QC-06-035 - Accuracy Tests for Simulations of VAV Dual-Duct, Single-Zone, Four-Pipe Fan-Coil, and Four-Pipe Induction Air-Handling Systems PDF

This paper provides a method for verifying the accuracyof computer models that simulate the performance of the airhandlingcomponents of four types of heating, ventilating, andair-conditioning systems: the dual-fan VAV dual-duct system,the single-zone system, the four-pipe fan-coil system, and thefour-pipe induction system. To accomplish this, a detaileddescription of each system and its operating parameters wasdeveloped and a set of eight test conditions was generated,consisting of carefully chosen space loads and weather conditions.Each of the systems was simulated at each of the definedconditions. The thermodynamic properties at each point in thesystem, as well as the heating and cooling coil loads, werecalculated. The calculations were then repeated by a secondanalyst using an independently developed program. The maximumdeviation in the total coil loads was 1.8%, and the averageof the absolute deviations was 0.4%. These validatedresults can be used by program developers or users to test theperformance of the air-side simulations contained in mostbuilding energy analysis computer programs.