PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

minute resolution data. The research in this thesis uses this latter approach asexplained in Section 2.5.4.If the building simulation is to be complemented, as it is in this case, with anintegrated HVAC model, then the user is also required to describe the HVAC plantsystem. This is done in a similar fashion as if this was being done in real-life that is,by specifying the duct work for ventilation and pipe work for cooling and heatingsystems, listing plant components etc. The plant network description apart fromcontaining data and specifications about the individual plant components selectedalso includes details of how these are linked together and to the building. In order tocontrol the HVAC plant, a user is also required to impose a control scheme whichcontrols the individual HVAC components. A more detailed description of modellingplant networks in ESP-r can be found in Chapter 3.Other inputs (not shown in Figure 2.1) such as the detailed modelling of infiltrationand ventilation through the building apertures can also be included in ESP-r tosimulate for natural ventilation processes. In this thesis this aspect was not modelledexplicitly as the source of ventilation inside the building was through a mechanicallydriven air conditioning system. Especially during summer when the outside meantemperature is predominantly at (or exceeds) 25ºC [5], the use of natural ventilationfor cooling is not enough and temperature controlled forced means of ventilationbecomes necessary. As briefly mentioned in Chapter 1, and as later on explained inChapter 6, the introduction of future intelligent building management systems mightbring a change in this context, with air conditioning systems working in tandem withnatural ventilation becoming a popular option.Once all the data required to represent the desired model is prepared, differentsimulations may be run using a desired time-step for a pre-determined time duration.As discussed in Chapter 1, for residential building modelling, especially thoseinvolving electrical imports/exports, typically a high resolution time-step of 1 minuteis required. Each simulation period was run for a period of 1 week duringrepresentative weeks of the year as explained in Chapter 4.30