SE-99-01-2 -- The Effect of Beam Solar Radiation Distribution on Peak Cooling Loads PDF

This paper describes a study conducted to determine the sensitivity of the distribution of solar radiation on cooling load calculations. A typical room was simulated using BLAST for a summer design day in Fort Worth, Texas, using the default distribution for solar radiation and also using detailed solar distribution. A warm winter day was also simulated. It is concluded that for a "traditional" building that experiences peak air-conditioning loads in the summer, assuming the beam solar radiation is uniform across the floor has a small effect in calculating peak load. However, adding interior surface area and putting carpet on the floor are important if underprediction of the peak load is to be avoided. In climates where peak conditions could occur during the winter when sun angles are lower and gains through south glass are high, it is more important to correctly model the distribution of beam solar radiation. The more accurately the heat transfer in a room is modeled, the more reliable the results will be.

Units: I-P