PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

On completion of a simulation, the output data from that simulation can either beviewed using a dedicated ESP-r module or else exported as a text file for furtherpost-processing and analysis. In this research this latter method was used as some ofthe simulation output data was used together with the electrical demand profilesmodelled to provide the resulting micro-trigeneration performance metrics.2.3 Modelling the buildingWhen modelling a building in ESP-r, a user is required to define a number ofcharacteristics. The first task is that of defining the building geometry; this istypically defined as a number of zones or spaces, with each zone representing asingle or multiple rooms. For each zone, walls and windows are defined in ESP-r as aseries of linked vertices and surfaces based on a Cartesian co-ordinate system. Thesurrounding environment of each wall and window is specified by declaring whetherthat surface (wall or window) is an external surface, or an internal surface linkingtwo zones etc. Finally the building model is completed by denoting the buildingfabric. Modelling building fabric using ESP-r relies on specifying the individualcharacteristics of the different materials making up a construction. Each constructioncan be modelled and represented using multiple layers. An insulated double leaf wallfor example is modelled by defining the characteristics (thickness, density, thermalconductivity etc.) of the three material layers (the external wall, the internal wall andthe insulation) making up the wall component. The basic geometry can be augmentedwith additional details where applicable such as adding external shading.The process is demonstrated below, where a Maltese multi-family residence to beused in later simulations is defined. Although figures published in the latest availablenational Census [6] show that terraced houses still constitute a large part of theresidential buildings in Malta (35.7% of the total), in recent years this figure hasexperienced a declining trend in favour of maisonettes, flats and penthouses. Thebuilding shown in Figure 2.2 therefore tries to capture features of the latter moremodern types of dwellings.31