NT-87-20-3 -- Update on Experimental Validation of the SP43 Simulation Model for Forced-Air Heating Systems PDF

ASHRAE Special Project 43 (SP43) has developed and experimentally validated a dynamic simulation model for analyzing the seasonal thermal performance and energy utilization of residential forced-air heating systems. During the course of the project, the SP43 Simulation Model has been improved and extended significantly and it is of interest to compare the most recent model predictions with earlier experimental data.

This paper, sixth in the series, describes validation efforts that compare predictions by the updated model with experimental data for a series of 19 field test cases. These cases are a subset of the validation cases presented previously that includes all of the cases where energy use agreement exceeded ±10% and several cases where agreement was within ±5%. The updated validation significantly improved the agreement to within ±8% for all but four cases and to within ±24% for all cases and did not significantly degrade the agreement for those cases where it was good o~ginally. The improved agreement can be attributed to a series of model improvements made since the original predictions, as well as minor corrections to the input data resulting from a detailed input analysis. The major conclusion is that the SP43 Simulation Model is an effective representation of residential HVAC system performance for the purposes of component or control system evaluation.

Units: I-P