NBERT Interactive Apps
A suite of interactive energy analysis applications are planned as part of the NBERT platform. These are intended to facilitate deeper learning around various aspects related to research being undertaken at NBERT. Currently a Ventilative Cooling Potential Analysis tool is available with some other apps due in the near future.
Ventilative Cooling Tool
Assessing the ventilative cooling (VC) potential of the Irish climate involves the selection of climate data, geographic location, definition of building properties, thermal comfort classification and modelling functionality for ventilation systems. Provision of an infrastructure that integrates these into a user friendly online tool for researchers, policy makers and practitioners will be based on the VC Potential tool developed by EURAC Institute with IEA-EBC Annex 62. Additional functionality will be added to the tool for prediction of ventilation rates and levels of thermal comfort satisfaction.
Reduced Order Building Model
Using energy models of buildings that are computationally inexpensive and require less simulation domain expertise can be useful for early stage analysis and optimisation of building energy performance. The Reduced Order Building and System Model (ROBAS) allows rapid assessment of building energy performance using Resistance-Capacitance network modelling coupled with a simplified airflow model. The tool will enable users explore the factors influencing internal environment in low energy passive buildings.
DUE EARLY 2020
HVAC Optimisation
The delivery of conditioned air for the purposes of comfort cooling or for close controlled process and manufacturing environments is energy and resource intensive. Exploring how strategies such as, for example, variable thermal supply, enthalpy control and demand controlled airflow can improve performance of air systems. The HVAC Optimisation tool will allow users explore multi-variable analysis of standard and non standard Air Handling Unit Designs. The tool will enable users build modular systems that incorporate heating, cooling, humidification and filtration and analyse their performance over defined boundary conditions. The tool also includes a cleanroom Air Change Rate assessment function.
DUE EARLY 2020