BUILDING SIMULATION CALIBRATION USING SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

This paper presents first steps of a methodology for calibration of building simulation models through definition of the parameters that most affect the main electric end-uses of a building. The first step consists on a good definition of constant loads (plug loads, lighting and occupation) and its schedules. The next steps are directed to calibrate the envelope variables. Sensitivity analysis is applied over the estimated cooling and heating loads in order to specify more accurate values for those inputs that present great impact on the total thermal load. The methodology is proposed to minimize the long time spent in the calibration procedure during a building simulation task. A case study is presented where the annual electricity consumption predicted by EnergyPlus simulation was only 1% lower than actual value. The calibration was obtained after four iterations over the base case model. The building under analysis is a public office one with 26,274 m2 of area and annual electric consumption of 4,462 MWh (172 kWh/m2.year).

[1]  Jean-Marie Fürbringer,et al.  Confidence of simulation results: put a sensitivity analysis module in your MODEL: The IEA-ECBCS Annex 23 experience of model evaluation , 1999 .

[2]  I. Macdonald,et al.  Calibrating models for simulation use in design practice , 2003 .

[3]  Clarke J A Macdonald I A,et al.  ASSESSING UNCERTAINTY IN BUILDING SIMULATION , 1999 .

[4]  Edward Henry Mathews,et al.  A new simplified thermal design tool for architects , 2001 .

[5]  J. P. Waltz.  Practical experience in achieving high levels of accuracy in energy simulations of existing buildings , 1995 .

[6]  Sten de Wit.  INFLUENCE OF MODELING UNCERTAINTIES ON THE SIMULATION OF BUILDING THERMAL COMFORT PERFORMANCE , 1997 .

[7]  Joseph C. Lam,et al.  Sensitivity analysis of energy performance of office buildings , 1996 .

[8]  Kevin J. Lomas,et al.  Sensitivity analysis techniques for building thermal simulation programs , 1992 .

[9]  Godfried Augenbroe,et al.  Analysis of uncertainty in building design evaluations and its implications , 2002 .

[10]  A. Pinney,et al.  Dynamic thermal models: Reliability for domestic building design , 1991 .

[11]  Aldomar Pedrini,et al.  A methodology for building energy modelling and calibration in warm climates , 2002 .

[12]  P.J.C.J. De Wilde,et al.  Computational Support for the Selection of Energy Saving Building Components , 2004 .

[13]  F Déqué,et al.  Grey boxes used to represent buildings with a minimum number of geometric and thermal parameters , 2000 .

[14]  A. Pedrinia,et al.  A methodology for building energy modelling and calibration in warm climates , 2002 .