Develop Tune-Up Procedures Based on Calibrated Simulations

Goal Statement:
To deliver a manual of procedures for calibrating simplified simulations of building systems in large office and related commercial buildings with built-up heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and central heating and cooling plants. Development of this manual requires extension of earlier work and adaptation of this work to California conditions.

Results:

We completed a draft "Manual of Procedures for Calibrating Simulations of Building Systems," which documents procedures that can quickly and reliably calibrate simulations of large commercial buildings with built-up HVAC systems. The manual's methodology is based on the use of "calibration signatures," which characterize the difference between measured and simulated performance. The method uses a graphical format that summarizes and describes the differences between the simulation results and the measured data and can be understood quickly and intuitively by a user. By creating a library of shapes or "Characteristic Calibration Signatures" for certain known errors, we can provide clues that an analyst can use in identifying the simulation input errors that may be causing the discrepancies.

The manual describes how the calibration signatures are defined and used. It provides two fairly simple examples of their use based on hypothetical data and provides two real-world examples of additional challenges in the calibration process and how to handle them. This method was found to be quite useful in several examples, and its use should enable a broader array of analysts to produce more reliable building simulations than are now possible. These improved simulations can be used for a host of purposes, including retrofit analysis, building optimization, commissioning, and fault detection.

Downloads and Links:

• "Manual of Procedures for Calibrating Simulations of Building Systems", Liu, M., Energy Systems Laboratory, University of Nebraska; D. E. Claridge, N. Bensouda, K. Heinemeier, Seung Uk Lee, and G. Wei, Energy Systems Laboratory, Texas A&M University. October 2003.
  (2.6 MB, pp 96)

Contact: David Claridge, Texas A&M University (TAMU), (979) 845-1280