Co-simulation for performance prediction of integrated building and HVAC systems - An analysis of solution characteristics using a two-body system

Date Published
08/2010
Publication Type
Journal Article
Authors
DOI
10.1016/j.simpat.2010.02.011
Abstract

Integrated performance simulation of buildings and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems can help in reducing energy consumption and increasing occupant comfort. However, no single building performance simulation (BPS) tool offers sufficient capabilities and flexibilities to analyze integrated building systems and to enable rapid prototyping of innovative building and system technologies. One way to alleviate this problem is to use co-simulation to integrate different BPS tools. Co-simulation approach represents a particular case of simulation scenario where at least two simulators solve coupled differential-algebraic systems of equations and exchange data that couples these equations during the time integration.

This article analyzes how co-simulation influences consistency, stability and accuracy of the numerical approximation to the solution. Consistency and zero-stability are studied for a general class of the problem, while a detailed consistency and absolute stability analysis is given for a simple two-body problem. Since the accuracy of the numerical approximation to the solution is reduced in co-simulation, the article concludes by discussing ways for how to improve accuracy.

Journal
Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory
Volume
18
Year of Publication
2010
Issue
7
Pagination
957-970
Organizations
Research Areas
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