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The applicability of Lumped Parameter modelling in houses using in-situ measurements

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journal contribution
posted on 2020-04-24, 10:13 authored by Vanda DimitriouVanda Dimitriou, Steven FirthSteven Firth, Tarek HassanTarek Hassan, Tom Kane

The Lumped Parameter technique is a simplified thermal modelling method, which can be informed by measured operational data whilst allowing for physical interpretation of components and processes. The application of Lumped Parameter methods to the residential sector has been limited, primarily due to the lack of availability of operational data and the complex nature of real-world factors, such as variable occupant behaviours. This work investigates the potential of using the Lumped Parameter technique for modelling the performance of existing houses using high resolution in-situ measurements. Lumped Parameter models are created based on building surveys of eleven existing domestic buildings in the UK. The models are shown to have an average Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.35oC when compared to measured values of internal air temperature. A parametric analysis of model parameters showed wall thermal resistance, window area, boiler efficiency and infiltration rate as the most significant factors affecting the indoor air temperature calculated values. Model calibration improved the average RMSE to 1.03oC (a 23.7% decrease from initial fit). In conclusion, the Lumped Parameter models were able to realistically represent the majority of the houses, highlighting the technique’s potential in informing strategic retrofit decision making across the housing stock.

Funding

REFIT project (‘Personalised Retrofit Decision 549 Support Tools for UK Homes using Smart Home Technology’, £1.5m, Grant Reference 550 EP/K002457/1).

History

School

  • Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering

Published in

Energy and Buildings

Volume

223

Publisher

Elsevier

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Rights holder

© Crown Copyright

Publisher statement

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Energy and Buildings and the definitive published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110068.

Acceptance date

2020-04-13

Publication date

2020-05-13

Copyright date

2020

ISSN

0378-7788

Language

  • en

Depositor

Dr Vanda Dimitriou. Deposit date: 23 April 2020

Article number

110068

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