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MIET 2406 Sustainable Thermal Systems
Building Energy Assignment
Due: 23.59pm Friday 9th June 2017
NOTE:
(a) The assignment MUST be submitted through Blackboard before 11:59pm on the due day
(b) A penalty may apply for late submission unless appropriate approval for extension is granted before the due date.
(c) The assignment must be done in pairs. Define the role of each person in preparation of the report.
Problem Description
You are required to investigate and simulate the thermal energy of a one-storey test building. The basic test
building is a rectangular single zone (8 m wide × 6 m long × 2.7 m high) with no interior partition and 12 m2 of
window on the east and west walls. The building is of lightweight construction with characteristics as described
in Table 1, but you will examine the effects of thermal mass using bluestone and the insulating properties of
Hebal with properties shown below the table.
Figure 1 Isometric view of southeast corner with windows on west and east wall
Table 1 Wall Construction (light weight mass):
Material (from
Inside to Outside)
Conductivity
(W/m-K)
Thickness
(m)
U
(W/m2-K)
R
(m2-K/W)
Density
(kg/m3)
Cp
(J/kg-K)
Int. Surf. Coeff. 0.121
Plasterboard 0.160 0.012 15.556 0.064 950 840
Fiberglass quilt 0.040 0.066 0.606 1.650 12 840
Wood siding 0.140 0.009 13.333 0.075 530 900
Ext. Surf. Coeff. 0.034
Overall, air to air 0.514 1.944
Bluestone 2.5W/m 0.25 2700 950
Hebal Panel 0.12W/m 0.25 520 1000
3m
2m
y
x
z
6m
8m
2.7m
Bldg. Origin
(0,0,0)2
Table 2 Roof Construction (light weight mass):
Element k
(W/m-K)
Thickness
(m)
U
(W/m2-K)
R
(m2-K/W)
Density
(kg/m3)
Cp
(J/kg-K)
Int. Surf. Coeff. 0.121
Plasterboard 0.160 0.010 1.60 0.625 950 840
Fiberglass quilt 0.040 0.118 0.606 1.650 12 840
Wood siding 0.140 0.019 7.368 0.136 530 900
Ext. Surf. Coeff. 0.034
Overall, air to air 0.318 3.147
Table 3 Floor Construction (light weight mass):
Element k
(W/m-K)
Thickness
(m)
U
(W/m2-K)
R
(m2-K/W)
Density
(kg/m3)
Cp
(J/kg-K)
Int. Surf. Coeff. 0.121
C5 Concrete 1.73 0.1015 17.04 0.059 2243 837
Table 4 Window Property: (you will have to change to 1 pane and no airgap)
Type Clear
Number of panes 2
Panes thickness 0.006 m
Air-gap thickness 0.0032 m
Conductivity of glass 0.9 W/m-K
Task:
Using a numerical approach (i.e. Energy+), evaluate the cooling and heating load of the whole building for the
whole of February and July in Melbourne:
1. Four different building scenarios:
a. Whole building without windows (delete the fenestration objects in the supplied file)
b. Whole building with windows on east and west wall
c. Whole building with the east and west windows replace buy a window of the same area (12m2)
on the North wall.
d. Whole building with windows and internal heat load due to 4 people.
2. Two different windows
a. Double glazed and
b. Single glazed
3. Two different wall constructions
a. Lightweight
b. Heavy- replace wood with 25cm thick bluestone.
c. Insulating – replace wood with 25cm Hebal block
Present a report (one per team) investing the effect of the above variables. It should be in the form of graphs and
tables and explanations of the main findings.
Make sure you work as a team and estimate the percentage of work each person has done to complete the
project and put that percentage into the report – make sure you sub-divide tasks.
A file is supplied, which is your starting point. It is lightweight construction, with double glazed windows and
no lights.
Assessment based on understanding of the problem, presentation clarity, analysis and conclusions.