Comparative Study on Computer Simulation of Solar Shading Performance with Heliodon and Artificial Sky (original) (raw)
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2021
Current technological advancement and the requirement for sustainability-driven practices has birthed increased demands for accuracy in performance and assessment of energy consumption in the built environment. Energy-efficient and sustainable building projects are to large extents dependent on achieving functional solar shading and sufficient daylighting in building interiors. Hence, the understanding and adequate evaluation of the sun and its dynamic influence on buildings right at the early stage of planning and design is essential for the development of performance-driven building designs. In this study, the performance simulation results of Integrated Environmental Solutions software program modules are examined for accuracy in executing performance analysis of solar shading. This study assesses the shading prediction of Suncast; a virtual solar shading calculation tool, and RadianceIES for measuring daylight availability in a tropical climate region. The evaluation of shading performance with Suncast was validated through physical experiment by comparing the results obtained therein with shading analysis outcomes generated on a scale model with the aid of a heliodon. Likewise, RadianceIES daylighting simulations were compared with measurements realised from an artificial sky simulator. The results were further subjected to correlation tests to determine the relationship between simulation and physical experiment results. The computational evaluation approach presented more efficient means of conducting the performance simulations over the physical experiment methods which were limited by mechanical design of the components. Suncast and RadianceIES simulation results presented comparable equivalence with measurement output acquired from the heliodon and artificial sky respectively, with minimal variations in accuracy. Thus, demonstrating the ability of the computational simulation program in accurately predicting solar shading and daylight performance in buildings, this could benefit architects in the proper and efficient design of shading devices for building facades at early design stages.
An industry perspective on building simulations with solar shading
E3S Web of Conferences
This case study illustrates the difficulties that designers encounter when trying to simulate building performance taking both daylight, indoor climate and view out into account. An example of a workflow for combined climate-based daylight and indoor climate calculations using two separate software is shown for illustrating the challenges. Furthermore, the study shows how the evaluation of indoor climate, daylight and view out, in accordance with EN 15251, EN 17037 and EN 14501, can be linked together as a basis for comparison of different solar shading technologies for ZEB buildings.
Integrating daylight and energy performance with optimization into the design process has always been a challenge for designers. Most of the building environmental performance simulation tools require a considerable amount of time and iterations for achieving accurate results. Moreover the combination of daylight and energy performances has always been an issue, as different software packages are needed to perform detailed calculations. A simplified method to overcome both issues using recent advances in software integration is explored here. As a case study; the optimization of external shadings in a typical office space in Australia is presented. Results are compared against common solutions adopted as industry standard practices. Visual comfort and energy efficiency are analysed in an integrated approach. The DIVA (Design, Iterate, Validate and Adapt) plug-in for Rhinoceros/Grasshopper software is used as the main tool, given its ability to effectively calculate daylight metrics (using the Radiance/Daysim engine) and energy consumption (using the EnergyPlus engine). The optimization process is carried out parametrically controlling the shadings’ geometries. Genetic Algorithms (GA) embedded in the evolutionary solver Galapagos are adopted in order to achieve close to optimum results by controlling iteration parameters. The optimized result, in comparison with conventional design techniques, reveals significant enhancement of comfort levels and energy efficiency. Benefits and drawbacks of the proposed strategy are then discussed.
International Journal of Application on Sciences , Technology and Engineering, 2023
Various daylight simulation tools, which are rapidly developed, become a reliable way for simulating the complex daylighting environment. Empirical validation of the daylight simulation tool is essential in determining its reliability, especially in simulating light transport and shading system in the Tropics. Distinct from previous research, the validation involves Horizontal Light Pipe (HLP), a side window with shading systems in different room aspect ratios and orientations. This study aims to validate the simulation results of Integrated Environmental Solutions-Virtual Environment (IES-VE) Radiance IES with the measurement results of physical scaled models for evaluating HLP, light shelves, and blinds' daylight performance under intermediate and overcast sky conditions. Two physical scaled models 1:10 represent office rooms with HLP and shading systems with different room aspect ratios were constructed. Daylight Factor (DF) and Daylight Ratio (DF) of physical scaled model measurement and IES-VE simulation were compared. The results showed that under intermediate and overcast sky conditions, the Pearson correlation between simulation and measurement results using DR and DF was strong, significant, and positive, as high as 0.84 and 0.80, respectively. The Mean Bias Error between simulation and measurement results under intermediate and overcast sky conditions were-12% and-7.7%, respectively. IES-VE is reliable to evaluate the HLP and shading systems' daylight performance with different room orientations in the Tropics.
Influence of Solar Radiation Data Processing on Building Simulation Results
A new set of climatic data for different kinds of calculations has been compiled for various Swiss localities. This includes the generation of new design reference year data sets with hourly values for e.g. building simulations. The procedure conforms to a set of new European standards describing the algo- rithms. One key element in this is the processing of solar radiation information, especially for the separation into direct and diffuse components. The most advanced methodology was used. Simulation examples for testing the data showed surprisingly high differences in the energy consumption results compared to the old data sets. Differences as high as +34% in cooling energy resulted for a realistic case. Analysis showed the main reason being the radiation data and especially the direct/diffuse split. This puts into perspective some controversies concerning model details.
Climate-based daylight simulation as a planning aid for the design of solar facades
Proceedings Energy Forum: Advanced Building Skins, 2013
Climate-based daylight simulation allows performance predictions for façade designs based on available climate data. Simulations based on daylight contribution coefficients coupled with models of sky luminance distribution make this tool available even in the design process. Metrics describing glare probability and the potential to substitute electrical lighting by daylight are applied and design proposals iteratively improved. The method is demonstrated on an existing building, the " Neubad Lucerne " , which is subject to design studies by students of architecture. Proposals to extend the two South-facing facades are developed, aiming at lower glare probability and optimized use of daylight to minimize electrical energy consumption for lighting. This paper shows: a) The different façade designs in photorealistic renderings. b) The quantitative analysis of useful daylight illuminance and daylight glare probability. c) A comparison of the designs according to the predicted daylight glare probability. Finally, It closes wih a comment on using climate-based simulation as a design tool.
2020
Daylighting presents an important role for high performance buildings. Currently, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has excelled in the Architecture and Engineering (AE being a little explored subject. This article aims to investigate the Insight plug-in for Revit, focusing on its daylighting features. The workflow, input-output structure and results of Insight dynamic (sDA) and static (illuminance levels) daylighting metrics were analyzed, comparatively to the plug-in DIVA-for-Rhino, which simulation engines were considered validated by literature. Simulations on both software used the same model of a reference office space for the city of Belo Horizonte. Results indicate that Insight’s favors the daylighting analysis in the initial phases of the design process and allows the verification of code compliances, however determining materials optical properties presents some degree of complexity. Low sensitivity to glasses with low and medium values of light transmittance was noticed...
Energies
The calculation of sunlit surfaces in a building has always been a relevant aspect in building energy simulation programs. Due to the high computational cost, some programs use algorithms for shading calculation for certain solar positions after discretization of hemispherical sky. The influence of the level of discretization on the estimation of incident direct radiation on building surfaces, as well as on the required computational times, are studied in this work. The direct solar energy on a window for a year, with simulation time steps of five minutes, has been simulated by using an algorithm based on Projection and Clipping Methods. A total of 6144 simulations have been carried out, varying window sizes, window orientations, typologies of shading devices, latitudes and discretization levels of the hemispherical sky. In terms of annual incident solar energy, the results show that maximum error values are about 5% for a low level of angular discretization. Errors up to 22% in hou...
2020
The outcome of this study is the development of a prototype REVIT2RADIANCE add-in program for a Building Information Modeling (BIM) authoring tool Autodesk Revit to perform daylighting studies with ease by architects and simulation experts alike for designing High-Performance Buildings. To achieve this, first, a literature survey of several different daylighting calculation methods and tools was conducted to identify their capabilities and limitations, which include a comparative analysis of tools that are widely used and comparative analysis of daylighting simulation tools was ascertained from the comparative analysis. The results of the comparative analysis revealed that the state-of-the-art daylighting simulation tool RADIANCE has To my GOD & LORD JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH KING of Kings and
Evaluation of Daylight in Buildings in the Future
2015
Building regulation requirements and traditional engineering practice for daylight calculations is often outdated and unsynchronized with the advance and needs of modern sustainable building design. State-of-the-art calculation tools provide accurate results on daylight conditions using methods as simple as calculating the useful daylight illuminance. These methods facilitate sustainable building design that also works in practice. This is illustrated with an example where the daylight conditions in an office with different types of solar shading is examined.