Re: Interfacing facade collectors, Trombe walls, etc. with type56

[Jeff Thornton <thornton@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 02:55 PM 4/22/2004 +0200, you wrote:

> Is there a standard method to properly interface the back side of external 
> elements such as facade collectors, Trombe walls, transparent insulation 
> walls, etc. with type56? I am familiar with the more or less complicated 
> method to interface type160 floor heating (Fort, Transsolar) with type 56 
> and suppose it could generally be solved this way. In this case the entire 
> external wall would have to be included in the model of the facade 
> collector, which is not desirable. Is there any other method? E.g. is 
> there an established method to connect the backside of a facade collector 
> to the external surface of an external wall? Thank you.

While I can't say that I am familiar with the method used by Type 160, I do 
have some experience writing models that communicate with Type 56; most 
recently some building-integrated photovoltaic systems.  The method we used 
to solve the problem was to have the BIPV model calculate the interface 
temperature between the back of the BIPV collector and the outer 
roof  surface.  To accomplish this you need to provide the BIPV model with 
the inside roof surface temperature (an output from Type 56) and the 
resistance (1 / U value) of the roof material.  The BIPV model then 
performs its thermal calculations and provides the temperature between the 
outside of the roof and the back of the collector to Type 56 as the 
boundary temperature for a boundary wall.  Type 56 then iterates with this 
given boundary temperature and calculates a new inside surface temperature 
which is then sent back to the BIPV model and the iterative process continues.

We have used this technique with radiant slabs, slabs on grade, basement 
models and a few other models with excellent results.  Feel free to e-mail 
me if you have any further questions.

Jeff


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