Implementation of a building foundation heat transfer model in EnergyPlus

In this article, a two-dimensional transient ground-coupled numerical model for slab-on-grade foundation is developed and integrated into EnergyPlus. A verification analysis is first presented to ensure that the developed building foundation heat transfer module is properly implemented within EnergyPlus. Then, predictions from the developed model are compared with those obtained from a simplified building foundation model currently used in EnergyPlus. Finally, the impact of several foundation insulation configurations on the annual variation of both heating and cooling loads is investigated for a one-storey single-family ranch house. The results show that the developed foundation heat transfer module accounts more accurately for the effects of the ground thermal mass than the foundation model currently used in EnergyPlus. In particular, it was found that annual heating and cooling loads can be overestimated by over 20% for a typical residential building if ground-coupled heat transfer calculations are not fully integrated in EnergyPlus.

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