Data Exchange for Thermal Modelling and Ventilation
Simulation
M J Holmes
and G M J Davies
Arup
Research and Development, 13 Fitzroy Street, London W1P 6BQ, UK
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Abstract
Data exchange is the
process by which information is transferred between the engineer and
software and between one piece of software and another. Building and plant
simulation involves handling large data sets describing constructional
details, system components and reference data. The time required to
prepare and check the data is significant and is one obstruction to the
widespread use of simulation within the design process. Links between
drafting systems and analytical tools offer an obvious way to speed up the
process and reduce input errors. The concept of data exchange, however,
involves much more than the automated transfer of information from
drawings: it allows one analytical program to talk to another without
intervention from the operator. Thus, for example, the engineer could
combine a favoured method of heat loss calculation with an assessment of
infiltration provided by a different software vendor. The same applies at
output: the results could be ported to a favourite graphical display
package rather than that supplied by the vendor. There is also the
possibility to prepare data bases that could be used to help maintain the
systems throughout the life of the building. However, while simple in
concept, to be effective, data exchange requires the community wide
acceptance of a standard way to describe data. This paper looks at a
single aspect of data exchange i.e. the linking of analytical tools. The
intention is to indicate the minimum requirements necessary to obtain
valid simulations. Two examples are considered, i.e.:
·
The linking of a zonal air flow model with a dynamic thermal
model;
·
An analysis of the effect of thermal boundary conditions on
predictions made using computational fluid dynamics software.
The
work described within the paper formed part of a Subtask 4 of IEA Annex 30
– Bringing Simulation to Application.
Key words: data
exchange, data input, data output, thermal modelling, ventilation simulation.
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