TRACE 700 Load Calculation

The following calculations demonstrate the load analysis portion of TRACE 700 for a variable temperature
constant volume airside system. Several assumptions were made to simplify the calculations performed
by TRACE 700.

 Defined a single room (5000 ft2, flat roof, 1 exterior wall with 30% glass, 125 ft 2/person, 2 W/ft2 of
lights, 0.5 W/ft2 of miscellaneous equipment, and 20 cfm/person of ventilation).
 Ducted return with no plenum.
 Custom schedules were used to force the space loads and the coil loads to peak at hour 16 in July.
 TETD-TA1 methodology was selected and the time lag for heat gain was set to none. This will cause
all loads to be transferred immediately to the space and allow the user to hand calculate the envelope
loads.

For information on the more advanced methods of load calculation performed by TRACE 700, please see
the Trane Cooling and Heating Load Estimation Clinic (literature order number TRG-TRC002-EN), the
TRACE Load 700 Output Interpretation manual, or the ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.

Constants
The density specific heat product, enthalpy factor, and latent heat factor are “constants” that must be
calculated specifically for the selected location to perform an accurate load analysis. The density specific
heat product is most commonly used in the sensible heat equation (Q = 1.085 x CFM x  T). The latent
heat factor is used to calculated the latent portion of the outside air load (Q = 4760 / 7000 x CFM x 
grains). The enthalpy factor is used to determine total load (Q = 4.5 x CFM x  H).

Density-Specific Heat Product = K = AIRDEN x CPAIR x CONVFC = 0.0745 lbm/ft3 x 0.2444 Btu/lbm F x
60 min/hr = 1.0925 Btu/h cfm F

Latent Heat Factor = LFAC = AIRDEN x HFG x CONVFC = 0.0745 lbm/ft3 x 1076 Btu/lbm x 60 min/h =
4809.7 Btu min/h ft.3

Enthalpy Factor = HFAC = AIRDEN x CONVFC = = 0.0745 lbm/ft3 x 60 min/h = 4.47 lbm min/h ft3
The density of air (AIRDEN), air
specific heat (CPAIR), density-
specific heat product (K), latent
heat factor (LFAC), and enthalpy
heat factor (HFAC) can be found on
the Title Page Report. Each location
will have different constants based on
the altitude of that location.

Envelope Loads - Cooling

The envelope loads of the building will vary based on the cooling methodology selected, the thermal mass
of the components of the room, the weather location, and the entered data. The glass solar load is not
calculated here due to the complexity of solar load calculations. Please see pages 386-417 in the
ASHRAE 1972 Handbook of Fundamentals for more information on the TETD-TA1 methodology and
calculating solar loads.
 Roof Conduction = QCONDRF,SP = AREARF x UVALRF x TDRF-SP = 5000 ft.2 x 0.04684 Btu/h ft.2 F x 82.8 F =
19,391.8 Btu/h
The area of the roof (AREARF)
and U-factor of the roof
(UVALRF) can be entered on the
Roofs tab of the Create Rooms
section.

The temperature difference between

the roof and the space (TDRF-SP) can
be found on the Building Envelope
Cooling Loads Report. The
temperature difference between the
outside air and the room set point
cannot be used because the exposed
surface of the roof will be at a higher
temperature than the outside air.

The heat transfer coefficient for the glass is calculated based on the wind speed at each hour. This
coefficient is then used to adjust the entered U-value for the load simulation.

Outside Surface Heat Transfer Coefficient for Glass = HO,t = 2.00 + 0.27 x WINDDVT = 2.00 + 0.27 x
7.5 mph = 4.025 Btu/h ft.2 F

U-Value of Glass at Hour t = UGLASSt = (1 / UGLASSDSN – 1 / HO,DSN + 1 / HO,t)-1 = (1 / 0.5 Btu/h ft.2 F –
1 / 4 Btu/h ft.2 F + 1 / 4.025 Btu/h ft.2 F)-1 = 0.5004 Btu/h ft.2 F

Glass Conduction = QGAINGL,SP = UGLASSt x AREAGL x (OADBt – DSRMDBC) = 0.5004 Btu/h ft.2 F x
(50 ft. x 10 ft. x 0.3) x (93.4 – 75) = 1381.1 Btu/h

The outside air drybulb at The humidity ratio at hour t (OAWt)

hour t (OADBt) can be found in can be found in the Weather section of
the Weather section of the the Library/Template Editors.
Library/Template Editors.
The wind speed
(WINDDVT) can be found in
the Weather section of the
Library/Template Editors.

The area of the wall The u-factor of the wall

(AREAWL) can be entered (UVALWL) can be entered on
on the Walls tab of the the Walls tab of the Create
Create Rooms section. Rooms section. Each wall
type has an overridable U-
Note: The area of the factor associated with it.
glass (AREAGL) is
subtracted from the
entered area of the wall The u-factor of the glass
(AREAWL). (UGLASSDSN) can be
entered on the Walls tab of
The area of the glass the Create Rooms section.
(AREAGL) can be entered Each glass type has an
on the Walls tab of the overridable U-factor
Create Rooms section. associated with it.

Note: the area of the

glass is subtracted from
the entered area of the
wall.
 Wall Conduction = QCONDWL,SP = AREAWL x UVALWL x TDWL-SP = (50 ft. x 10 ft. x 0.7) x
0.06486 Btu/h ft2 F x 29.7 F = 674.2 Btu/h

The room set point The temperature difference between the

(DSRMDBC) can be entered wall and the space (TDWL-SP) can be
on the Rooms tab of the found on the Building Envelope Cooling
The floor area of
Create Rooms section. Loads Report. The temperature difference
the room
between the outside air and the room set
(AREAFL) can be
point cannot be used because the exterior
entered on the surface of the wall will be at a higher
Rooms tab of the temperature than the outside air.
Create Rooms
section.

Zero plenum height

indicates that the
temperature
difference between
the roof and the
space (TDRF-SP)
should be used.

The Zone Checksums Report

shows the envelope loads
(QCONDSF,SP, QGAINGL,SP,
QCONDWL,SP) calculated by
TRACE 700. The zone level
report is used because the
variable temperature constant
volume system has a zone level
coil. See the “System Type
Characteristics” section of the
Help file for more information on
coil locations.

Internal Loads - Cooling

The internal loads of the building include the lights, people, and miscellaneous equipment loads. The
values for each of the loads are calculated from the user inputs and the selected schedules.

Maximum Lighting Load = MAXLIT = VALLIT x CONVINT = 2 W / ft.2 x 5000 ft.2 x 3.413 Btu/h W =
34,130 Btu/h

Lighting Load at Hour t = QGAINLIT,t = (PCTLIT,t / 100) x MAXLIT = (100/100) x 34,130 Btu/h =
34,103 Btu/h
The maximum lighting load
(MAXLIT) and the lighting schedule
can be entered on the Internal Loads
tab of the Create Rooms section. The
schedule is used to determine the
percentage of lights turned on for
each hour of the simulation (PCTLIT,t ).
Number of People = NPEOP = AREAFL / VALPEOP = 5000 ft.2 / 125 ft.2/person = 40 people

Maximum People Latent Load = MAXPL = NPEOP x PEOPL = 40 people x 200 Btu/h per person =
8,000 Btu/h

Maximum People Sensible Load = MAXPS = NPEOP x PEOPS = 40 people x 250 Btu/h per person =
10,000 Btu/h

People Latent Load at Hour t = QGAINPL,t = (PCTPEOP,t / 100) x MAXPL = (100 / 100) x 8,000 Btu/h = 8,000
Btu/h

People Sensible Load at Hour t = QGAINPS,t = (PCTPEOP,t / 100) x MAXPS = (100 / 100) x 10,000 Btu/h =
10,000 Btu/h
The people value (VALPEOP), maximum
people latent load (MAXPL),
maximum people sensible load
(MAXPS), and the people schedule can
be entered on the Internal Loads tab of
the Create Rooms section. The
schedule is used to determine the
percentage of people in the room for
each hour of the simulation (PCTPEOP,t ).

Maximum Miscellaneous Equipment Load = QMISC = VALMISC x CONVINT = 0.5 W/ft.2 x 5000 ft.2 x
3.413 Btu / W h = 8532.5 Btu/h

Miscellaneous Equipment Load at Hour t = QGAINMSP,t = (PCTMISC,t / 100) x QMISC = 100 / 100 x
8532.5 Btu/h = 8532.5 Btu/h
The maximum miscellaneous
equipment load (QMISC) and the
miscellaneous equipment schedule can
be entered on the Internal Loads tab of
the Create Rooms section. The
schedule is used to determine the
percentage of miscellaneous equipment
turned on for each hour of the simulation
(PCTMISC,t ).

The Zone Checksums Report shows

the internal loads (QGAINLIT,t,
QGAINPS+PL,t, QGAINMSP,t) calculated
by TRACE 700. The zone level report
is used because the variable
temperature constant volume system
has a zone level coil.
Note: The Design Cooling Load
Report can be used to view the
sensible and latent loads individually.
 Outside Air Load – Cooling (Output Interpretation p. 85-86)
The load associated with outside air can be calculated based on the difference between the enthalpy of
the outside air and the enthalpy of the air in the conditioned space.

Outside Air Sensible Load at Hour t = QVENTSC = K x OACFMt x (OADBt – DSRMDB) =

1.0925 Btu/h cfm F x 800 cfm x (93.4 – 75) = 16,081.6 Btu/h

Outside Air Latent Load at Hour t = QVENTLC = LFAC x OACFMt x (OAWt – DSRMW) / CWRT =
4809.7 Btu min/h lbm ft.3 x 800 cfm x (110.6 gr/lb – 62.2 gr/lb) / 7000 grains/(lb m/lbm) = 26,604.5 Btu/h

The maximum outside air cfm

(OACFM) and the outside air schedule
can be entered on the Airflows tab of the
Create Rooms section. The schedule is
used to determine the cfm of outside air
supplied for each hour of the simulation
(OACFMt ).

The total outside air load

(QVENTSC + QVENTLC) can be
viewed on the Zone Checksums
Report.
Note: The Design Cooling Load
Report can be used to view the
sensible and latent loads
individually.

Supply Fan Heat Pickup (Engineering Manual p. 66)

Supply fan heat is based off of the input value for static pressure, fan blade efficiency, and motor
efficiency. If any of these values are zero, no fan heat pickup will be calculated.

Total Fan Heat Pickup = DSFNTD = C x SP / (K x MTREF / 100 x BLDF /100) = 0.4 F/in. water x
1.5 in. water / (1.0925 Btu/h cfm F x 90 / 100 x 75 / 100) = 0.814 F

Motor Temperature Difference = MTRTD = DSFNTD x (1 – MTREF / 100) = 0.814 F x (1 - 90 / 100) =

0.08 F

Blade Temperature Difference = BLDTD = DSFNTD x (MTREF / 100) x (1 – BLDEF / 100) = 0.814 F x
(90 / 100) x (1 – 75 / 100) = 0.18 F

Fan Friction Temperature Difference = FDUCTD = DSFNTD X (MTREF / 100) X (BLDEF / 100) = 0.814 F
x (90 / 100) x (75 / 100) = 0.55 F

Total Heat Generated by Fan = QFAN,t = 1.0925 Btu/h cfm F x 4259 cfm x 0.814 F = 3787.5 Btu/h

The static pressure (SP) for the supply

fan can be entered on the Fans tab of
the Create Airside Systems section.
 The primary fan motor
efficiency (MTREF) and
mechanical efficiency
(BLDEF) for the supply
fan can be entered using
the Overrides button on
the Fans tab of the Create
Airside Systems section.

The total heat generated by the fan

(QFAN,t) can be found on the Zone
The individual temperature differences
Checksums Report.
(MTRTD, BLDTD, FDUCTD) can be
found in the Temperatures section of the
Zones Checksums Report. The fan heat
pickup is neglected for heating by
default.

Output Reports
The cooling coil and the space peak at the The Zone Checksums Report shows all of
same hour due to the custom schedules. the loads associated with this VTCV system.
 There are no plenum/return air loads because
zero was entered for the plenum height.

The outside air and supply fan heat

loads (QVENTSC, QVENTLC, and QFAN,t)
are loads not seen by the space, so they
only appear in the net total column.
The envelope loads
(QCONDRF,SP, QGAINGL,SP,
QCONDWL,SP) are all seen The maximum CFM can be determined
by the space, so they are from the space sensible peak.
considered space loads. CFMDSN = Q / 1.0925 x (TROOM – TSADB) =
89,259 / 1.0925 x (75 – 55.8) = 4,255 cfm

The CFM at the time of coil peak can be

The sensible capacity of the coil can determined by calculating the space sensible load
be found by subtracting the people at the time of coil peak. This is done by
and ventilation latent loads (see the subtracting the people latent load (see the Design The total area of the floor (AREAFL), roof
Design Cooling Load report) from Cooling Load report) from the total sensible load. (AREARF), walls (AREAWL), and glass
the total capacity. QSEN = QTOTAL – QLATENT = 97,259 – 8,000 =
(AREAGL) of rooms assigned to the zone
QSEN = 143,691 – (8,000 + 26,567) = 89,259 Btu/h
CFM = 89,259 / 1.0925 x (75 – 55.8) = 4,255 CFM can be found in the area section.
109,124 Btu/h