Towards a quadrupole-based method for buildings simulation: Validation with ASHRAE 140 standard

• Published in: Thermal science and engineering progress Vol. 28; p. 101069
• Main Authors: Berrabah, Soukayna, Bouhssine, Zineb, El Maakoul, Anas, Degiovanni, Alain, Bakhouya, Mohamed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2022
• Subjects: BESTEST case 600FF; BESTEST case 900FF; Building thermal modeling; Energy Plus; Quadrupole method; Transient heat transfer; BESTEST case 600FF; Transient heat transfer; Building thermal modeling; Quadrupole method; BESTEST case 900FF; Energy Plus
• ISSN: 2451-9049; 2451-9049
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2021.101069

•A transient analytical approach based on the Quadrupole method has been developed for building modeling and simulation.•Both 600FF and 900FF BESTEST cases have been used as references for performance evaluation.•The comparison of the results shows a very good consistency.•The analytical model takes into account precisely all the elements of the building. In this paper, an analytical model for buildings simulation and performance evaluation has been introduced and compared to existing numerical models already used in simulation tools. The proposed analytical model is based on the quadrupole approach, which is used for solving partial differential linear equations, while the numerical model is mainly provided by EnergyPlus simulation tool. To validate the proposed analytical model, results have been confronted to those of the BESTEST standard case 600 FF (Light weighted free-floating building) and 900 FF (Heavy weighted free-floating building). These latter are based on the ANSI/ASHRAE norm standard 140–2014 “Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Building Energy Analysis Computer Programs”. Simulations have been conducted by solving, in transient conditions, the heat equation and assessing then the temperature evolution inside the building’s zone. Results are reported and proved the accuracy of the proposed analytical model in terms of transient regime resolution since it considers all the necessary data and dynamics, to model the building and its internal gains without simplifications or hypothesis. Besides, it requires very low simulation time, which is required for large scale buildings’ simulations.