Dynamic Thermal Modeling of a Radiant Panels System and its Environment for Commissioning: Application to Case Study

As a part of a commissioning study, the cooling ceiling system of a large commercial building located in Belgium is evaluated. A representative office has been instrumented and data on the cooling ceiling system operating in real conditions have been collected. The simulation of the whole system is performed by means of a dynamic thermal model of the building and its HVAC system. The model considers the radiant panels as a dynamic-state finned heat exchanger connected to a simplified lumped dynamic model of the building. The behavior of the radiant ceiling system and the interactions with his environment (walls, ventilated façade, internal loads and ventilation system) has been experimentally and numerically evaluated. Commissioning test results show that the influence of surfaces temperatures inside the room, especially the façade, is considerable. Then, it is clear that the radiant ceiling system must be evaluated together with its designed environment and not as separate HVAC equipment

Evidence-based calibration of a building energy simulation model: Application to an office building in Belgium

Energy services play a growing role in the control of energy consumption and the improvement of energy efficiency in non-residential buildings. This work consists in the application of a simulation-based approach dedicated to whole-building energy use analysis for use in the frame of an energy efficiency service process. Focus is given to the calibration of a simplified dynamic hourly building energy simulation model by means of available energy use data and to the integration of the calibration process into the Energy Service Process. The developed simulation tool and the associated calibration method are applied to a real case study building located in Brussels, Belgium. The use of an evidence-based method ensures sticking to reality and avoids bad representation and hazardous adjustment of the parameters. Moreover, it is shown that the use of a sensitivity analysis method is of a great help to orient data collection and parameters adjustment processes

Dynamic Thermal Modeling of a Radiant Panels System and its Environment for Commissioning: Application to Case Study

As a part of a commissioning study, the cooling ceiling system of a large commercial building located in Belgium is evaluated. A representative office has been instrumented and data on the cooling ceiling system operating in real conditions have been collected. The simulation of the whole system is performed by means of a dynamic thermal model of the building and its HVAC system. The model considers the radiant panels as a dynamic-state finned heat exchanger connected to a simplified lumped dynamic model of the building. The behavior of the radiant ceiling system and the interactions with his environment (walls, ventilated façade, internal loads and ventilation system) has been experimentally and numerically evaluated. Commissioning test results show that the influence of surfaces temperatures inside the room, especially the façade, is considerable. Then, it is clear that the radiant ceiling system must be evaluated together with its designed environment and not as separate HVAC equipment

HIV Drug Resistance Early Warning Indicators in Cohorts of Individuals Starting Antiretroviral Therapy Between 2004 and 2009: World Health Organization Global Report From 50 Countries

The World Health Organization developed a set of human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance (HIVDR) early warning indicators (EWIs) to assess antiretroviral therapy clinic and program factors associated with HIVDR. EWIs are monitored by abstracting data routinely recorded in clinical records, and the results enable clinics and program managers to identify problems that should be addressed to minimize preventable emergence of HIVDR in clinic populations. As of June 2011, 50 countries monitored EWIs, covering 131 686 patients initiating antiretroviral treatment between 2004 and 2009 at 2107 clinics. HIVDR prevention is associated with patient care (appropriate prescribing and patient monitoring), patient behavior (adherence), and clinic/program management efforts to reduce treatment interruptions (follow up, retention on first-line ART, procurement and supply management of antiretroviral drugs). EWIs measure these factors and the results have been used to optimize patient and population treatment outcome