<div dir="ltr"><div><div><div>Nader,<br><br></div>Some of this is a duplicate of the response to Joe Huang regarding the down-draft system. One thing I should mention is that we selected chilled water coils in the towers rather than evaporation, but this didn't change the modeling procedure much. Also, we didn't account for the thermal effects of the air stratification, but given more time, we might have been able to use the technique of splitting each zone into a few horizontal isothermal slices.<br><br>Our method for modeling this system was:<br> - Model the systems as 100% outside air VAV.<br> - Create an hourly report for each system on the cfm required to meet space conditions<br>
- Using the Sherman-Grimsrud algorithm, we calculated the maximum
available wind+buoyancy driven flow on an hourly basis(may be a stretch
on the intent of the algorithm)<br> - Comparing the maximum
available to the hourly requirements, we found that we would not need
mechanical ventilation for about 85% of the year. This was fed back
into the eQuest model as a global parameter to derate the supply fan kW
accordingly.<br><br>This method was a bit of a hack to get the
building modeled before the deadline, so I'm sure the more creative
individuals on the list can think of a better method. I believe the
DOE2 engine is very close to being able to model this out of the box.
The S-G algorithm is already available for natural ventilation, but it
is not automatically controllable as would be our case with automatic
dampers. In a real project, CFD would probably be used for design but
would be overkill for an hourly/subhourly simulation. I believe that an
empirically based model which can capture the wind+buoyancy effects
like S-G is ultimately the way to go for an annual simulation.<br><br></div>We did use eQuest to model the PV. In fact, it was hugely helpful to have this feature when we ran our final cost optimization algorithms. <br><br></div>Aaron<br><div><div><div><div><div><br>---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: "Chalfoun, Nader V - (chalfoun)" <<a href="mailto:chalfoun@email.arizona.edu" target="_blank">chalfoun@email.arizona.edu</a>><br>To: Nicholas
Caton <<a href="mailto:ncaton@catonenergy.com" target="_blank">ncaton@catonenergy.com</a>>,
"<a href="mailto:equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org</a>"
<<a href="mailto:equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org</a>><br>Cc: "Sloat, Cara" <<a href="mailto:Cara.Sloat@wspgroup.com" target="_blank">Cara.Sloat@wspgroup.com</a>><br>Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2015 15:51:12 +0000<br>Subject: Re: [Equest-users] Team eQUEST: Lowdown Showdown Report<br>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<p>This is the most exciting news about the eQUEST community that I
heard this year. Bravo to all the team members. I love the poster its
content and its design, and mostly our proud eQUEST team.<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Can we have more information about the simulation details? like for
each strategy individually... I am particularly interested in
the simulation of the down-draft evaporative cooling systems with
the underslab air-delivery simulation technique in eQUEST.</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Did you use eQUEST to simulate the PV sizing and contribution or you used external simulation technique?<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Would you share these details with us?</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>CONGRATULATIONS for a great effort <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div>
<div name="divtagdefaultwrapper">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:13px">Nader<br>
<br>
Check my new online energy courses <a href="http://www.hed-online.com/" target="_blank">
http://www.hed-online.com/</a><br>
--------------------------------------------<br>
<font color="#999999"><b>Nader V. Chalfoun</b>, Ph.D., LEED© AP, CEA<br>
</font><font size="1">Professor of Architecture and Environmental Sciences<br>
Director: The House Energy Doctor Program </font><font size="1"><a href="http://capla.arizona.edu/hed/" target="_blank">http://capla.arizona.edu/hed/</a></font> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/houseenrgydoctor" target="_blank"><font size="1">https://www.facebook.com/houseenrgydoctor</font></a><br>
<font size="1">Chair: Master of Science in Architecture Program<br>
Coordinator: Environmental Education Ph.D. Minor<br>
Faculty: Arid Lands Resource Sciences GIDP<br>
Faculty: Global Change Ph.D. Minor<br>
Address: University of Arizona<br>
College of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape Architecture<br>
1040 N. Olive St., Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A.<br>
Phone: <a href="tel:%28520%29621-6751" value="+15206216751" target="_blank">(520)621-6751</a> Fax: <a href="tel:%28520%29621-8700" value="+15206218700" target="_blank">(520)621-8700</a></font></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(33,33,33)">
<hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%">
<div dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000" face="Calibri, sans-serif"><b>From:</b> Equest-users <<a href="mailto:equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">equest-users-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>> on behalf of Nicholas Caton <<a href="mailto:ncaton@catonenergy.com" target="_blank">ncaton@catonenergy.com</a>><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, November 10, 2015 8:52 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org" target="_blank">equest-users@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Sloat, Cara<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Equest-users] Team eQUEST: Lowdown Showdown Report</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">This year at the 2015 ASHRAE Energy Modeling
Conference, there was a “Lowdown Showdown” design competition.
Voluntary teams representing most commercial energy simulation software
packages & platforms tried to tackle a relatively open
design challenge to bring a building (of our own design) down to
net-zero energy. The relatively small team representing eQUEST/DOE-2
won an award by popular vote for the “Most Creative” design solution!
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The eQUEST team had 5 members (all CC’ed on this
email thread) - you may recognize a few as frequent contributors over
these mailing lists:</p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Aaron Powers</p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Cara Sloat </p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Pasha Korber-Gonzales</p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Chris Jones</p>
<p><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Nick Caton</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I served as ‘coach’ for the team, and in that
context am very proud to share some new information concerning our
collaborative efforts, design process, and the final ‘product’ with the
greater eQUEST-users community. Those who were able
to attend the conference experienced a live presentation by
representatives for the teams and a panel discussion with all of the
coaches to field questions/challenges from the audience, but time was
quite constrained. This this is an opportunity to share
with those who could not attend and to convey/discuss things in more
detail.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attached is a ‘poster’ that covers much of the
information we presented for the project, and outlines the process we
followed over the ~9 weeks we had to collaborate. We accomplished a
great deal in the time we had, in spite of a late
start due to some difficulties in assembling the minimum # of members
required. The team met weekly via VOIP calls (Skype/<a href="http://join.me" target="_blank">join.me</a>)
to coordinate efforts, present individual findings, and to simply share
knowledge and relate/compare
experiences. As a group, each individual identified and contributed
challenges/problems/systems of interest early on, and as a group we made
it a goal to incorporate those elements into our project along the
way. This ‘spirit’ to tackle new/interesting issues
and to avoid “easy/obvious” solutions lead to some interesting design
decisions along the way! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I initially thought I would make it a personal goal
to ensure the project would be engaging, informative, and rewarding for
every participant, but I learned that with the right group that is
going to happen anyway! My only regret is that
more of my friends and colleagues in the industry did not get to
participate. I sincerely hope when the next opportunity comes along,
more individuals from this community will take the initiative to
participate – it was very much worth our time!
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If anybody would like to learn more or ask questions, please freely reply to this email thread!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kind regards,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">~Nick</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14pt;color:rgb(0,32,96)">NICK CATON, P.E.</span></b><span style="font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br>
</span><b><span style="color:rgb(86,23,130)">Owner</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:rgb(86,23,130)"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(86,23,130)">Caton Energy Consulting</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> 306 N Ferrel</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> Olathe, KS 66061</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(31,73,125)"> office: <a href="tel:785.410.3317" value="+17854103317" target="_blank">785.410.3317</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;color:rgb(86,23,130)"><a href="http://www.catonenergy.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(86,23,130)">www.catonenergy.com</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
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