Simulations

Selected Projects:

New Design Construction Design Assistance -

Wisconsin Focus on Energy

Developed DOE-2 hourly energy simulation models to determine program-level energy impacts of specific projects. Buildings include schools, offices, retail and industrial facilities. Impacts were based on baseline construction from code/ASHRAE 90.1 and typical practice. Analysis determined impact of package of improvements as well as individual measures. Energy measures included building orientation, shell insulation upgrades, glazing upgrades, equipment efficiency upgrades, geothermal heat pumps, cool day lighting, ventilation heat recovery, and lighting efficiency upgrades. Project also included training program staff in use of the eQUEST building energy simulation tool.

Developing the Supermarket Simulation Tool (SST) -

Electric Power Research Institute

Developed an hour-by-hour building simulation program that fully models all aspects of a supermarket including the HVAC, refrigeration and building envelope systems.  This easy-to-use Windows application allows a user to quick construct a model of a supermarket using a library of predefined components.  Responsible for developing and programming the calculations “engine”.  Oversaw efforts to develop a Windows graphical user interface and prepared the user documentation and on-line help.    Have conducted hands on training sessions, developed case study examples, expanded the component libraries, and prepared promotional materials.  Currently Version 3.0 is available.

Humidity Modeling of Energy Recovery Ventilation Options for Schools -

Florida Solar Energy Center US EPA

Developed a simplified humidity analysis tool for the assessment of energy recovery ventilation in schools.  Developed parameters for representations of typical schools within the DOE-2 building energy simulation program.  Added space humidity modeling to DOE-2 along with improved dehumidification models for cooling equipment (package, constant volume, and variable-air-volume systems).  Added energy recovery models to DOE-2 incorporating various configurations and options for defrost and economizer operation.

Assessing the Impact of ASHRAE 62-1989 on Supermarkets -

Florida Solar Energy Center Florida Power and Light

Evaluated the impact of increased fresh air required under ASHRAE 62-1989 using the building simulation model TRNSYS.  Electric and gas-fired space conditioning technologies were evaluated to determine which configurations and technologies are most effective at meeting the increased latent loads.  The simulation included models of the refrigerated system to consider the tradeoffs between store humidity level and the energy use of the display cases.  Detailed cost models of the equipment and installation costs were developed and used for cost analysis.  The systems and configurations with the lowest life-cycle costs were identified.

Gas Cooling Commercial Building Screening Tool -

	Keyspan Energy
	Developed an HVAC screening tool for comparison of various gas cooling options in commercial building.  Systems include gas engine driven DX and chillers, absorption, and heat pumps.  The tool provided a simplified user interface to operate and report from a detailed hourly building and system simulation in TRNSYS.

Assessment of the Market Potential for the GAX Commercial Rooftop in Canada -

Industrial Client

Used the analytical market assessment techniques developed for ORNL to predict the potential of a Commercial rooftop version of the GAX (generator-absorber-heat-exchange) absorption heat pump in the US and Canada.  The evaluation focused on the market for light commercial rooftop systems up to 15 tons. The analysis divided the market into segments based on thermal loads, efficiency levels, utility rate structures and regional construction practices.  The approach predicted total shipments based on selling price as well as the resulting impacts on the customer, gas and electric utilities and society in general.

Comparing Electric and Gas-Fired Supermarket Dehumidification Systems -

	Florida Power and Light
	Compared the performance of electric and gas-fired space conditioning equipment in a supermarket using the building simulation model TRNSYS.  The simulation model considered the tradeoffs between store humidity level and the energy use of the refrigerated display cases.  The system and configurations with the lowest costs were identified.

Evaluation of Gas-Fired Desiccant Technologies -

Brooklyn Union

Assessed the potential for gas-fired desiccant equipment in various building applications to determine where the technology has the most potential.  Commercially-available desiccant equipment were evaluated in several generic building applications with building simulation models to identify the conditions where these systems have the most potential.  Used TRNSYS, DOE-2 and custom models to simulate supermarkets, commercial buildings and residences with eight buildings types, eight technologies, and more than a dozen system configurations in four climates, resulting in over 1,000 simulation runs.

Comparison of Electric and Gas-Fired Dehumidification Alternatives -

Gas Research Institute

Compared electric and gas-fired dehumidification systems in various hypothetical applications using the building simulation model FSEC1.1 -- a specialized program that considers thermal and moisture storage in building materials.  Developed detailed computer models of commercially available, prototype and hypothetical gas-fired and electric equipment.  Determined the applications and locations where gas-fired equipment competed most effectively.

Part-Load Curves for use in DOE-2 -

	Lawrence Berkley Laboratory
	Recommended new approaches and modifications to the DOE-2 part-load efficiency degradation model to properly account for both heating and cooling energy use at off-design conditions.  Reviewed existing literature on part-load efficiency.  Compared modifications to existing DOE-2 model and theoretical performance.

Developing an Improved Cooling Coil Model for DOE-2 -

	Florida Solar Energy Center
	Developed a user-defined function to more accurately simulate the dehumidification characteristics of a cooling coil in DOE-2’s RESYS routine.  The user-defined function was based on a cooling coil model from the ASHRAE HVAC-2 Toolkit.  The model was integrated into RESYS with a more realistic moisture capacitance model to predict space humidity level.

Residential Duct Sealing Evaluation Project -

Cinergy

Determined the impact and effectiveness of duct sealing in existing residences.  Evaluation was based on detailed measurements of air flow before and after duct sealing in 58 homes.  Developed methods to annualize impact from one-time measurements based on engineering models of duct systems and seasonal load models base on ESPRE.  Two measurement methods were compared: pressure equalization and register air flow measurement.

Residential New Construction Assessment -

Northeast Utilities

Evaluated multiple residential construction program requirements including HVAC specifications and building shell on an energy, first cost, and life-cycle cost basis.  Initial analysis was based on DOE-2 building simulations and cost estimating.  Considered systems included fossil fuel furnaces, air and ground source heat pumps, and electric resistance systems.  Subsequent evaluations were based on Rem/Rate and included impacts of Energy Star programs, code improvements and the use of the HERS.

State-of-the-Art Review of Building System Simulation and Design Tools -

	Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology Institute
	Identified and reviewed all computer models, simulation packages and design tools used in the HVAC industry. Summarized main approaches and highlighted differing capabilities for hundreds of design tools. Held focus groups with architects design engineers to understand how software is used in practice and what changes are necessary for improved functionality.

Gas Cooling Commercial Building Screening Tool -

	Brooklyn Union
	Developed an HVAC screening tool for comparison of various gas cooling options in commercial building. Systems include gas engine driven DX and chillers, absorption, and heat pumps. The tool provided a simplified user interface to operate and report from a detailed hourly building and system simulation in TRNSYS.

Tuning a DOE-2 Model of a Commercial Building with Monitored Data -

	Northeast Utilities
	Calibrated a DOE-2 model of a 20,000 sq. ft. commercial building using hourly monitored data. Tuned model inputs to match monitored data and observed performance. Used tuned model to make improved estimates of savings for implemented energy efficiency measures installed as part of a new construction DSM program.

Developing a Building Simulation Model for Fuel Cell Applications -

	Plug Power and NYSERDA
	Developed a detailed hourly building simulation model that predicts the performance of a fuel cell integrated into a building application. Model was driven by typical year weather data. Hourly TRNSYS application included detailed component models as well as solar calculations to determine hourly power output from PV array based on the insulation available on the tilted surface.

Simulating the Energy Use of a Strip Mall in Various Locations -

	Oak Ridge National Laboratory
	Developed a DOE-2 model of two retail stores located in a strip mall. Developed custom routines and software utilities to automatically run ten different HVAC systems located in 14 locations.

Applications of Comprehensive Room Transfer Functions -

	Solar Energy Laboratory, University of Wisconsin at Madison
	Formulated comprehensive room transfer functions (CRTF) into TRNSYS compatible routines. CRTFs analytically combine building component transfer functions of transient heat transfer into zone transfer functions based on digital control theory to reduce the number of simultaneous equations needed during the simulation. The methods included relationships for thermal comfort.