Lecture 24: Ground Heat Transfer

Material prepared by GARD Analytics, Inc. and University of Illinoisat Urbana-Champaign under contract to the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory. All material Copyright 2002-2003 U.S.D.O.E. - All rights reserved

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Importance of this Lecture to the Simulation of Buildings

Almost all buildings have some connection to the ground

Depending on the building type, ground heat transfer may play a significant role in determining the response of the building to its surroundings

Ground heat transfer is often difficult to calculate and often miscalculated

Better simulation tools can help avoid errors in predicting the effects of the ground on the building

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Purpose of this Lecture

Gain an understanding of: Ground heat transfer in EnergyPlus How to use the slab.exe utility

program to obtain better ground heat transfer evaluation in EnergyPlus

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Keywords Covered in this Lecture

GroundTemperaturesInputs specific to the slab.exe

utility program

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Ground Heat Transfer Introduction

It is difficult to link ground heat transfer calculations to EnergyPlus since the conduction calculations in EnergyPlus are one-dimensional and the ground heat transfer calculations are two or three-dimensional

This causes severe modeling problems for the ground heat transfer calculation. But, it is necessary to be able to relate ground heat transfer calculations to that model

Note that ground heat transfer is highly dependent on soil properties and that soil properties can vary greatly from location to location—even between locations in the same city

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Ground Temperature Object

Specifies the outside surface temp for surfaces in contact with the ground (e.g., slab floors, basement walls)

GROUNDTEMPERATURES, 12.2, !- Jan {C} 12.7, !- Feb {C} <etc.> 12.7; !- Dec {C}

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Ground Temperatures (cont’d)

Three sets of ground temperatures are tabulated in the weather file. Ground temperatures are for “thermally undisturbed” soil with a

diffusivity of 2.3225760E-03 {m**2/day}.

These values are not appropriate for computing building floor losses.- Monthly Calculated "undisturbed" Ground Temperatures °

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0.5 m 9.8 9.5 10.1 11.5 13.4 15.1 16.3 16.7 16.0 14.6 12.8 11.02.0 m 11.0 10.4 10.6 11.4 12.6 14.0 15.1 15.7 15.6 14.8 13.5 12.14.0 m 12.0 11.4 11.3 11.6 12.4 13.3 14.2 14.8 14.9 14.5 13.8 12.8

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Ground Temperatures (cont’d)

Use slab.exe utility to compute appropriate ground temperatures at the exterior side of any surface that is in contact with the ground. This is a monthly value that establishes the outside

boundary condition (temperature) for a particular surface in contact with the ground.

Documentation for slab.exe can be found in AuxiliaryPrograms.pdf .

Otherwise, take the indoor air temperature and subtract 2C as a reasonable starting value to use for most commercial applications in the U.S.

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Ground Temperatures (cont’d)

Slab.exe utility will calculate: Monthly core, perimeter, and average

ground temperatures Given a description of the floor slab,

perimeter insulation, the average indoor temperature, the soil conditions and the weather file for a given location

Will only compute temperatures for slab-on-grade construction (i.e., not basements)

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PreProcess Folder

PreProcess BLAST Translator DOE-2 Translator IDF Editor IFCtoIDF Weather

Converter Ground Temp

Calculator

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Ground Temperatures (cont’d)

Slab.exe ground temperature utility

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Slab.exe Utility Program

The slab program used to calculate the results is included with the EnergyPlus distribution. It requires an input file named GHTin.idf in the input data file format. The needed corresponding idd file is E+SlabGHT.idd. An EnergyPlus weather file for the location is also needed. A sample batch file is shown on the next slide.

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Slab.exe Batch File Basic Functions

echo ===== %0 (Run Slab Generation) ===== Start =====: Complete the following path and program names.: path names must have a following \ or errors will happen set program_path= set program_name=Slab.exe set input_path= set output_path= set weather_path= IF EXIST %output_path%%1.gtp ERASE %output_path%%1.gtp IF EXIST %output_path%%1.ger ERASE %output_path%%1.ger

copy %input_path%%1.idf GHTIn.idf

if EXIST %weather_path%%2.epw copy %weather_path%%2.epw in.epw ECHO Begin Slab processing . . . %program_path%%program_name%

IF EXIST "SLABSurfaceTemps.txt" MOVE "SLABSurfaceTemps.txt" %output_path%%1.gtp IF EXIST eplusout.err MOVE eplusout.err %output_path%%1.ger

ECHO Removing extra files . . . IF EXIST GHTIn.idf DEL GHTIn.idf IF EXIST in.epw DEL in.epw

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Ground Slab Heat Transfer

The simulation can go from a 1 to x (user specified) years and uses an explicit finite difference solution technique.

Uses monthly average inside temperatures.

Can use a daily cyclic hourly variation of inside temperatures; main purpose is for user experimentation.

Will shortly have multiple ground temperature capability in EnergyPlus

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Slab Program Input

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: MATERIALS ===========Materials, 2, ! N1 [NMAT: Number of materials: 2] 0.158, ! N2 [ALBEDO: Surface Albedo: No Snow: 0-1] 0.379, ! N3 [ALBEDO: Surface Albedo: Snow: 0-1] 0.9, ! N4 [EPSLW: Surface Emissivity: No Snow: 0.9] 0.9, ! N5 [EPSLW: Surface Emissivity: Snow: 0.9] 0.75, ! N6 [Z0: Surface Roughness: No Snow: 0-10 cm] 0.03, ! N7 [Z0: Surface Roughness: Snow] 6.13, ! N8 [HIN: Indoor HConv: Downward Flow: 4-10 W/m**2-K] 9.26; ! N9 [HIN: Indoor HConv: Upward: 4-10 W/m**2-K]

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Slab Program Input (Cont.)

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: MATLPROPS ===========MatlProps, 2300, ! N1[RHO: Slab Material density: Validity: 2300.0 kg/m**3] 1200, ! N2[RHO: Soil Density: 1200.0 kg/m**3] 653, ! N3[CP: Slab CP: Validity: 650.0 J/kg-K] 1200, ! N4[CP: Soil CP: Validity: 1200.0 J/kg-K] 0.93, ! N5[TCON: Slab k: Validity: .9 W/m-K] 1; ! N6[TCON: Soil k: Vailidity: 1.0 W/m-K]

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: BOUNDCONDS ===========BoundConds, TRUE, ! A1 [EVTR: TRUE/FALSE: Is surface evapotranspiration modeled] TRUE, ! A2 [FIXBC: TRUE/FALSE: Is the lower boundary at a fixed temp.] FALSE; ! A3 [OLDTG: TRUE/FALSE: is there an old ground temperature file]

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Slab Program Input (Cont.)

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: BLDGPROPS ===========BldgProps, 2, ! N1[IYRS: Number of years to iterate: 10] 0, ! N2[Shape: Slab shape: 0 ONLY] 3.048, ! N3[HBLDG: Building height 0-20 m] 21.4; ! N4[TIN: Indoor temperature set point: 21 C]

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: INSULATION ===========Insulation, 0., ! N1[RINS: R value of under slab insulation 0-2.0 W/m-K] 0., ! N2[DINS: Width of strip of under slab insulation 0-2.0 m] 2.0, ! N3[RVINS: R value of vertical insulation 0-3.0 W/m-K] 1.0, ! N4[ZVINS: Depth of vertical insulation .2 .4 .6 .8 1.0 ! 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 m ONLY] 1; ! N5[IVINS: Flag: Is there vertical insulation 1=yes 0=no]

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Slab Program Input (Cont.)

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: EQUIVSLAB ===========EquivSlab, 5.08, ! N1[APRatio: The area to perimeter ratio for this slab: m] TRUE; ! A1[EquivSizing: Flag: Will the dimensions of an equivalent ! slab be calculated (TRUE) or will the dimensions be input ! directly? (FALSE)]

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: EQUIVAUTOGRID ===========EquivAutoGrid, ! NOTE:EquivAutoGrid only necessary when EquivSizing is true 0.1016, ! N1[SLABDEPTH: Thickness of slab on grade, 0.1 m] 15; ! N2[CLEARANCE: Distance from edge of slab to domain edge, 15.0 m]

! =========== ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: AUTOGRID ===========AutoGrid, ! NOTE: AutoGrid only necessary when EquivSizing is false , ! N1[SLABX: X dimension of the building slab, 0-60.0 m] , ! N2[SLABY: Y dimension of the building slab, 0-60.0 m] , ! N3[SLABDEPTH: Thickness of slab on grade, 0.1 m] ; ! N4[CLEARANCE: Distance from edge of slab to domain ! edge, 15.0 m]

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Building Properties IDD Object

Slab Program uses the EnergyPlus input philosophy and uses its own IDD. Example is shown below:

BldgProps,N1, ! [IYRS: Number of years to iterate: 10]N2, ! [Shape: Slab shape: 0 ONLY]N3, ! [HBLDG: Building height 0-20 m]N4, ! [TIN1: Indoor Average temperature set point for January: 22 C]N5, ! [TIN2: Indoor Average temperature set point for February: 22 C]N6, ! [TIN3: Indoor Average temperature set point for March: 22 C]N7, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for April: 22 C]N8, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for May: 22 C]N9, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for June: 22 C]N10, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for July: 22 C]N11, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for August: 22 C]N12, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for September: 22 C]N13, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for October: 22 C]N14, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for November: 22 C]N15, ! [TIN: Indoor Average temperature set point for December: 22 C]N16, ! [Daily sine wave variation amplitude: 0 C ]N17; ! Convergence Tollerance : 0.1

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Variable Inside Temperature

Monthly Slab Outside Face Temperatures, CPerimeter Area: 304.00 Core Area: 1296.00Month Average Perimeter Core Inside 1 17.67 16.11 18.03 18.0 2 17.45 15.92 17.81 18.0 3 17.43 16.07 17.74 18.0 4 19.00 17.82 19.27 20.0 5 19.24 18.23 19.48 20.0 6 19.31 18.42 19.52 20.0 7 20.92 20.14 21.11 22.0 8 21.17 20.44 21.35 22.0 9 21.22 20.45 21.40 22.0 10 21.21 20.26 21.44 22.0 11 19.62 18.54 19.88 20.0 12 19.35 17.99 19.67 20.0

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Heat Fluxes

Temperatures Heat Flux W/m^2

Month Average Perimeter Core Inside Perimeter Average1 17.67 16.11 18.03 18 7.00 1.222 17.45 15.92 17.81 18 7.70 2.043 17.43 16.07 17.74 18 7.15 2.114 19 17.82 19.27 20 8.07 3.705 19.24 18.23 19.48 20 6.56 2.816 19.31 18.42 19.52 20 5.85 2.567 20.92 20.14 21.11 22 6.89 4.008 21.17 20.44 21.35 22 5.78 3.079 21.22 20.45 21.4 22 5.74 2.8910 21.21 20.26 21.44 22 6.44 2.9311 19.62 18.54 19.88 20 5.41 1.4112 19.35 17.99 19.67 20 7.44 2.41

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Heat Fluxes with Hourly Variation of Inside Temp

Month Average Perimeter Core Inside

PerimeterHeat Flux

W/m^2

AverageHeat Flux

W/m^2

1 17.51 16.03 17.86 18 7.30 1.81

2 17.29 15.85 17.63 18 7.96 2.63

3 17.27 16 17.57 18 7.41 2.70

4 18.87 17.77 19.13 20 8.26 4.19

5 19.11 18.16 19.34 20 6.81 3.30

6 19.17 18.34 19.37 20 6.15 3.07

7 20.81 20.07 20.98 22 7.15 4.41

8 21.05 20.36 21.21 22 6.07 3.52

9 21.09 20.38 21.26 22 6.00 3.37

10 21.08 20.19 21.29 22 6.70 3.41

11 19.47 18.45 19.71 20 5.74 1.96

12 19.2 17.92 19.51 20 7.70 2.96

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Hourly Temperature Variation

Slab with Sinusoidal Inside Temp

0

5

10

15

20

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1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23hour

Tem

per

atu

re,

C

Perim Out Ts

Core Out Ts

Inside Temp

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General Procedure for using slab.exe with EnergyPlus

1. Run the building in EnergyPlus with an insulated slab or as a partition to obtain monthly inside temperatures.

2. Put those monthly inside temperatures in the slab program to determine outside face temperatures.

3. Use resulting outside face temperatures in EnergyPlus.

4. Repeat 2 and 3 if inside temperatures change significantly.

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Example Results 100 X 300 ft Warehouse,

Minneapolis

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Slab Results

Month Average Perimeter Core Inside 1 4.78 3.90 4.99 4.4 2 4.68 3.85 4.87 4.5 3 6.13 5.40 6.30 6.3 4 10.54 9.90 10.69 11.8 5 17.56 16.83 17.73 20.0 6 22.56 21.73 22.75 25.1 7 24.96 24.14 25.16 27.1 8 24.31 23.51 24.50 25.6 9 20.03 19.33 20.19 20.1 10 12.89 12.31 13.03 11.9 11 7.07 6.56 7.19 5.8 12 5.17 4.51 5.33 4.4 Convergence has been gained.

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Temperature Differences between EnergyPlus Runs

Inside Temperature Difference, Step 2 to step 3

-0.7

-0.6

-0.5

-0.4

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

month

tem

pera

ture

diff

ere

nce

C

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Summary

Almost all buildings have some thermal connection to the ground, but ground heat transfer can be difficult to simulate

Slab Program allows more accurate calculation of ground temperatures for use with EnergyPlus

Use of Slab Program—EnergyPlus combination may require iteration between the two programs