Thermal - electrical analogy in dynamic simulations of buildings: Comparison of four numerical solution methods

Piotr Michalak

doi:10.30464/jmee.2020.4.2.179

Thermal - electrical analogy in dynamic simulations of buildings: Comparison of four numerical solution methods

Piotr Michalak Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Department of Power Systems and Environmental Protection Facilities, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8443-3502

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30464/jmee.2020.4.2.179

Keywords: Thermal-electrical analogy, RC network, Lumped capacitance, BESTEST, Euler method, Heun's method

Abstract

The lumped capacitance method is widely used in dynamic modelling of buildings. Models differ in complexity, solution methods and ability to simulate transient behaviour of described objects. The paper presents a mathematical description of a simple 1R1C thermal network model of a building zone. Four numerical methods were applied to solve differential equation describing its dynamics. For validation purposes two test cases (600 and 900) from the BESTEST procedure were used. In both cases detailed results were given. Better ability of the simulation model to reproduce transient behaviour of the modelled buildings was noticed in case of the lightweight object (case 600). Annual heating and cooling demand was within the reference range for heavyweight one (case 900). The kind of the computation method had no significant effect on simulation results.

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Author Biography

Piotr Michalak, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics, Department of Power Systems and Environmental Protection Facilities, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

Piotr Michalak received Ph.D degree in Energy Machines and Equipment from AGH, Kraków. Since 2009 he has been a researcher in the Department of Power Systems and Environmental Protection Facilities at the AGH. His scientific interests focus on problems concerning energy modelling and thermal dynamics of buildings, utilisation of renewable energy sources, CFD simulations and thermal and flow measurements. He is the author or co-author of 61 scientific papers.

Published

2020-11-24

How to Cite

Michalak, P. (2020) “Thermal - electrical analogy in dynamic simulations of buildings: Comparison of four numerical solution methods”, Journal of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, 4(2), pp. 179-188. doi: 10.30464/jmee.2020.4.2.179.

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Issue

Vol 4 No 2 (2020)

Section

Energy Engineering

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