Area of a
Window /
Door
( m2)

U/
(W/m2.oC)

CLTD

12.0

7.37

12.5

1105.5

5.0

4.58

25.0

572.5

12.0

7.37

22.5

1989.9

Direction

q / (W)

Total Load Conduction

3667.9 W

1.3.2. Solar
= ()()()

Where;
: Window, Door Area
: Shading Co-efficient
: Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient
: Cooling Load Factor

Table e: Cooling Load for Heat Gain from Glass windows (Solar)
Area of a
Window /
Door
( m2)

SC

SHGF

CLF

q / (W)

12.0

1.0

243

0.75

2187.00

5.0

1.0

123

0.55

338.25

12.0

1.0

644

0.35

2704.80

Direction

Total Load Glass Solar

5230.05 W

1.4. Partitions
=

Since the Lecture hall B is a conditioned space, the heat transfer through partitions is zero.
1.5. Floor
=

Since the Ground floor is a conditioned space, the heat transfer through partitions is zero.

1.6. Ceiling
=
5

Where;
: Cooling Load in watts
= 180 2
= 8.0 W/m2 (Overall Heat Transfer Co-efficient of Concrete Ceiling)
=

= 24.0 (Room Temperature)

= 30.0 (Assuming the temperature of the air inside the ceiling is equal to outdoor
Temperature)
By substituting values,
= = 8.0 180 6.0 =

2. Internal Loads
2.1. People
2.1.1.

Sensible

= ( )()

Where;
: Sensible Cooling Load in watts
= 100 (No. of people)
= (100 W/Person): Sensible Heat Gain from the Occupancy
= 1 (Cooling Load Factor, Cooling Off at Night)
By substituting values,

= ( )()

= 100 70 1 =
2.1.2.

Latent

= ( )()

Where;
: Latent Cooling Load in watts
= 100 (No. of people)
= ( 30 /): Latent Heat Gain from the Occupancy
= 1 (Cooling Load Factor, Cooling Off at Night)
By substituting values,

= ( )()

= 100 30 1 =

2.2. Lights

= ()()
=

Where;
: Heat Gain from Lighting in watts
= 40 10 = 400 w : 10 Nos. of 40W incandescent Lamps available in the room
= 1: Lighting use factor
= 1.25: Lighting Special allowance factor
= 1 (Cooling Load Factor, Cooling Off at Night)
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By substituting values,
=

= 400 1 1.25 = 500 W

= ()()

= 500 1 =
2.3. Appliance

Following list of appliances used in the office as assumed.

Table f: Contribution for the Cooling Load from Electrical Appliances

Appliance

No of
Appliance

Recommended Rate
of Heat Gain / (W)
Sensible
Latent

Total Heat Gain /

(W)
Sensible Latent

Computers
(with CRT monitor)

150

150

Projector

350

350

500

Total Heat Gain from all Appliances / (W)

2.3.1. Sensible
= ( )()

Where;
= 500 W
= 1 (Cooling Load Factor, Cooling Off at Night)
By substituting values,

= 500 1 =

2.3.2. Latent

= .

3. Ventilation and Infiltration

= 1.23

= 3010

Where;
= 2.5 100 = 250/: Outdoor air flow rate in l/s, According to ASHRAE 62.1:2007 it
is required 2.5 l/s outdoor air per person
= ( )
= ( ) kg water/ kg dry air
= 24.0 Room Temperature
= 30.0 Outdoor Temperature
kg

= 0.0106 kg : Room Humidity Ratio (According to pshycrometry)

kg

= 0.0218 kg : Outdoor Humidity Ratio (According to pshycrometry)

Sensible Heat Load form Outdoor air to room

= 1.23
= 1.23 250 (30.0 24.0) =
Effective Sensible Heat

= 1.23
= 1.23 250 (30.0 24.0) 0.1 = .
Latent Heat Load form Outdoor air to room
= 3010
= 3010 250 (0.0218 0.0106) =
Effective Latent Heat

= 3010
= 3010 250 (0.0218 0.0106) 0.1 = .

Type of Load
External Loads
Conduction and
Radiation

Internal Loads

Ventilation Load

SHR =

Cooling Load Component

Walls
Glass Windows
Partitions
Floor
Ceiling
People
Lighting
Appliances
Ventilation
Total Cooling Load
Grand Total Cooling Load
Total Conditioned Area
Cooling Load per unit area

Sensible Load
6869.4 W
(3667.9 + 5230.5) W
0.0 W
0.0 W
8640 W
7000 W
500 W
500 W
1845.0 W
34252.8 W
45.68 kW
180 m2
253 W/ m2

Latent Load
3000.0 W
8428.0 W
11428.0 W

Room total sensible load 34.25

=
= 0.75
Room total cooling load 45.68

Required Cooling Coil Capacity = 46 kW with 0.75 SHR

By assuming The Refrigerant is R-22 and Evaporator temperature is -4.

Enthalpy of Sub-cooled liquid( )

= 195 kJ/kg

Enthalpy change at evaporator ()

= 403 195 = 208 kJ/kg

Enthalpy of Super-heated vapour = 403 kJ/kg

Refrigerant mass flow rate

45.68
208

COP of the Unit

= 3.2

Power consumption of Unit

Operating hours of the building

45.68
3.2

= 0.22 kg/s

= 14.28 kW

= 17.00 08.00 = 09.00h

Energy consumption of the unit per day = 14.28 9 = 128.52 kWh

Possible Energy Saving Opportunities

Energy Saving Opportunity

Strategy
Reduce heat gain from external walls Introduce Thermal Insulation for the wall
Reduce heat gain from windows
Introduce double glazing with a air gap
between the glass surfaces
Introduce external shading
Introduce internal shading, blinds
Reduce lighting Load
Introduce high efficient CFL or LED
lighting
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Building Energy Modeling

The Building Energy Use is then Modeled by Using eQUEST Software. Weather file of FLORIDA is
used for the simulation since it is belong to Hot - Humid category which is specified in eQUEST as 2A. The weather file of the Colombo is also belongs to the Hot-Humid category. It is performed Whole
Building Energy Simulation by specifying all the parameters relevant for the building.

Lecture
Hall "A"

Figure a: The University Building Modeled by using eQUEST

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Building Energy Simulation

Once modeled the building it is simulated for its energy performance

Figure b: Monthly Electricity Consumption of the Building

Figure c: Monthly electricity consumption of the building - Sector wise comparison

According to the simulation, the required electricity for space cool on month of July is 5490 kWh. So
assuming number of working days per month as 20, the daily electricity requirement for space cooling
5490

can be calculated as 274.5 kWh

20

= 274.5. Electricity need to space cooling which is calculated

manually shows 128.5 kWh which is only for lecture hall "A". Since eQUEST is used for whole
building energy simulation, it is difficult to compare these two results. But electricity requirement of
274.5 kWh for the total building is acceptable when compared to 128.5 kWh only for the lecture hall
"A".
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It is further analyzed the University Building by changing the following measures with respect to the
Baseline Building.

Vertical fenestration of the building envelope

Increase the thermal insulation of vertical fenestration walls
Use of daylight with electrical lights
Use day light effectively in all stories according to weather file of FLORIDA
Use more efficient DX coil
Use DX coil with EER value of 13 instead of previously used coil with EER value of 11

As a conclusion it can be identified that the significant energy savings is only possible for efficient day
light use among all the energy efficiency improvement strtegies.

Figure d: Comparison of different Energy Efficiency Measures applied to University building

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