Renewable Energy Resources and Technologies
Soheil Fathi; Abbas Mahravan
Abstract
In many middle- and high-income countries, existing buildings will occupy the majority of building areas by 2050 and measures are needed to upgrade the mentioned buildings for a sustainable transition. This research proposes a method to mitigate the energy consumption of existing educational buildings ...
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In many middle- and high-income countries, existing buildings will occupy the majority of building areas by 2050 and measures are needed to upgrade the mentioned buildings for a sustainable transition. This research proposes a method to mitigate the energy consumption of existing educational buildings using four energy efficiency measures (EEMs). The proposed method divides simulations into two main parts: simulations with and without using heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Four passive EEMs are used, including window replacement, proposed shading devices, new insulations, and installing a new partition wall for the entrance part of the building. This research uses a simulation-based method to examine the effect of each EEM on the energy consumption of the building using DesignBuilder software. The steps of data collection and modeling in this research include collecting raw data related to the physical characteristics of the building experimentally and creating a basic model. Afterwards, simulation scenarios were defined based on the proposed method, and several simulations were carried out to examine the impact of each EEM on the energy performance of the building. Two environmental parameters of the simulation process, including indoor air temperature (IAT) and relative humidity (RH), were used. The measures reduced the heating and cooling demands in the building by 80.14 % and 15.70 %, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that the total energy consumption of the building were reduced by 10.44 % after retrofitting measures.
Advanced Energy Technologies
Mahnoosh Eghtedari; Abbas Mahravan
Abstract
Increasing fossil fuel consumption in the building, especially in the air-conditioning sector, has increased environmental pollution and global warming. In this research, a zero-energy passive system was designed to ventilate the building and provide comfortable conditions for people in the summer. A ...
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Increasing fossil fuel consumption in the building, especially in the air-conditioning sector, has increased environmental pollution and global warming. In this research, a zero-energy passive system was designed to ventilate the building and provide comfortable conditions for people in the summer. A hybrid passive system was designed for indoor cooling to minimize fossil energy use. This research was done experimentally- and analytically and by simulation. An experimental study comprising a test chamber and simulation using Builder Design software was carried out to evaluate the cooling and ventilation potential of a hybrid passive system functioning. In the experimental section, air temperature, humidity, and airflow for the outdoor environment and the output of the evaporative cooling channel were measured. These measurements were tested in August from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for six consecutive days. The obtained experimental data were given to Design Builder software as an input parameter, and then, the comfort conditions inside the chamber, the dimensions, and location of the air inlet valve into the chamber were examined. The findings showed that the proposed system could reduce the air temperature by an average of 10 oC and increase the air humidity by 33 %. The findings showed that the air inside the chamber was comfortable during the hottest hours of the day. Raising the valve location, increasing the area, and increasing the volumetric flow rate of the air increased the percentage of dissatisfaction. The findings showed that in addition to wind speed and air temperature, the geometrical shape of the air inlet opening contributes to indoor air comfort conditions.