Paper Conference
2020 Building Performance Analysis Conference and SimBuild co-organized by ASHRAE and IBPSA-USA
 
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A Novel Approach to Modelling Air Flow Through Operable Windows in High-Rise Multi-Unit Residential Buildings Using Energy Plus
Jamie P. Fine, Marianne F. TouchieDepartment of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering University of Toronto
University of Toronto. 27 King’s College Circle, Toronto, CanadaAbstract: Residents often open their windows to promote natural ventilation in attempts to achieve comfortable indoor temperatures, which can have significant energy impacts. In EnergyPlus, there are two typical window air flow modelling techniques, which utilize the following objects: 1) ZoneVentilation:WindandStackOpenArea, and 2) AirFlowNetwork. While the first object is simple to implement, it can produce unrealistic results. The second object has produced accurate results in other studies, but the required inputs can be impractical to attain. This study proposes an alternative modelling technique in EnergyPlus where the window is modelled as an economizer. This technique was applied in the simulation of a case study building in Toronto, Canada, to demonstrate that more stable air flow rates and interior temperatures could be achieved using the economizer model through the heating season. These results yield a more realistic representation of the effect of window opening on building performance. Pages: 230 - 237 Paper:simbuild2020_C027