Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building
The current decarbonization transition to be achieved by 2050 according to the European Council has given great prominence to the use of Digital Twins as tools for energy management. For their correct operation, it is essential to control the uncertainties of the energy models, which lead to differe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/2/421 |
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| author | Gabriela Bastos Porsani María Fernández-Vigil Iglesias Juan Bautista Echeverría Trueba Carlos Fernández Bandera |
| author_facet | Gabriela Bastos Porsani María Fernández-Vigil Iglesias Juan Bautista Echeverría Trueba Carlos Fernández Bandera |
| author_sort | Gabriela Bastos Porsani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current decarbonization transition to be achieved by 2050 according to the European Council has given great prominence to the use of Digital Twins as tools for energy management. For their correct operation, it is essential to control the uncertainties of the energy models, which lead to differences between the measured and predicted data. One of the key parameters that is most difficult to assess numerically is air leakage. The existent infiltration models available in EnergyPlus were developed to be applied in low-rise residential buildings with fewer than three stories. Therefore, it is common to rely on air leakage equations employing predefined coefficients. This research presents an empirical assessment of the performance of two EnergyPlus air leakage models, the “Effective Leakage Area” and the “Flow Coefficient”, in predicting dynamic infiltration within the attic of a seven-story building. Blower door tests, along with the application of CO<sub>2</sub> tracer gas, were conducted to establish coefficients for the models. Then, they were evaluated in three independent periods according to the criteria established in the American Society for Testing Material D5157 Standard. Those models that only used in situ coefficients consistently met the standard across all three periods, demonstrating for both equations their accurate performance and reliability. For the best model derived from tracer gas data, the R<sup>2</sup> and NMSE values are 0.94 and 0.019, respectively. In contrast, the model developed using blower door test data and EnergyPlus default values presented a 64% reduction in accuracy compared to the best one. This discrepancy could potentially lead to misleading energy estimates. Although other software options exist for estimating infiltration, this study specifically targets EnergyPlus users. Therefore, these findings offer valuable insights to make more informed decisions when implementing the infiltration models into energy simulations for high-rise buildings using EnergyPlus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:39:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1f319155d398450ba302cf981255394a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:39:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj.art-1f319155d398450ba302cf981255394a2024-02-23T15:10:11ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-02-0114242110.3390/buildings14020421Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story BuildingGabriela Bastos Porsani0María Fernández-Vigil Iglesias1Juan Bautista Echeverría Trueba2Carlos Fernández Bandera3School of Architecture, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, SpainSchool of Architecture, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, SpainSchool of Architecture, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, SpainSchool of Technology, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, SpainThe current decarbonization transition to be achieved by 2050 according to the European Council has given great prominence to the use of Digital Twins as tools for energy management. For their correct operation, it is essential to control the uncertainties of the energy models, which lead to differences between the measured and predicted data. One of the key parameters that is most difficult to assess numerically is air leakage. The existent infiltration models available in EnergyPlus were developed to be applied in low-rise residential buildings with fewer than three stories. Therefore, it is common to rely on air leakage equations employing predefined coefficients. This research presents an empirical assessment of the performance of two EnergyPlus air leakage models, the “Effective Leakage Area” and the “Flow Coefficient”, in predicting dynamic infiltration within the attic of a seven-story building. Blower door tests, along with the application of CO<sub>2</sub> tracer gas, were conducted to establish coefficients for the models. Then, they were evaluated in three independent periods according to the criteria established in the American Society for Testing Material D5157 Standard. Those models that only used in situ coefficients consistently met the standard across all three periods, demonstrating for both equations their accurate performance and reliability. For the best model derived from tracer gas data, the R<sup>2</sup> and NMSE values are 0.94 and 0.019, respectively. In contrast, the model developed using blower door test data and EnergyPlus default values presented a 64% reduction in accuracy compared to the best one. This discrepancy could potentially lead to misleading energy estimates. Although other software options exist for estimating infiltration, this study specifically targets EnergyPlus users. Therefore, these findings offer valuable insights to make more informed decisions when implementing the infiltration models into energy simulations for high-rise buildings using EnergyPlus.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/2/421blower doorbuilding energy modeldecarbonizationdecay methoddigital twinsinfiltration modeling |
| spellingShingle | Gabriela Bastos Porsani María Fernández-Vigil Iglesias Juan Bautista Echeverría Trueba Carlos Fernández Bandera Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building Buildings blower door building energy model decarbonization decay method digital twins infiltration modeling |
| title | Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building |
| title_full | Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building |
| title_fullStr | Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building |
| title_full_unstemmed | Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building |
| title_short | Infiltration Models in EnergyPlus: Empirical Assessment for a Case Study in a Seven-Story Building |
| title_sort | infiltration models in energyplus empirical assessment for a case study in a seven story building |
| topic | blower door building energy model decarbonization decay method digital twins infiltration modeling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/2/421 |
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