Section A
This section is mainly introductory and descriptive requiring you to obtain information from the building and specified references. Emphasis is on good presentation of researched information. It may be necessary to create a “fictitious” building based on local applications, which would also be acceptable for this exercise.
Introduction to the coursework should briefly discuss the importance of energy utilisation in industrial buildings in general
Sketch the broad layout (2D / 3D) of the building internals including estimated dimensions. You do not need to obtain exact dimensions but be able to approximate. Although the use of CAD is OK, a large sketch of the building is permissible. Use the whole page (A3) when sketching and inserting key information concerning cross sections of walls, roof etc. If you do not know the exact material, use a material that approximates to the one in existence.
Select appropriate building construction materials (approximating if necessary), and sketch annotated diagrams of key heat transfer routes. Concentrate on walls/glazed areas/industrial doors and roof of building. A useful website for relevant information
https://calculation.builddeskonline.com/BuildDesk_U_Online/ChooseBuildingElement.aspx
Section B
This section is mainly analytical requiring you to model energy characteristics and discussing results. Select a normal operating building working temperature and suggest a lowest external temperature. Justify your selections.
Model the building energy loss in Simulink, using appropriate logic block diagrams to determine maximum heat loss. Try and build the complete model on one page. Good practice to annotate the model to show what the terms are.
Suggest an air infiltration and ventilation rate for the building justifying your values.
Decide on a “typical” day in the heating season and determine on a graph/table, the variation in outside temperature with hourly time; the aim is to “build” this info into your Simulink model.
ENERGY STUDIES
ASSESSMENT 1
In this coursework you are required to select a real non-domestic building with which you are familiar and carry out an analysis of its energy performance. You are required to do the following:
Section A
i) Explain the general importance of energy performance in industrial or commercial buildings.
ii) Sketch the building layout and produce an overall description that will include operational criteria, cubic space, dimensions, exposed surface area, overall structure, utilisation, orientation etc. of the building of your choice.
iii) Obtain data for the materials used in the construction of the building, e,g, insulation, building materials, air spaces, etc.
iv) Sketch, with appropriate dimensions, the cross-sections of the external/exposed structure materials where heat transfer is likely to take place. State any assumptions made.
Section B
i) Produce a manual calculation to determine the instantaneous rate of heat loss (kW) through one part of the fabric (eg roof, glazed area, wall) based on an internal building design operating temperature and an average heating season outside temperature.
ii) Using Matlab/ Simulink software to model the overall building fabric heat transfer characteristics, in order to estimate the maximum rate of heat loss (kW) from the building under design internal operating temperature and an average heating season outside temperature.
iii) Using Matlab/ Simulink software, determine the heating requirement (kW) for the building due to air infiltration and natural ventilation.
Note that this requires you to estimate air changes/hour in the first instance.
iv) Modify the model to take into account the variation in outdoor temperature for a “typical” day in the heating season based on the heat loss through the fabric and the heating of incoming air; hence determine the total heating requirements (kWh) for your predicted heating season duration.
v) Modify the model to:
a) take into consideration the boiler efficiency, and determine the cost of heating the building, during the heating season, using current oil and gas prices.
b) Investigate the impact of possible energy usage improvement in terms of materials, ventilation rates, alternative fuel.
Suggest the number of days/hours that the heating will be operational in your building for the heating season. Modify your model in Simulink to ultimately estimate the heat loss (kWh) through the building fabric and the incoming cold air.
Obtain current prices for heating oil and gas in order to estimate building heating costs. Suggest a boiler efficiency rating.
Build into model, alternative material details/ alternative fuel/ventilation improvements that could reduce heat losses, discussing their impact and possible costs.