RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] Modelling full height windows

["Andy Tindale" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There is of course no way to create a 100% fully glazed walls in E+ because
window sub-surfaces must sit on a parent surface and there must be a gap
between the edge of the window and the parent surface. In DesignBuilder 100%
glazed surfaces are generated for E+ as parent surfaces + window sub-surface
with a 2mm gap to keep E+ happy.

The warning you received:

** Warning ** Base surface does not surround subsurface (CHKSBS),
Overlap Status=Partial-Overlap

suggests that the window subsurface coordinates have been incorrectly edited
and that the window does indeed overlap the parent surface or else there is
insufficient gap between the window and the wall edges.

One way to get the largest possible windows for modelling curtain walling in
DesignBuilder is to use the smallest allowed block wall thickness (0.01m).
This gives the smallest possible 'corner column'. See Example 2 at:

http://www.designbuilder.co.uk/programhelp/wall_thickness.htm

Andy Tindale
DesignBuilder Software

-----Original Message-----
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of careym.cosmaj
Sent: 10 May 2008 03:37
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] Modelling full height windows


Hi,

Modelling a building where a number of surfaces are completely glazed,
aluminium frame top and bottom only, and silicon jointed where the
glazed surface meets the next.

Geometry initially created using a frontend that avoids this problem
with the concept of a wall thickness preventing the window from
occupying the whole surface.

Have tried a few things in E+;

1. Have tried to make the Vertex co-ordinates of the
Surface:HeatTransfer:Sub exactly the same as the underlying
Surface:HeatTransfer.  E+ doesnt appear to like this complaining;

** Severe  ** GetSurfaceData: Zero or negative surface area,
Surface=W_1_3_1

2. Have tried having a Surface:HeatTransfer:Sub without an underlying
Surface:HeatTransfer but then E+ reports severe errors about missing
base surfaces;
** Severe  ** Error detected in Object=SURFACE:HEATTRANSFER:SUB,
name=W_1_3_1_1
**   ~~~   ** Field [Base Surface Name] is required but was blank

3. Have tried assigning Surface:HeatTransfer objects glazing
constructions and E+ doesnt like that either;

** Severe  ** Surface W_1_1_1 has materials of WindowGlass -- illegal
for this Surface

4. At the moment I have inset the Surface:HeatTransfer:Sub 50mm from
the top and bottom only of the underlying Surface:HeatTransfer and E+
appears content to just warn me about this ...

** Warning ** Base surface does not surround subsurface (CHKSBS),
Overlap Status=Partial-Overlap

**   ~~~   **   The base surround errors occurred 1 times.

**   ~~~   ** Surface "W_Z1_2_1" overlaps SubSurface "W_Z1_2_1_1"

What do others do to model fully glazed walls in E+?

Regards,

Mark Carey






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