Calculation Methods

IES Virtual Environment 6.4

CIBSE Heat Loss & Heat Gain (ApacheCalc)
Contents

Calculation Methods .........................................................................................................1

1 Introduction.......................................................................................................3
2 Heat Loss ...........................................................................................................4
2.1 Heat Loss Methodology ........................................................................................................ 4
3 Heat Gain...........................................................................................................5
3.1 Heat Gain Methodology........................................................................................................ 5
3.2 Solar Radiation ...................................................................................................................... 6
3.2.1 Differences between Solar Gain Treatment in Heat Gain and ApacheSim ...................... 6
3.2.2 Meteorological Solar Variables......................................................................................... 6
3.2.3 Incident Solar Fluxes......................................................................................................... 7
3.2.4 Shading ............................................................................................................................. 7
3.2.5 SunCast Shading Files ....................................................................................................... 8
3.2.6 Construction-based Shading Devices ............................................................................... 8
3.2.7 Solar Reflected Fraction Parameter................................................................................ 8
3.2.8 Distribution of Solar Radiation ......................................................................................... 8
3.2.9 Special Element Adjacencies ............................................................................................ 8
3.2.10 Solar Transmission, Absorption & Reflection by Glazing.................................................. 8
3.2.11 Solar Absorption & Reflection by Opaque Surfaces ......................................................... 9
3.2.12 External Long-wave Radiation .......................................................................................... 9
4 References .......................................................................................................10

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1 Introduction
The program CIBSE Heat Loss & Heat Gain (APcalc) performs heat loss and heat gain
calculations according to the procedures laid down in CIBSE Guide A (1995, 1999, 2001, 20006).

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2 Heat Loss

2.1 Heat Loss Methodology

The Heat Loss program applies the Simple Model described in Section 5.5.3 and Appendix
5A.1 of the CIBSE Guide (1995 edition, reprinted 1999). The main features of this method are
as follows:

The method calculates heat loss by conduction, infiltration and mechanical

ventilation.
Steady state conditions are assumed in the basic calculation.
An allowance for intermittent operation may be made using the factor derived in
Appendix 5.A5 of the Guide.
No allowance is made for casual or solar gains.
Heat gains from adjacent rooms may be accounted for at the users option, using the
Modified U-value method described in Section 5.5.3 of the Guide.
Long-wave radiation exchange is modelled using a single radiant temperature for
each room.
Outside environmental temperature is assumed to equal outside air temperature.
Convective/radiant surface resistances may be modified by the user.
The radiant fraction of the heating plant and the radiant fraction sensed by the
thermostat are under the users control.
The program Vista provides facilities for viewing the results of the Heat Loss analysis.

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3 Heat Gain

3.1 Heat Gain Methodology

The Heat Gains program is based on the Simple Model described in Section 5.6.3 and
Appendix 5A.2 of the CIBSE Guide [0]. The method has been extended within the guidelines set
out in the Guide (see Reference and Basic models Section 5.6 and Appendix 5.A7) to provide
a more general and accurate treatment of solar gains through glazing. The main features of the
Simple Model are as follows:

The method calculates heat gains and losses by conduction, infiltration and
mechanical ventilation.
Conduction calculations are based on the CIBSE Admittance method.
The calculations are performed for the 24 hours of each design day, on the hour.
The program makes allowance for casual and solar gains.
Heat gains from adjacent rooms may be accounted for at the users option, using the
Modified U-value method described in Section 5.5.3 of the Guide.
Long-wave radiation exchange is modelled using a single radiant temperature for
each room.
Outside environmental temperature includes an allowance for solar gain on opaque
surfaces
Convective/radiant surface resistances may be modified by the user.
The radiant fraction sensed by the thermostat is under the users control.
The cooling plant is assumed to be purely convective.
Solar gain through glazing is accounted for through the use of solar gain factors.

Extensions to the Simple Model are applied as follows:

External shading may be taken into account through the use of shading files generated by
SunCast and calculations of local shading by window recesses and overhangs.

The solar gain factor treatment applied in the Simple Model is replaced by an approach that
allows the software to deal with a greater variety of glazing systems and to treat solar gain
entering rooms more accurately. Properties of glazing units are calculated from first principles
using the transmission, absorption and reflection characteristics of each layer of the glazing.
These properties define the performance of the glazing over a range of incidence angles and
distinguish between beam and diffuse solar radiation. In place of solar gain factors, which
involve approximations unnecessary in a computer implementation, the software uses a direct

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 solution method based on the principles set out in the Guide to calculate how the solar gain
entering a room is absorbed by and conducted through its surfaces.

Details of the solar algorithms are provided under Solar Radiation below.

The program calculates solar fluxes incident on the exterior of the building rather than using
tables of cooling load and sol-air temperature.

The user may specify a proportion of the solar gain entering a room that is estimated to be lost
be re-transmission out of the windows as short-wave radiation.

Control for heating, as well as cooling, may be specified.

The user has control over the weather data used to drive the calculation.

3.2 Solar Radiation

3.2.1 Differences between Solar Gain Treatment in Heat Gain and ApacheSim

The treatment of solar gains in Heat Gain has much in common with the treatment in Apache
Simulation. The following differences should, however, be noted. In Heat Gains:

Meteorological solar variables are calculated from parameters entered in APlocate.

Incident solar fluxes are calculated on the assumption of isotropic sky radiation.
Shading calculations do not include internal solar tracking.
No solar radiation is transferred between rooms.
A fixed Solar reflected fraction is applied (as set in Room Data).
The internal distribution of solar radiation follows CIBSE admittance procedure
principles.

3.2.2 Meteorological Solar Variables

The program generates design values of direct solar irradiance for clear sky conditions using
the following parameters set in APlocate:

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 Latitude & longitude.
Standard meridian (time zone) and local time correction.
Height above sea level.
Haze factor.
Precipitable water content.

A detailed description of the method is provided in the APlocate User Guide.

Values of diffuse solar radiation are evaluated by the program as a function of solar altitude
only, and correspond to clear sky basic diffuse irradiances in Table A2.25 of the CIBSE Guide
A2.

3.2.3 Incident Solar Fluxes

The calculation of solar fluxes incident on external building surfaces follows the procedure
used in Apache Simulation, with sky radiation treated as isotropic. See Apache Simulation
Calculation Methods.

3.2.3.1 Treatment of Solar Radiation in Heat Gain

In Heat Gain, external shading factors read from a SunCast or SunCast Lite shading file are
applied to the incident solar radiation beam. However there is no solar tracking in this program
and no transference of diffuse radiation between rooms.

3.2.4 Shading

Shading of the beam component of solar radiation may be modelled in three ways in Heat
Gain:

Shading and solar tracking calculations performed by SunCast.

Shading calculations performed by APsim for construction-based shading devices.

SunCast shading applies to both glazed and opaque surfaces. Construction-based shading only
applies to glazing.

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3.2.5 SunCast Shading Files

Shading data generated by SunCast for the 15th day of selected months is stored on a shading
file with extension *.shd. The data for a given month comprises hourly data describing the
exposure of exterior building surfaces to beam solar radiation. In the case of the SunCast file,
internal solar tracking information is also stored on the file, but this data is ignored by Heat
Gain. If the shading file is specified at run time, APsim reads the data and uses it to modify the
beam component of solar radiation for shaded external surfaces.

3.2.6 Construction-based Shading Devices

Shading devices attached to constructions created in APcdb are modelled as described in

Apache Simulation Calculation Methods.

3.2.7 Solar Reflected Fraction Parameter

This parameter sets the proportion of solar gain entering a room that is assumed to be lost by
re-transmission through external glazing.

3.2.8 Distribution of Solar Radiation

Solar radiation entering a room is distributed internally according to principles set out in the
CIBSE Admittance Procedure.

3.2.9 Special Element Adjacencies

Windows in elements assigned the adjacencies Outside air with offset temp. and Temp. from
profile, and those in partition elements linking to inactive spaces, receive no external solar
radiation. Any radiation transmitted out of the building through such windows in the course of
the solar distribution is lost from the model.

3.2.10 Solar Transmission, Absorption & Reflection by Glazing

The solar properties of glazing elements are derived as described in Apache Simulation
Calculation Methods.

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3.2.11 Solar Absorption & Reflection by Opaque Surfaces

External opaque building surfaces absorb and reflect solar radiation according to their solar
absorptance as assigned in APcdb. SunCast and SunCast Lite shading data is applied to external
opaque surfaces.

3.2.12 External Long-wave Radiation

Long-wave radiation loss from external surfaces in Heat Gain is assumed to take the following
values:

Walls: 21 W/m2
Roofs: 91 W/m2

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4 References
CIBSE Guide A Environmental Design. The Chartered Institution of Building Services
Engineers, London, 1999.

Atmospheric Effects on Solar Radiation for Computer Analysis of Cooling Loads for
Buildings at Various Location Heights, Journal of the Institution of Heating and
Ventilating Engineers Volume 39 (Feb. 1972)

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