Energy consumption and thermal comfort simulation for an office building in Teresina/PI with the use of passive bioclimatic strategies

Author(s)

Felipe da Silva Duarte Lopes

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo
• Defense date: 2016-02-16

Examining board members

Lucila Chebel Labaki; Kelen Almeida Dornelles; Alberto Luiz Francato

• Advisor: Lucila Chebel Labaki

Abstract

The design of office buildings in tropical climate regions generally do not take into account the appropriate bioclimatic principles, which ultimately raises the electricity consumption. This high-energy demand in buildings has stimulated the development of certification and energy labelling programs. Many of these buildings are considered efficient, but they consume more energy when compared to similar constructions of high-energy performance. Still, users do not always experience a satisfying environmental quality and thermal comfort. The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of passive bioclimatic strategies in electricity consumption and thermal for a typical office building in a tropical wet and dry climate region, using a hypothetical model for this typology. For calibration of the model, temperature and humidity measurements were made in an existing rom in the city of Teresina-PI, and the results compared with a simulated computer model using EnergyPlus. Afterwards a series of passive bioclimatic strategies were applied in the hypothetical model (window overhangs, selective ventilation and thermal mass for cooling) in order to verify the reduction of the energy consumption. For comparison purpose, a benchmarking was established as a parameter for the energy efficiency study. A Systematic Mapping Study (SMS) was conducted as a way to search relevant papers for the research. The evaluation of the thermal comfort of users used simulation results of Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) index, defined by Fanger for evaluation environments artificially conditioned, in addition to hours of heat discomfort. Results showed a 20% energy consumption reduction for air-conditioning with the use of thermal mass, and a 75% decrease of heat discomfort hours during occupation period with the use of selective ventilation. It was also concluded that the proposed window overhangs reduce heat gains, but do not reduce energy consumption. Selective ventilation ensures thermal comfort, but with no significant energy consumption reduction. The use of thermal mass reduces energy consumption, but the thermal comfort indices are unsatisfactory and other strategies need to be used. For future works, combined simulation of bioclimatic strategies and the influence of natural ventilation with the use of air-conditioning (mixed mode) in office buildings were indicated (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/12418-2 - Evaluation of thermal conditioning solutions for commercial buildings with high energy performance in a hot and dry climate
• Grantee: Felipe da Silva Duarte Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master