The EnergyPlus documentation should explain the IDF objects that are used for the multi-zone air-flow modelling, which are very much tied to the thermal modeling of the building, i.e., walls, windows, doors, etc., except that instead of defining their thermal properties you are defining their air-flow properties, such as leakage area, and in the case of windows their operating schedules.
Bear in mind that EnergyPlus is using the AIRNET program to do the multi-zone air flow modeling. If you want more information about this that you don't find in the EnergyPlus documentation, you could also look at the CONTAM User Manual (www.bfrl.nist.gov/IAQanalysis/CONTAM/userguide.htm ). CONTAM is the successor program to AIRNET with a user-friendly GUI added.
Joe
Joe Huang White Box Technologies, Inc. 346 Rheem Blvd., Suite 205A Moraga CA 94556 yjhuang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://weather.whiteboxtechnologies.com for simulation-ready weather data (o) (925)388-0265 (c) (510)928-2683 "building energy simulations at your fingertips"
Although perhaps a bit more effort, you could also look at ODS Studio. This Australian group has levered Blender as a graphic interface, OpenFoam as a CFD tool, and E+ as a calculation engine. Mark Pitman has written some C++ modules and Python code to assist in generating airflownetwork models for E+ analysis. There are some video demonstrating the code that may help you understand the general process, even if you go in a different direction to generate the model. I use this software for all our airflownetwork models, though I usually export the IDF at a geometry and network state and finish it with other editors. That said, it is a complex process that is not as simple as Mark makes it look. Geometry errors can creep into the model and thwart Mark’s Python code. Good luck�
Ned Lyon, P.E. (MA, WV)
Staff ConsultantSIMPSON GUMPERTZ & HEGER
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Send FilesFrom: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2016 12:20 PM
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Need help for Naturally Ventilated Model
I'm sorry, I cannot. All I can suggest is to look at the example files that come installed with E+ and to read the documentation. You also might consider posting your question on unmethours.com
On Thu, Dec 8, 2016 at 11:46 AM, bhavana patil ana5patil@xxxxxxxx [EnergyPlus_Support] <EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for the reply. Can you please suggest me good resource to learn air flow network
method? I am reading InputOutputReference document. I will really appreciate.
From: "allinson_louis@xxxxxxxxxxx [EnergyPlus_Support]" <EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, December 8, 2016 3:56 PM
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Need help for Naturally Ventilated Model
Hi
No you cannot assume 3 ACH. Natural ventilation airflow is dependent on buoyancy driven (caused by internal/external temperature difference) and wind driven. These vary transiently and therefore you will not be delivering a constant ventilation rate, even if you are controlling the vent.
ideally you want to use the airflow network to model airlfow through the windows. You also want to then control the window openings such that you deliver the necessary airflow for IAQ (CIBSE guide B recommends 10l/s/person) when occupied and the sufficient airflow to mitigate overheating.
i suggest that you read section Group - airflow network in the inputoutput document
you could also use an interface like DesignBuilder and read their help files on modelling ventilation through a window
kind regards
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Posted by: Joe Huang <yjhuang@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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