Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Phase Change Material Model for Opaque Wall Assemblies

Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco; Craig Christensen; Marcus Bianchi

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.02.019

Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Phase Change Material Model for Opaque Wall Assemblies

Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco, Craig Christensen, Marcus Bianchi

Building Technologies and Science Center

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

322 Scopus Citations

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) represent a technology that may reduce peak loads and HVAC energy consumption in buildings. A few building energy simulation programs have the capability to simulate PCMs, but their accuracy has not been completely tested. This study shows the procedure used to verify and validate the PCM model in EnergyPlus using a similar approach as dictated by ASHRAE Standard 140, which consists of analytical verification, comparative testing, and empirical validation. This process was valuable, as two bugs were identified and fixed in the PCM model, and version 7.1 of EnergyPlus will have a validated PCM model. Preliminary results using whole-building energy analysis show that careful analysis should be done when designing PCMs in homes, as their thermal performance depends on several variables such as PCM properties and location in the building envelope.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	186-196
Number of pages	11
Journal	Building and Environment
Volume	54
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.02.019 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2012.02.019
State	Published - 2012

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-5500-54019

Keywords

Building energy simulation
Building envelope
PCM
Phase change materials
Storage
Validation

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title = "Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Phase Change Material Model for Opaque Wall Assemblies",

abstract = "Phase change materials (PCMs) represent a technology that may reduce peak loads and HVAC energy consumption in buildings. A few building energy simulation programs have the capability to simulate PCMs, but their accuracy has not been completely tested. This study shows the procedure used to verify and validate the PCM model in EnergyPlus using a similar approach as dictated by ASHRAE Standard 140, which consists of analytical verification, comparative testing, and empirical validation. This process was valuable, as two bugs were identified and fixed in the PCM model, and version 7.1 of EnergyPlus will have a validated PCM model. Preliminary results using whole-building energy analysis show that careful analysis should be done when designing PCMs in homes, as their thermal performance depends on several variables such as PCM properties and location in the building envelope.",

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AU - Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar

AU - Christensen, Craig

AU - Bianchi, Marcus

PY - 2012

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AB - Phase change materials (PCMs) represent a technology that may reduce peak loads and HVAC energy consumption in buildings. A few building energy simulation programs have the capability to simulate PCMs, but their accuracy has not been completely tested. This study shows the procedure used to verify and validate the PCM model in EnergyPlus using a similar approach as dictated by ASHRAE Standard 140, which consists of analytical verification, comparative testing, and empirical validation. This process was valuable, as two bugs were identified and fixed in the PCM model, and version 7.1 of EnergyPlus will have a validated PCM model. Preliminary results using whole-building energy analysis show that careful analysis should be done when designing PCMs in homes, as their thermal performance depends on several variables such as PCM properties and location in the building envelope.

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KW - Building envelope

KW - PCM

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KW - Storage

KW - Validation

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ER -

Verification and Validation of EnergyPlus Phase Change Material Model for Opaque Wall Assemblies

Abstract

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

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