Comparison of measured and computer-predicted thermal performance of a four bedroom wood-frame townhouse
Measurements of the dynamic heat transfer in a four bedroom townhouse were made under controlled conditions in a large environmental chamber to explore the validity of a computer program developed at NBS, labelled NBSLD, for predicting heating and cooling loads and inside air temperatures. This study is a part of a broader research program to improve performance test procedures and criteria for housing. The test house was a factory-produced four bedroom townhouse of modular design and of lightweight (wood) construction. Tests were performed with simulated outside summer, winter and fall diurnal temperature cycles. The inside temperature was maintained at about 75 degrees F. Also during the tests, the activities of a six-member family were simulated. The time-varying energy requirements were measured, and these values were compared with computer predicted values. For example, the disparity between predicted and measured daily heating energy requirements averaged 3.1% with a maximum departure of 4.9% for five tests. The computer program NBSLD was experimentally validated for predicting the peak heating and cooling loads and the energy requirements for the test house. The air leakage of the house was measured by a tracer gas technique over a range of outdoor conditions, and algorithms were developed to account for its effect on heating loads and energy requirements. Separate tests were also performed to investigate the energy savings achieved by night temperature setback. An 8-hour 9-degree F setback from 75 degrees F produced an 11% diurnal savings in energy for an average nighttime temperature of 20 degrees F, and a 9% savings in energy was achieved for the same setback when the average nighttime temperature was 2 degrees F. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C. (USA); U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Institute for Applied Technology, Building Environment Division, Washington, DC 20234
- OSTI ID:
- 7197796
- Report Number(s):
- NBS-BSS-57
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR CONDITIONING
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
HOUSES
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
SPACE HEATING
COMPUTER CODES
COOLING LOAD
ENERGY DEMAND
FORECASTING
HEAT TRANSFER
HEATING LOAD
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT
THERMOSTATS
WOOD
BUILDINGS
CONTROL
CONTROL EQUIPMENT
ENERGY TRANSFER
EQUIPMENT
HEATING
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
298000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Consumption & Utilization
320101 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Residential Buildings- (-1987)