Subject Code : BENV0086
Country : Australia
Assignment Task:

Assessment 

This assessment consists of the compilation of a Modelling Portfolio. There are three tasks which you will carry out in sequential stages aligned with the material presented in this module. Overall, the process is a simplified representation of how building systems modelling is used in practice, i.e. creating the model, analysing the model, and using the model to optimise a design. A simple building model forms the basis for all the tasks you will perform in order to build up your modelling portfolio. 

Task 1: BESTEST Comparative Test Exercise: carry out a comparative validation exercise using the BESTEST methodology and assigned test cases for two building simulation tool options. 

Task 2: Parametric, Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analyses: create a parametric project by defining several design parameters on the building model created in Task 1, and perform parametric and UA/SA simulations; analyse the results to provide a deep understanding of the model. 

Task 3: Design Optimisation: apply several measures to improve the design of the modelled building, and use an optimisation tool to identify the optimal trade-off between energy consumption and comfort. 

Details of the individual tasks can be found in the corresponding sections below. 

Report structure 

The logic of the coursework is reflected in the progression of the three tasks, i.e. 1) to identify a tool for modelling and create a baseline model, 2) to analyze the baseline model using various methods, and 3) to use the knowledge gained from stage 2 to optimise the design. When writing the report, you can choose a style that is most appropriate for presenting the work you have done. For example, you can use a ‘tactical’ style to have brief overall introduction and conclusion sections, with the report on each task being self- contained and having its own introduction, methodology, results and conclusion sections. Alternatively, you may want to tell the complete story by having a unified methodology section describing the three stages, followed by the results and discussions from each of the tasks, and then draw an overall conclusion. 

The report structure is your own choice, as long as you can demonstrate your understanding of the relationship between the tasks – please make sure that the evaluation criteria as detailed in the Appendices are properly referenced.

Task 1: BESTEST Comparative Test Exercise

1.1) Problem Statement 

The aim of this first task is to carry out a comparative validation exercise using the BESTEST methodology and assigned test cases for two building simulation tool options: 

Option 1 - EnergyPlus: A research-based, dynamic whole-building energy performance simulation engine with text/form-based model editing tools. 

Option 2 - DesignBuilder: A commercial building simulation software package that uses EnergyPlus as the engine for building systems modelling. 

The objective of this task is to assess the approach of each software tool in tackling simple modelling tasks as well as to evaluate the modeller’s ability to interpret the brief and input the information into the software. 

The two test cases are: 

• BESTEST Case 600FF: simple box building with a single zone and south-facing windows, lightweight structure, fixed internal gain, free-floating temperature, i.e. no heating or cooling; 

• BESTEST Case 600: same building as Case 600FF, but including heating and cooling (using the Ideal Load Air System in EnergyPlus). 

These cases should be simulated using the following tools (note the specific versions): 

EnergyPlus (v8.9) and DesignBuilder (v6.1)

You should have these tools already installed on your laptop. If you are unsure of which version of the software you have, contact the module lead. 

Your results should be compared with tools mentioned in two validation reports which are included as part of this coursework: 

• EnergyPlus Testing with Building Thermal Envelope and Fabric Load Tests from ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2011. 

• Building Envelope and Fabric Load Tests performed on ApacheSim in accordance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 140-2007. 

These reports can be downloaded from the Task 1 files > Published Software Results folder. Additionally, you may also find in the folder Task 1 files > Weather Files the necessary EnergyPlus weather files for your study.

1.2) Model Data 

A general description of the two cases and the model data required, extracted from the BESTEST report, are given in Appendix 4. Should there be any other information required for creating the models, you are advised to refer to the two validation reports in the first instance. If you still cannot find all the necessary information in your opinion, do what all modellers do, i.e. to make assumptions based on your own judgment, and keep a record of these assumptions where you consider necessary. 

1.3) Required Outputs 

For each test case, a model should be created using the tools mentioned above (Options 1 and 2). 

With the models created for each test case and tool (total 4 models), run annual simulations and export the following outputs.

Case 600FF models: 

1. Hourly internal zone air temperatures (in oC) over the entire simulation period.

Case 600 models: 

1. Hourly heating and cooling loads over the entire simulation period.

2. Annual heating and cooling loads (MWh). 

1.4) Comparative evaluation 

BESTEST Case 600FF: 

Plot the zone temperature profile for 4th January computed using the two tools and discuss the differences (if any). 

Perform a comparative evaluation including Options 1 and 2 and other tools (as can be found from the validation reports that are provided with this brief) using the building energy simulation test (BESTEST) methodology. 

Case 600: 

Discuss the differences (if any) on the predictions of the annual and peak heating and cooling loads using the two options. 

Perform a comparative evaluation including Options 1 and 2 and other tools (as can be found from the validation reports that are provided with this brief) using the building energy simulation test (BESTEST) methodology.

Task 2: Parametric, Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analyses 

2.1) Problem Statement 

The aim of the second modelling task is to set up a parametric project for a simple building model and use a parametric simulation tool to perform a number analyses on the impact of various simulation parameters, boundary conditions and design parameters, on output metrics including heating and cooling energy, and thermal comfort. You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of how parametric simulation, random sampling, uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis work, and your ability to use graphics and tables to communicate the findings from such analyses. 

2.2) You will need 

A fully working, error-free EnergyPlus model of a single-zone building (a “shoebox” model) – you are recommended to use the BESTEST Case 600 model from the previous task to serve as the baseline model and include any necessary modifications as you see fit. The baseline model may be created using either EnergyPlus or DesignBuilder. 

A parametric simulation tool such as jEPlus+EA v2.0 – you can elect to use other tools as long as all the required analyses can be performed. Please make sure that you understand fully how the selected tool is used for the required analyses. 

2.3) You should do 

Here are a number of analyses you are recommended to perform using the parametric simulation tool. Please note the purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate your understanding of the respective methods. You are NOT required to cover all the parameters in the suggested lists. 

a) Identify the impact of the simulation parameters 

In EnergyPlus, there are a number of objects and parameters controlling how the numerical solver handles the simulation processes. Most of such parameters are left to defaults in day-to-day use. However, they can make a significant impact on the simulation results. This exercise is to test if values other than the defaults are used, how results are affected. 

Below is a list of simulation parameters to consider. Based on your understanding of their functions, you may select a few from the list, set up one or more parametric runs, and show/describe the results.

Table2 Table3

b) Evaluate the impact of uncertainties in the boundary conditions 

The boundary conditions of your simulation case include the location and climate of the site and the usage of the building. At the design stage, these inputs are assumed and can contain high-level of uncertainty. This exercise is to identify the characters of the uncertainty sources and quantify their impacts on the simulation results. 

Below is a list of boundary conditions to consider. Based on your understanding of their nature, you may select a few from the list, set up one or more Uncertainty Analysis runs, and present/explain the results.

Table 4

c) Evaluate the sensitivity of the energy and comfort metrics to the design parameters 

Imagine that you are modifying your design to achieve better energy performance (by reducing heating, cooling and lighting energy use) and better thermal comfort. There are many design parameters you can change. This exercise is to evaluate and rank the effectiveness of the available design options. 

Below is a list of design parameters to consider. Based on your understanding of their impacts on the energy performance and comfort level, you may select some or more from the list, set up one or multiple Sensitivity Analysis runs, present the results and draw a conclusion on which of the design options you recommend to use for optimizing the design.

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2.4) Report your findings 

One important aspect of Task 2 is to show your ability to interpret the parametric simulation results and communicating your findings effectively. You should use various charts and tables to present the results that you want your readers to learn about. You should explain what you want to do, how you did it, and what the important findings are. Copying and pasting raw outputs from the parametric simulation tool to your report is generally a bad idea. You are expected in your analysis to go further than just describing your plots and tables, and delve deeper into explaining on the influence of the various parameters. 

Task 3: Design Optimisation

2.1) Problem Statement 

The aim of the final modelling task is to employ an optimisation process to help identify a set of design solutions based on a number of design criteria, using the same simple building model as in Task 2. The design criteria must include annual energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting, and thermal comfort. You should make modifications to the simple building model to incorporate any measures that can help improve the design according to the given design criteria and present the results with explanations of your findings. You are expected to demonstrate an understanding of how a design optimisation process works, and how to set up optimisation, carry out the process, and communicate the findings using text and visual aids. 

2.2) You will need 

A fully working, error-free EnergyPlus model of a single-zone building (a “shoebox” model) – you are recommended to use the BESTEST Case 600 model from the previous task to serve as the baseline model and include any necessary modifications as you see fit. The baseline model may be created using either EnergyPlus or DesignBuilder. 

An optimization tool such as jEPlus+EA v2.0 – you can elect to use other tools as long as an optimization process can be performed, either automatically, semi-automatically or manually, as long as you can demonstrate a full understanding of the process. 

2.3) You shall do 

Here are the steps you are recommended to perform using the design optimization tool. Please note the purpose of the exercises is to demonstrate your understanding of the process. You are NOT required to cover all the metrics and the parameters in the suggested lists below. 

Define optimization criteria 

The recommend optimization criteria to use include the total annual energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting, in the form of purchased heating and cooling energy, electricity consumption, and/or gas consumption, and thermal comfort, in the form of total annual discomfort hours assuming either winter or summer clothing. The precise definitions of the criteria, and the way they are to be handled by the optimization process, e.g. as objectives or as constraints, are up to you to decide, as long as sufficient explanation is given. 

Identify measures and options that can improve the performance of the design 

You shall use the knowledge you have acquired so far in your study to select a number of measures and design options for improving the performance of the building according to your selected optimization criteria. Here is a non-exhaustive list of measures/options you may want to consider. 

Define design parameters (optimization variables) 

Once you have selected the list measures and design options to optimize, you may need to modify the baseline building model to incorporate these measures/options. If jEPlus+EA is to be used, you can now create a jEPlus project containing all the measures/options as the optimization variables. Test the project within jEPlus to make sure that it produces the output you expect, before move on to the next step. 

Carry out an optimization process 

Using the optimization tool, perform the design optimization process until you have obtained a set of solutions that meet your criteria. You shall document the relevant settings for any algorithms used, any important interventions or changes you make during the optimization process, and the reason why you consider the process is complete or shall be terminated. 

Present and describe the findings 

As the last step, you shall present the set solutions as the result of the optimization process, and provide sufficient descriptions to help your reader understand the key points in your findings. You shall also make recommendations on how the result should be used to inform decisions. 

2.4) Reporting 

Similar to Task 2, it is important to show your ability to interpret the optimization results and communicating your findings effectively in Task 3. You should use various charts and tables to present the results that you want your readers to learn about. You should explain what you intend to achieve, the step you have taken, and what the important findings are, with a goal to enable your reader to verify your results independently. 

 

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