Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models

Fontanini, Anthony D.; Castro Aguilar, Jose L.; Mitchell, Matt S.; Kosny, Jan; Merket, Noel; DeGraw, Jason W.; Lee, Edwin

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054

Title: Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models

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Abstract

The use of radiant technology in attics aims to reduce the radiation component of heat transfer between the attic floor and roof decks, gables, and eaves. Recently, it has been shown that EnergyPlus underestimates the savings using radiant technologies in attic spaces. The aim of this study is to understand why EnergyPlus underestimates the performance of radiant technologies and provide a solution strategy that works within the current capabilities of EnergyPlus. The analysis uses three attic energy models as a baseline for comparison for EnergyPlus. Potential reasons for the discrepancies between the attic specific energy models and EnergyPlus are isolated and individually tested. A solution strategy is proposed using the Energy Management System (EMS) capabilities within EnergyPlus. This solution strategy produces similar results to the other attic specific energy models. This paper shows that the current capabilities of EnergyPlus are sufficient to simulate radiant technologies in attics. The methodology showcased in this paper serves as a guide for engineers and researchers who would like to predict the performance radiant technology in attics using the whole building energy software, EnergyPlus.

Authors:

Fontanini, Anthony D. ^[1]; Castro Aguilar, Jose L. ^[2]; Mitchell, Matt S. ^[3]; Kosny, Jan ^[2]; Merket, Noel ^[4]; DeGraw, Jason W. ^[4]; Lee, Edwin ^[4]

Building Envelope and Materials Group, Boston, MA (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Building Envelope and Materials Group, Boston, MA (United States)
Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK (United States)
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Publication Date:: Thu Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

OSTI Identifier:: 1457121

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1548518

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5500-70220
Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Energy and Buildings

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 169; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0378-7788

Publisher:: Elsevier

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; radiant technologies; attics; EnergyPlus

Citation Formats


                    Fontanini, Anthony D., Castro Aguilar, Jose L., Mitchell, Matt S., Kosny, Jan, Merket, Noel, DeGraw, Jason W., and Lee, Edwin. Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models.  United States: N. p., 2018. 
Web.  doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054.

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                    Fontanini, Anthony D., Castro Aguilar, Jose L., Mitchell, Matt S., Kosny, Jan, Merket, Noel, DeGraw, Jason W., & Lee, Edwin. Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054

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                    Fontanini, Anthony D., Castro Aguilar, Jose L., Mitchell, Matt S., Kosny, Jan, Merket, Noel, DeGraw, Jason W., and Lee, Edwin. Thu .  
"Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1457121.

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@article{osti_1457121,

  title        = {Predicting the performance of radiant technologies in attics: Reducing the discrepancies between attic specific and whole-building energy models},

  author       = {Fontanini, Anthony D. and Castro Aguilar, Jose L. and Mitchell, Matt S. and Kosny, Jan and Merket, Noel and DeGraw, Jason W. and Lee, Edwin},

  abstractNote = {The use of radiant technology in attics aims to reduce the radiation component of heat transfer between the attic floor and roof decks, gables, and eaves. Recently, it has been shown that EnergyPlus underestimates the savings using radiant technologies in attic spaces. The aim of this study is to understand why EnergyPlus underestimates the performance of radiant technologies and provide a solution strategy that works within the current capabilities of EnergyPlus. The analysis uses three attic energy models as a baseline for comparison for EnergyPlus. Potential reasons for the discrepancies between the attic specific energy models and EnergyPlus are isolated and individually tested. A solution strategy is proposed using the Energy Management System (EMS) capabilities within EnergyPlus. This solution strategy produces similar results to the other attic specific energy models. This paper shows that the current capabilities of EnergyPlus are sufficient to simulate radiant technologies in attics. The methodology showcased in this paper serves as a guide for engineers and researchers who would like to predict the performance radiant technology in attics using the whole building energy software, EnergyPlus.},

  doi          = {10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054},

  journal      = {Energy and Buildings},

  number       = C,

  volume       = 169,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Thu Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018},

  month        = {Thu Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2018}

}

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.054

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