Advanced Building Simulation

Resolution
CFD Decision
Reduced
Decision Airflow Decision
Thermal
Decision
CFD
model
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Complexity
BES
only
AFN
only
CFD
only
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CFD
only
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Integrated building airflow simulation 111
The main ideas behind AMS are as follows:
1 A simulation should be consistent with its objective, that is the designer should
not be tool-led.
2 There should be a problem-led rationale to progress from one level of resolution
and complexity to the next.
3 Simulation should be made at the lowest possible resolution and complexity level,
so that later there will be less design options to be simulated at higher resolution
level.
On the vertical axis of Figure 4.14 there are layers of different resolution of building
simulation. The four layers of increasing level of resolution are building energy simulation,
airflow network simulation, and CFD simulation. One or more decision layers
separate each of the resolution layers. The horizontal axis shows the different
levels of complexity in building airflow simulation.
The first step is to select the minimum resolution based on the design question at
hand. For example
● If energy consumption is needed, then BES would be sufficient.
● If temperature gradient is needed, then at least an AFN (Air Flow Network) is
required.
● If local mean temperature of air is in question, then CFD is necessary.
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BES and
AFN
Thermal
coupling
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Thermal
coupling
STOP
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Thermal and
airflow
coupling
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Thermal and
airflow
coupling
Figure 4.14 Prototype performance-based airflow modeling selection strategy.
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