Thermal simulation software outputs: a conceptual data model of information presentation for building design decision-making

Building simulation outputs are inherently complex and numerous. Extracting meaningful information from them requires knowledge which mainly resides only in the hands of experts. Initiatives to address this problem tend either to provide very constrained output data interfaces or leave it to the user to customize data organisation and query. This work proposes a conceptual data model from which meaningful dynamic thermal simulation information for building design decision-making may be constructed and presented to the user. It describes how the model was generated and can become operational, with examples of its applications to practical problems. The paper therefore contains useful information for software developers to help in specifying and designing simulation outputs which better respond to building designers’ needs

SOLAR POWER

This paper describes categories of solar technologies and identijies those that are economic. It compares the private costs of power from solar, wind, nuclear, coal, oil, and gas generators. In the southern United States, the private costs of building and generating electricity from new solar and wind power plants are less than the private cost of electricity from a new nuclear power plant. Solar power is more valuable than nuclear power since all solar power is available during peak and mid-peak periods. Half of the power from nuclear generators is off-peak power and therefore is less valuable. Reliability is important in determining the value of wind and nuclear power. Damage from air pollution, when factored into the cost of power from fossil fuels, alters the cost comparison in favor of solar and wind power. Some policies are more effective at encouraging alternative energy technologies that pollute less and improve national security. Copyright 1990 Western Economic Association International.

Comparison of the temperature coefficients of the basic i-v parameters for various types of solar cells

ABSTRACT It is well-known that the maximum power output of photovoltaic devices changes with temperature. Therefore, the temperature coefficients of the basic device performance parameters (open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, fill ~actor, and efficiency) are important factors wh1ch must be taken into account in the design of a photovoltaic power system, where temperature changes occur throughout the day and year. This paper reports results of experimental temperature coefficient measurements obtained on a wide variety of different photovoltaic devices, many of which have not had temperature coefficient data published previous ly

CONSERVED ENERGY SUPPLY CURVES FOR U.S. BUILDINGS

Comparison of nine conservation supply curves for electricity shows that fully implementing a series of energy efficiency measures will result in annual saving of 734 billion kWh (BkWh). This is 45 percent of 1989 U.S. building sector electricity use of 1627 BkWh and represents a $29 billion saving. When translated to units of conserved carbon dioxide (CC CO 2), this annual saving is 514 megatonnes, which is 10 percent of the total 1989 U.S. carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions from all sources. Implementing additional fuel efficiency measures would result in further potential saving of 5�2 quads of fuel (natural gas and oil) per year, or another 300 megatonnes of CO 2, at a net savings of$20 billion. Fuel switching (replacing electric resistance heat with on-site natural gas combustion) would produce annual saving of another 74 megatonnes of CO 2 at a net saving of $6�8 billion. Thus, total CO 2 saving from these combined efficiency measures are 890 megatonnes at a net saving of$56 billion per year. Copyright 1993 Western Economic Association International.

Thermal simulation software outputs: a framework to produce meaningful information for design decision-making

This paper describes a process used to develop and test a framework to produce thermal simulation post-processed information meaningful to building design decision-making. The framework adopts a user-centred approach in which the building designer is considered the ultimate simulation tool user either directly or indirectly when supported by consultants. The framework supports the building designer's ?modus operandi? and is developed through a set of interdisciplinary research methods. Participatory Action Research, Thematic Analysis and Grounded Theory are used, together with principles from Information Visualization, dynamic thermal modelling and Building Design, following a design approach to problem-solving taken from the discipline of Interaction Design. The various elements of the framework and their connections are derived from analysis of sequences of design actions made by novice designers undertaking complex design activities. Tests of the framework are undertaken through an online questionnaire and five semi-structured interviews with UK architectural design practices

Pre-processing of sugarcane bagasse for gasification in a downdraft biomass gasifier system : A comprehensive review

The processing of sugarcane bagasse as a potential feedstock for efficient energy production has attracted a great deal of attention in the sugarcane industry, which has traditionally inefficiently burned bagasse in boilers for steam and electricity generation. Alternative technologies for more efficient utilisation of bagasse for energy production within the industry has also been hindered by the high degree of complexity involved in bagasse handling and pre-processing before it can be utilised as an energy feedstock. This can be attributed to unfavourable characteristics of mill-run bagasse, which includes low bulk and energy densities, a wide range of particle sizes and shapes as well as high moisture content. Gasification is regarded as one of the most promising energy recovery technologies for the widespread use of biomass because of its higher efficiency when compared to the combustion technology commonly used by the sugarcane industry. There has been a strong drive to identify efficient pre-processing methods that can be applied to bagasse to make it a suitable feedstock for energy production in thermochemical conversion systems. This work provides a comprehensive review on the pre-processing of bagasse for gasification, and the gasification technology options for its conversion into energy, with a particular emphasis on the downdraft gasification technology. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd