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TRNSYS—a transient simulation program
Abstract
This paper describes TRNSYS, a computer program designed specifically to connect component models in a specified manner, solve the simultaneous equations of the system model, and display the results. Solar energy system components are described by individual FORTRAN subroutines. These subroutines comprise a growing library of equipment models available to the user for system simulation.
... The tomato crop was grown in the greenhouse utilized for this study, and it was designed as a single-span structure with a total floor area of 300 m 2 . TRNSYS 18 [16,17] was utilized for the implementation of simulation and modeling owing to its modular and adaptable building construction. By linking a series of default "Types" from its library within the Simulation Studio interface, this software facilitates dynamic simulations. ...
... As the model was produced, it was imported into TRNBuild [16,17], where different parameters were established, such as the orientation of the greenhouse and the envelope's thermophysical characteristics. ...
... These metrics comprised wall layers, the materials' optical qualities, and their thermal characteristics were applied to create the greenhouse. TRNFlow software [16,17] was used to estimate the air-mass exchanges within the greenhouse, allowing for natural ventilation and vents. The air node temperatures, which were obtained by building a thermal network in TRNBuild, were used by TRNFlow to calculate air flow exchanges. ...
Evaporative cooling systems have evolved as highly effective greenhouse-control solutions, particularly in hot and dry places such as Multan, Pakistan. This chapter evaluates the performance of direct (DEC) and indirect evaporative cooling systems (IEC) for an asymmetric greenhouse using TRNSYS software. The performance of the systems was assessed in terms of simulated ideal vapor pressure deficit (VPD), temperature, and humidity for tomato cultivation. According to the results, the DEC system effectively reduced the temperature, while the IEC system effectively managed the humidity. The DEC system showed maximum energy saving of up to 40% in hot and dry months. The combination of both DEC and IEC systems produced the optimum level of temperature and humidity for increased tomato output, energy savings, and water usage efficiency. A higher (up to 0.35 kg/h) evapotranspiration mass flow rate was observed in the middle of the year in the case of the second and fourth system configurations. Findings from this study highlight the need for sustainable, energy-efficient cooling methods for greenhouse agriculture.
... This process involves dynamic thermal simulation tools and other numerical calculation tools. In this paper, the TRNSYS environment [42] has been employed to design and develop a complete computational process that takes the form of a digital platform, as shown in Fig. 3, supported by an interconnect that uses Matlab for the eventual calculations. This platform is developed using various components available in the TRNSYS library, programmed and driven according to the present optimization approach, which will be described mathematically in the following sections, in order to obtain a single functional system. ...
... The performance of a pumped storage power transfer system is evaluated by the combination of two reference parameters, namely the outlet flow rate from the upper reservoir Qps(t) and the head Hps of the hydraulic circuit connecting the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. The latter has been modeled by a very particular process using several components existing in the intrinsic library of TRNSYS [42], notably the one called "equation", since there is no specific package dedicated to this system. The power produced by the pumped energy transfer system is determined using Eq. ( (17) The SOC at time t is determined by the discretization of Eq. (16) and Eq. ...
In the realm of positive building design, local energy production systems are gaining prominence. Strategies aimed at advancing this concept often involve optimizing hybrid renewable systems through various means, including sizing, maximizing power extraction, or energy management. Among these, energy management holds particular significance, especially in systems incorporating dual energy storage sources, as addressed in our work. Here, we explore the optimization of hybrid renewable systems, focusing on photovoltaic, wind, pumped storage, and battery storage as energy sources in a proposed hybrid local energy generation system. Managed by a multi-source controller, driven by an optimal energy management system, our approach aims to better fulfill the thermal needs of buildings in semi-arid climates. The system’s modeling and calculation processes are conducted within the TRNSYS environment. Utilizing TRNSYS embedded computers, the controller is programmed according to a tailored energy management algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate the system’s capability to effectively meet energy demands by leveraging renewable energy sources. Notably, our system showcases a remarkable 39% improvement in energy self-sufficiency compared to conventional approaches. Future research endeavors will explore the integration of high-resistivity phase change materials to further enhance positive building design.
... By calculating the energy balance of each zone, the thermal changes of each zone and energy exchange between the container and RTG were examined. The main components used in the developed TRNSYS model were summarized in Table 4. Table 4. Main TRNSYS components used in the model [22]. ...
... Based on the energy conservation equation, the energy exchange equation for an arbitrary zone i considering convection, radiation, and other heat transfer is suggested in Equation (1) [22]. ...
Recently, there has been a growing interest in sustainable agricultural methods aimed at reducing energy consumption and mitigating environmental impacts. Among these methods, the integration of rooftop greenhouses into buildings has emerged as a promising solution for urban agriculture, offering various advantages such as energy-saving effects on both the host building and the rooftop greenhouse, improved resource use efficiency, enhanced food security, and reduced environmental impacts. However, there has been limited research on the energy-saving impact of rooftop greenhouses under different conditions and detailed heat transfer analysis based on actual buildings and rooftop greenhouses. The objective of this study is to investigate the energy benefits of building-integrated rooftop greenhouses by evaluating various operating scenarios for both the building and the greenhouse. A container and upper rooftop greenhouse structure were constructed, and building energy simulation models for the target system were developed. Four different operating scenarios for the greenhouse and three different operating scenarios for the building were compared. Depending on the operating scenarios, the total energy loads of the container and RTG were reduced by 18.4% to 24.7% and 0.7% to 6.3%, respectively. The findings of this study can be utilized for the development of optimized greenhouse control strategies.
... Ther no considerable differences in the results between dividing the ship into several zo considering it as a single zone. The patrol thermal model was created using the TR software (v17) [14] based on known patrol envelope characteristics (Table 1). Energ (v8.0) was used to create the weather-.epw ...
... There were no considerable differences in the results between dividing the ship into several zones or considering it as a single zone. The patrol thermal model was created using the TRNSYS software (v17) [14] based on known patrol envelope characteristics (Table 1). EnergyPlus (v8.0) was used to create the weather-.epw ...
Thermal simulations have become increasingly popular in assessing energy efficiency and predicting thermal behaviors in various structures. Calibration of these simulations is essential for accurate predictions. A crucial aspect of this calibration involves investigating the influence of meteorological variables. This study aims to explore the impact of meteorological variables on thermal simulations, particularly focusing on ships. Using TRNSYS (TRaNsient System Simulation) software (v17), renowned for its capability to model complex energy systems within buildings, the significance of incorporating meteorological data into thermal simulations was analyzed. The investigation centered on a patrol vessel stationed in a port in Galicia, northwest Spain. To ensure accuracy, we not only utilized the vessel’s dimensions but also conducted in situ temperature measurements onboard. Furthermore, a dedicated weather station was installed to capture real-time meteorological data. Data from multiple sources, including Meteonorm and MeteoGalicia, were collected for comparative analysis. By juxtaposing simulations based on meteorological variables against those relying solely on in situ measurements, we sought to discern the relative merits of each approach in enhancing the fidelity of thermal simulations.
... In the study, demand scenarios and network topologies as well as heat demand per trail length are varied. The building models are developed in TRNSYS [12] and incorporate buffer storage on the primary and the secondary sides of the heat pump, hot water storage to supply internal heating loops, and an additional solar loop for roof-mounted units. Bidirectional energy flows and undirected medium flows are handled by two pump models with reverse flow direction. ...
In order to reach climate protection goals at national or international levels, new forms of combined heating and cooling networks with ultra-low network temperatures (5GDHC) are viable alternatives to conventional heating networks. This paper presents a simulation library for 5GDHC networks as sustainable shared energy systems, developed in the object-oriented simulation framework OpenModelica. It comprises sub-models for residential buildings acting as prosumers in the network, with additional roof-mounted thermal systems, dynamic thermo-hydraulic representations of distribution pipes and storage, time-series-based sources for heating and cooling, and weather conditions adjustable to user-specified locations. A detailed insight into an in-house development of a sub-model for horizontal ground heat collectors is given. This sub-model is directly coupled with thermo-hydraulic network simulations. The simulation results of energy balances and energetic efficiencies for an example district are described. Findings from this study show that decentralised roof-mounted solar thermal systems coupled to the network can contribute 21% to the total source heat provided in the network while annual thermal gains from the distribution pipes add up to more than 18% within the described settings. The presented simulation library can support conceptual and advanced planning phases for renewable heating and cooling supply structures based on environmental sources.
... A group of engineers has developed components for TRNSYS, validated them against experimental data, and now authorized the University of Wisconsin Madison Solar Lab to share these components with other TRNSYS users. All the useful information about each component's mechanism and mathematical formulas can be found online or in TRNSYS documentation [30]. Table 1 describes the main components used in the TRNSYS studio to model and control the present smart energy system. ...
... For the transient system analysis, TRNSYS software, which is widely used in this field, was employed. TRNSYS is a comprehensive and extensible simulation environment for the transient simulation of systems, including multi-zone buildings [33]. While setting up the TRNSYS model, the 3D model of the greenhouse was first created in SketchUp 2021 software. ...
Chinese-style greenhouses (CSGs), characterized by a distinct geometric shape compared to traditional greenhouses, are extensively utilized in China. In this study, this type of greenhouse was modeled using TRNSYS software version 18 and experimentally validated. The model can transiently determine the indoor conditions of the greenhouse and the requirement for additional heating. It calculates the heat loss due to plant evapotranspiration as well as all the heat gains and losses from the surfaces. The application of this greenhouse has been investigated from the southernmost to the northernmost regions of Europe. For this purpose, cities located at different latitudes (between 32.63° N and 69.65° N) were entered into the model, and the results were obtained and compared. The analysis conducted over the entire year demonstrated that the CSG indoor temperature is more dependent on solar energy during the day and on outdoor temperature at night. The two southernmost cities in our survey, Funchal, Portugal (32.63° N) and Luqa, Malta (35.83° N), had no winter heating requirement. The thermal covering was sufficient to minimize night heat loss and maintain a suitable indoor temperature. In northern cities, the heating requirement was relatively high due to the lower outdoor temperature and solar radiation. Consequently, the duration of the heating season increases towards the north. In the northernmost city, Tromso, Norway (69.65° N), the heating season was determined to last 12 months. In the absence of solar energy, the transparent surface of the greenhouse is covered with thermal insulation to prevent heat loss. It has been shown that with the appropriate selection of this thermal covering, which is controlled based on the presence of instantaneous solar energy, up to 80% savings can be achieved from additional heating in southern cities. In the north, this rate can be increased up to a maximum of 70% by increasing the thermal covering thickness.
... Situation of Skikda city (URL2)More precisely in the south of the city, in the district Houari Boumediene, which consists of buildings of G+ 4, where the choice was focused on a housing F3 located in the upper floor.The study consists of a series of numerical simulations carried out using the software TRNSYS17(Klein et al., 2010) which is a highly efficient and highly flexible dynamic thermal simulation environment used to simulate the behavior of transient systems, in order to evaluate the influence of the change in the color of the external surfaces of the building (facades and roofs) on energy consumption.The building, subject of our research is built according to the traditional post-beam system with a lightweight envelope consisting of a double wall cinder block with an air gap of 5cm thick as an insulating layer for the vertical walls and a hollow roof with insulation of expanded polystyrene of 4cm thick, an average color or albedo of 0.6 for the walls and 0.2 for the roof. ...
The housing stock in the world and in Algeria is constantly growing, with a sharp increase in energy consumption. An intervention on this park, trying to reduce energy use passively by designing and building energy-efficient housing, can generate significant savings. Indeed, it is possible to act either on the building envelope, or on the heating and air-conditioning equipment, and in Algeria, there is no normative environment for determining the yields and the power of heating or air conditioning appliances. So, in our study, we will opt for an analysis of the behavior of the building, by acting on the building envelope and more particularly on the color of the horizontal and vertical walls (facades and roof) to see its effect on energy consumption. It has been found that the color of the outer wall has an influence on the energy consumption especially for the albedo values which exceed 0.5 (absorption <0.5).
... This study evaluated the environmental effects by using the Chicco and Mancarella [27] energy output-based emission factor method; it yields the global equivalent mass mx of a given pollutant x emitted while producing the energy output E according to the following formula: ...
Scientific interest on small-scale wind turbines (power output lower than 50 kW) is significantly increased in the last years. In this paper the performance of four commercial models of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines (with different power outputs of 1100, 2200, 3100 and 6300 W) serving a typical single-family house have been analyzed by means of the TRaNsient SYStems simulation tool (TRNSYS) upon varying the climatic conditions of 5 Italian cities (Naples, Rome, Milan, Palermo, Alghero). Their performance has been compared with those corresponding to the same building while served by the central electric grid from energy, environmental and economic points of view. The simulations highlighted that the utilization of wind turbine allows to reduce the electric energy imported from the grid, the equivalent global CO2 emissions and the operating costs up to 59.36%, 59.68% and 142.39%, respectively. The study revealed that both the commercial model of the wind turbine model as well as the installation city greatly affect the performance. Specifically, the best results have been achieved for the 2200 W wind turbine, whatever the city is; for a given wind turbine model, the minimum simple pay-back period (1.3 years) is obtained for the city of Palermo.
... In this study, we investigated the performance of the commercially available GSIHP as applied to a residential NZEB. An annual building energy use simulation was conducted in the Transient System Simulation program (TRNSYS) [27], where the GSIHP was modeled using manufacturer's data [28]. The performance of the GSIHP was compared to a 'mid-grade' two-capacity GSHP and a variable-speed GSHP (GSHPVS) ...
For net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs), efficient heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems reduce the demand that must be met by renewable energy supply. Ground-source integrated heat pumps (GSIHPs) are attractive state-of-the-art HVAC candidates that efficiently provide all the heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) for a residence. We investigated the performance of a variable-speed GSIHP applied to a residential NZEB in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, using an annual building energy simulation in TRNSYS. The validated building model incorporated the performance of all facility equipment and simulated the scheduled thermal and electric energy use and gains within the building. For the GSIHP and all compared options, the renewable energy was generated from a roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) array whose size was adjusted to achieve exactly net-zero annual energy use. The combined annual heating, cooling, dehumidifier, and DHW energy use with the GSIHP was 4112 kWh, a 37 % reduction compared to a two-capacity GSHP and a standalone heat pump water heater (HPWH). The variable-speed and more efficient components of the GSIHP reduced energy use by 18 %, and the remaining 19 % reduction was attributed to the more efficient water heating. Compared to a two-capacity air-source heat pump (ASHP) with a HPWH and an ASHP with an electric water heater (EWH), the GSIHP energy savings were 45 % and 54 %, respectively. We also varied ground heat exchanger (GHX) borehole depth and found little reduction in GSIHP energy use when GHX length was increased beyond that which minimally satisfied the heating criteria (55 m per bore with 2 bores). Finally, we explored using a solar hot water (SHW) system and found minimal benefit for the GSIHP and modest savings for the GSHP.
... For example, Zhang analyzed the dynamic coupling mechanisms among different energy forms within multi-energy flow systems, constructing a hybrid simulation system that integrates thermoelectric coupling interfaces through data interaction methods and error analysis across different time scales [9]. Sha& KLEIN combined thermodynamic simulation software like TRNSYS with MATLAB/Simulink, a tool commonly used for power simulations, to develop semi-physical real-time simulation test platforms for IES [10] [11]. Additionally, XX developed a functional data interaction interface between TRNSYS and MATLAB, proposing a cross-platform IES simulation framework [12]. ...
Integrated energy systems (IES) coordinate heterogeneous energy flows of electricity, heat, and gas to meet diverse load demands and enhance energy efficiency, is a new generation of energy systems that promote sustainable energy development. Simulation systems are essential tools for the analysis, control, and optimization of IES. However, due to the strong coupling of heterogeneous energy flows in IES, existing simulation software often lacks integration, typically focusing on electricity or relying on separate simulations of different energy flows. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a unified simulation technology for electricity, heat, and gas. First, the thermodynamic dynamic simulation capabilities of MATLAB/Simulink are extended using the Thermolib toolbox to create a unified modeling and simulation environment for coupled multi-energy flows. On this foundation, the energy conversion relationships and operating mechanisms of key multi-energy coupling equipment are studied, and dynamic Simulink models of the critical energy devices within the system are developed. Finally, a comprehensive dynamic simulation model for the multi-energy flows of the IES is constructed by connecting energy device models through an energy flow bus. The simulation results demonstrate that this system can effectively simulate the characteristics of electricity, heat, and gas flows across multiple time scales and the complex operating conditions of various energy devices within the MATLAB environment. This approach simplifies the multi-energy flow simulation structure and improves data transmission efficiency for multi-energy flows.
... Simulations were performed in TRNSYS 17 (see Underlying and related material section) with hourly resolution, backed by Python routines for parametric evaluation. Meteorological data was taken from the TRNSYS weather database of Meteonorm files [4]. The simulations consider two basic models: a system with a Molten Salts Parabolic Trough Power Plant (PTPP) and a Photovoltaic Thermal Storage Power Plant (PVTS), as illustrated in Figure 1. ...
The use of thermal energy storage (TES) technologies, as means to provide dispatchability to thermally driven solar power production, has long stood as the main argument for the interest and potential competitiveness of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) when compared to other non-dispatchable alternatives. Whereas reductions of the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) are observed for CSP in recent years, the notable LCOE reduction observed along this decade in large-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) plants is set to break the taboo of "power-to-heat-to-power" approaches, as its potential economic performance outcasts the associated thermodynamic inefficiency. The possibility of using available resistive heating technologies and components in PV-TES combinations, renders the configuration of a conventional CSP plant suitable for the replacement of a thermal conversion solar field by a photovoltaic field presenting further the possibility of delocalization and/or spatial distribution of the solar field (e.g. on a Carnot Battery configuration). As dispatchability no longer stands as an exclusive argument in favor of CSP over PV, the present article addresses the boundary conditions for the competitiveness of each technology as the champion of dispatchable solar power fields. The impact of both land and electrical heater costs variation in the variation of LCOE for PV-TES plants is much more modest than that observed for the impact of CSP solar field cost variations in the variation of LCOE for CSP plants, which leans for the latter and at present costs, towards better competitiveness for plant designs with a storage capacity in excess of 10.0 FLH (for GHI values in excess of 2100-2200 kWh•m-2 •year-1).
... TRNSYS provides an intuitive simulation environment with an open modular structure. A TRNSYS project is typically setup by connecting components (referred to as Types), described by a mathematical model in the simulation engine [32]. ...
... Figure 3 shows the proposed system. This was simulated using the commercial software TRNSYS (S. A Klein, 2017). For this purpose, an ORC type was created that modelled the ORC cycle based on the values of the parameters in Table 1. ...
Distributed microgeneration is an alternative for aggregate energy integration into the electricity grid. Low-temperature heat recovery systems, such as ORCs, are particularly interesting given their compactness and safety for application in the residential sector, operating at moderate pressures and low heat source temperatures. Energy surpluses generated by renewable technologies commonly used in the building sector, such as photovoltaics or micro-wind, can be used to power systems that provide backup and add inertia to the grid. In this study, micro-ORCs (< 2 kWe) were integrated with different heat supply technologies in buildings, including storage with DHW water tanks or sensible heat in bedrock for heating. An overview of possible configurations and techno-economic optimization is provided, offering combined strategies with other installations and additional characterization of energy communities with a larger number of connected neighbors, determining optimized integrations for covering thermal and electrical demands.
... The heat transmitted through the walls, ceiling, and ground is considered with the internal heat gains to determine how much energy must be supplied to maintain a temperature set point (Wang 2000). Depending on the building structure, the calculation procedure may become complicated and expensive regarding the computational effort, and commonly software are employed (DOE 2022;Klein 2022). ...
... The internal calculation method, which is dependent on the temperature difference between the surface, the direction of heat flow, and the time steps, was used for this study. It is expressed mathematically in Eq. (3) [43]: ...
... This research work is simulation-based, in order to investigate the long-term performance and to compare different design scenarios for the same boundary conditions. For this purpose, the TRNSYS software [33] has been used. TRNSYS is a FORTRAN-based energy system modelling and performance analysis tool that can be used to conduct transient energy simulations. ...
Ground source heat pumps (GSHP), as a renewable energy technology, are highly efficient systems suitable for meeting the heating needs of buildings, particularly in heating-dominated regions like Scandinavia. This study aims to better define the scope of application and sizing of GSHP combined with photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors in Nordic conditions. The study compares seasonal performance factors (SPF), average ground temperatures , and investment costs for heating different numbers of apartment blocks in two distinct Nordic climates: Baltic climate and cold continental climate. To assess the long-term effects on the energy performance of GSHP + PVT systems, dynamic simulations using the TRNSYS software are conducted over a period of 50 years. The results demonstrate that PVT improves the long-term system performance, particularly in large and compact borehole (BH) fields, while in smaller BH fields, natural regeneration keeps playing a substantial role. For instance, PVT added to a GSHP system with large BH field can limit the ground temperature reduction after 50 years by 33 % compared to the configurations without PVT. In contrast, this reduction is only 13 % for systems with small BH fields. Moreover, the results show that GSHP + PVT can lead to a reduction of up to 95 % in the required area for installing the BH field while maintaining (almost) the same energy performance compared to a conventional GSHP. Notably, this study shows that the utilization of GSHP + PVT leads to a substantial reduction in BH length (up to 50 %) while maintaining a similar system SPF. It leads to a decrease in investment costs of up to 9.32 % and 22.92 % for the scenarios located in Norway and Sweden, respectively, compared to the case with PV instead of PVT. These findings suggest that PVT integration holds promise for advancing the GSHP adoption in high-latitude regions, especially in larger installations and colder climates, by mitigating investment costs while preserving the system SPF and ground temperature stability.
... The high-density CEA space model, the vertical farm, was created in TRNSYS [31] and included three main components: electric lighting, crops, and a thermal zone. Fig. 2 illustrates the interactions between these components and the flow of variables between them and also provides a visual representation of the model's inputs and outputs. ...
Energy and yield of a vertical farm are modelled with TRNSYS for several conditions. • The influence of temperature, VPD and PPFD were assessed for over 180 scenarios. • An air temperature of 24 • C represents a better compromise compared to 20 • C or 28 • C. • Lowering PPFD and extending photoperiod benefit both energy and yield. • Changing the growing conditions can reduce the need for dehumidification. A R T I C L E I N F O Keywords: Controlled agriculture environment (CEA) Vertical farm Energy modelling Energy efficiency Energy load A B S T R A C T Controlled environment agriculture, such as vertical farming, consists of stacking crops in a controlled environment and is transforming agriculture by providing a highly productive solution for year-round production. However, vertical farms are also energy-intensive due to precise control of the growing conditions (temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and lighting). While many studies focus on optimising indoor conditions to enhance yield, the impact of those growing conditions on energy is often overlooked. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis, using a dynamic model, of the influence of growing conditions typically used to cultivate lettuces on energy and crop yield. Several combinations of air temperatures (20, 24 and 28 • C), vapour pressure deficits (0.54 and 0.85 kPa), lighting intensities (200 to 700 μmol⋅m − 2 ⋅s − 1) and photoperiods (12 to 24 h) are studied. The dynamic model, developed using a building performance simulation tool, supports the simultaneous assessment of energy load and crop yield. It includes a model of a small-scale vertical farm that integrates a dynamic crop model to estimate heat gains/losses from crops and crop growth rate according to growing conditions. The results indicated that the best compromise between energy load and yield is at an air temperature of 24 • C. Moreover, lowering lighting intensity and extending the photoperiod positively impacted both energy load and yield. Certain growing conditions, such as lowering the vapour pressure deficit, can reduce the need for dehumidification. Additionally, for lighting intensities exceeding 500 μmol•m − 2 •s − 1 , although the energy load continued to increase linearly with the lighting intensity, the growth rate was limited, resulting in reduced production efficiency. These extensive results and thorough analyses offer valuable insights into the influence of the growing conditions on energy load and yield.
... TRNSYS is a numerical simulation software package developed by the Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB), which is used to study the thermal behavior of buildings, either by determining their energy requirements in terms of heating and cooling, or by assessing their thermal performance and estimating their state of comfort. Buildings are modeled in TRNSYS as multi-zone entities using type 56 in the TRNBUILD environment [24]. ...
Among the measures to be taken to design and construct buildings with envelopes that are more energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly is thermal insulation using a very wide range of insulating materials, either synthetic or of natural origin or derived from biomass. The present work represents a thermal and energy study aimed at improving the thermal comfort levels and energy requirements of a typical residential building located in the city of Al-Hoceima, Morocco. To this end, a series of numerical simulations were carried out using TRNSYS software to assess the impact of applying three bio-based insulation materials, namely hemp wool, wood fiber, and expanded cork, in the wall layer of the building. Different insulation scenarios were studied to make a choice that would ensure optimum comfort in the building with low energy demand. The results of this study show that insulating the roof with 8 cm of hemp wool contributes to energy savings of up to 36.7% and 35.2% for cooling and heating demand respectively. In thermal terms, improvements in the temperature inside the building have been achieved: in January, the maximum temperature recorded is 20.94°C, while in July, the maximum temperature is around 26.80°C.
... The project's second phase consisted of a parametric structural analysis of the connectors, number of stories, and improvement of walls according to Eurocode 8 (EN 1998(EN -1 2004 and an elastic horizontal ground acceleration response spectrum variation. The structural results were considered for energy analysis, and a parametric study was performed using TRNSYS (Klein 1976) for both constructive systems and different window configurations considering WWR, SHGC, area, and U-value. Different thermal properties were improved for the increment in the thermal inertia of the building, such as thermal transmittance, periodic thermal transmittance, time shift, decrement factor, internal areal heat capacity, and long-term thermal capacity. ...
Location determines not only the climatic condition but also the structural loads that the structure must withstand. Given the broad variety of climatic and seismic requirements of Chile, the design of lightweight timber buildings considering both energy and seismic design parameters and boundary conditions becomes a difficult task. The main objective of this research is to analyze and quantify the effect of climates, seismic loads, lateral anchorage, and story number on the optimal energy design solutions, including the seismic behavior in a light-frame timber building. Furthermore, the optimal design was parametrically analyzed considering five Chilean cities that consider different climates, seismic zone, number of stories, and lateral anchorage systems to prevent rocking (overturning) due to lateral seismic forces. The optimal wall insulation thickness, stud spacing, and thermal mass exhibited significant variations depending on the buildings' number of stories, lateral anchorage system, climate, and seismic zone. Therefore, the results of this investigation reinforce the necessity of integrating energy and seismic designs for light-frame timber buildings. The optimal designs obtained in this investigation showed considerable variations depending on the combination of climatic and seismic loads as well as the number of stories and anchoring systems. The article's main contributions are the evidence of the structural and energy design interconnection of light-frame timber buildings and how design variables, such as stud spacing, floor concrete thickness layer, and wall insulation thickness, are related and change according to the different climates, seismic loads, lateral anchorage, and story number.
... The table entries are ordered by geometry, user' profile, geographic location and layering of walls. For example, the case Villa_HR_R_PI_MLP01_COP04 indicates a villa with a horizontal roof ("HR"), two retired occupants ("R"), in Pisa ("PI"), made of MLP01 (solid brick masonry) and COP04 (walkable flat roof) as building elements, according to the definitions by (Italian Committee for Standardization, 2014) and [31]. Appendix A reports further details on the thermal features of the opaque and glass enclosures. ...
A persistent dilemma in building energy modeling consists of finding the proper trade-off between accurate results, data availability and limited modeling effort. In fact, quasi-steady state models require a limited number of inputs, however providing often rough results; dynamic tools are instead usually very accurate but involve a huge effort to obtain all the needed information and implementing it into the tool. In this context, we propose a simplified dynamic model for building heating and cooling demand estimation on a daily basis, according to the assessment of all the involved heat transfer mechanisms of the thermal zone. The required inputs are limited and comparable to those needed for other quasi-steady state models, but three tuning coefficients allow the simulation to be performed at the daily time scale. The proposed tool is here successfully tested on a wide set of test cases, differing for building structure, external climate, and occupants’ profile. In addition, reliable results are provided also in case of multi-year application and availability of a little amount of data for calibration, with average errors typically below 10% in daily cooling and heating energy requirement estimation, compared to benchmark demands. Finally, an example of application explores the application field of the tool.
... However, Morshed et al. [5] developed two GAHE systems (one in dry soil and the other in wet soil using a dripping arrangement) and observed tha t the coefficient of performance of wet GAHE system is 20.9% higher than dry GAHE system. Similarly, Agrawal et al. [6,7], compared the performance of dry GAHE system and wet GAHE system and found that the performance of wet GAHE system is better than dry GAHE system in winter as well as in summer season.In the paper, the geothermal system for a residential user has been investigated through dynamic simulation performed using a model developed in TRNSYS software [8]. Therefore, we analyze the effect of integration the EAHX in a building for the coldest period (January 2020) in city of Beni Mella ...
... Most of the studies published measuring energy efficiency using data science techniques have focused on predicting heating or cooling loads, or both, based on several features related to the building. The authors used simulated data generated using building modelling software tools such as EnergyPlus [53] DOE-2 [54] DeST [55], TRNSYS [56], Ecotect [57], and others. The simulation of building energy is an affordable way to generate data and models for achieving an energy efficient plan. ...
Energy efficiency is currently a hot topic in engineering due to the monetary and environmental benefits it brings. One aspect of energy efficiency in particular, the prediction of thermal loads (specifically heating and cooling), plays a significant role in reducing the costs associated with energy use and in minimising the risks associated with climate change. Recently, data-driven approaches, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques, have provided cost-effective and high-quality solutions for solving energy efficiency problems. This research investigates various ML methods for predicting energy efficiency in buildings, with a particular emphasis on heating and cooling loads. The review includes many ML techniques, including ensemble learning, support vector machines (SVM), artificial neural networks (ANN), statistical models, and probabilistic models. Existing studies are analysed and compared in terms of new criteria, including the datasets used, the associated platforms, and, more importantly, the interpretability of the models generated. The results show that, despite the problem under investigation being studied using a range of ML techniques, few have focused on developing interpretable classifiers that can be exploited by stakeholders to support the design of energy-efficient residential buildings for climate impact minimisation. Further research in this area is required.
... The geothermal fluid is also used in a DHCN for producing hot water, supplying space heating, cooling, and domestic needs in a cascading application. The plant system was simulated in the TRNSYS [24] environment, with the ORC module developed using AspenEDR and AspenONE [25]. Building models were defined using TRNbuild 18 and EdilClima v. 6 [26]. ...
The Renewable Energy Directive II introduces renewable energy communities, enhancing energy sharing. However, many existing initiatives, focussing only on electricity, overlook the substantial energy demand in building sector comprising residential and commercial spaces. Energy communities in this sector can leverage district heating and cooling technology for thermal energy sharing, contributing to carbon neutrality by enhancing efficiency and reducing primary energy usage. Advanced strategies such as integrating renewables into heating and cooling grids, sector coupling, and utilising waste heat are key in moving away from fossil fuels. The Campania Region (Italy), abundant in geothermal energy potential, chose a district in which to implement the GeoGRID system. This innovative setup combines a four-pipe district heating and cooling network with an Organic Rankine Cycle plant, tapping into geothermal energy from the Solfatara area. The geothermal fluid’s heat feeds the ORC evaporator and then powers the thermal network, allowing direct heating and domestic hot water supply during winter. A thorough techno-economic analysis assessed the energy potential extractable from the geothermal fluid. Crucial aspects of this study are the evaluation of the energy and environmental efficiency of the system within the renewable energy community framework. Additionally, the paper introduces a methodology applicable for assessing geothermal energy communities on a global scale.
With climate change affecting buildings differently across various local climates, there's a heightened focus on local microclimates and their impact on building energy consumption. Urban microclimates change the buildings' energy dynamics by influencing local weather patterns while building operations affect these patterns and microclimates through feedback. This paper provides a comprehensive review of tools and applications used for examining the feedback interaction between building operation and energy, and urban microclimate. This study collects, analyses, and classifies tools and applications related to Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) and Urban Climate Modeling (UCM) and particularly focuses on the combination of these tools through Multi-Domain Urban Scale Energy Modeling (MD-USEM), enabling efficient information exchange between urban microclimate and building energy models. The building-microclimate exchange of information may occur as either a one-way impact or a two-way interaction, a distinction that is thoroughly examined in the final section with an in-depth analysis of the relevant literature.
Regarding the growing demands for energy, depletion of fossil fuel resources, and the adverse environmental consequences associated with their utilization, especially global warming, it is imperative to increase the share of renewable resources within energy systems. During the summer season, the residential sector in Khuzestan province, Iran, experiences a significant surge in energy consumption. This elevated demand is mostly attributed to the region's severe temperatures, requiring the extensive use of cooling equipment. As a result, taking into account the high potential for solar energy in the nation, this research first uses TRNSYS software to calculate the cooling and heating loads of a residential area in the province of Khuzestan. Next, a solar-natural gas Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CCHP) system is designed and modeled using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software, with the goal of supplying the cooling load. Then, using the particle swarm optimization technique, the system's multi-objective optimization was completed. The results showed that a fuel consumption rate of 0.04274 kg/s is required in steady state conditions to supply a cooling load of 1446.2 kW for the region with 1000 m2 of solar collecting area. A total of 465.7 kW of electric power and 3336 kW of heating are produced. The system's energy and exergy efficiencies were determined to be 186.6 % and 27.81 %, respectively. Eventually, the findings of this study demonstrated that the proposed configuration has the potential to provide multiple positive outcomes with a high level of efficiency, and improve the share of renewable energy.
The PVF-Chart method consists of a combination of correlations and fundamental expressions for the hourly calculations of solar radiation at a given location. It uses long-term monthly average solar radiation and ambient temperature to predict the annual performance of a photovoltaic array. the present document aims to analyse the long-term performances of a PV system used to cover an individual household situated in different Algerian climatic zones. The obtained results are compared to those presented in the literature and from which it can be concluded that the developed software program permits to calculate the PV system performances with a good exactitude which confirm its uses as a tool to analyse the long-term performance of PV system at any climate in where only the monthly mean daily weather data are available. From these later, the hourly, the daily and the annual performance of a photovoltaic array are predicted. For the preliminary assessment of the energy-producing of the studied PV project, the LCOE was calculated for three interest rates and two lifetimes.
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