On the modelling and optimisation of urban energy fluxes

Around 3/4 of global resources are currently consumed in urban settlements, with corresponding adverse environmental consequences. According to population forecasts this situation will worsen in the coming years. It is therefore imperative that we understand how to design less resource intensive urban settlements. Software for the modelling and optimisation of resource flows are of interest to support urban designers in achieving this objective. To this end we have, in the first instance, tackled the problem of optimising the layout and form of buildings for the utilisation of solar radiation by using a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm. This new methodology facilitates a considerably more exhaustive search of the parameter space than manual trial and error which has been favoured in past studies. However, multi-objective optimisers involve many redundant evaluations when only one objective (the energy consumption) and analytical constraints (the volume of the urban form has to remain within bounds) are taken into account. To resolve this, we developed a new evolutionary algorithm that avoids evaluations of potential solutions that violate constraints. This is a hybrid based of the CMA-ES and HDE evolutionary algorithms. This hybrid algorithm achieves 100% convergence to the global minimum relating to two highly multi-modal benchmark functions and good results compared to the multi-objective evolutionary algorithm previously used and to a hybrid of heuristic and direct search methods (PSO/HJ) for real-world problems. Key contributions have also been made to the development of a new urban energy modelling tool: CitySim. These contributions include a mono and multi-zone thermal model, which is linked to an HVAC model that takes into account the increased energy demands due to the use of air as medium for heating, cooling and fresh air supply. In order to complete the provision of heating/cooling as well as electricity, the most commonly used energy conversion systems are modelled. Outputs from these systems may also be coupled with a model of sensible/latent heat storage. Finally the new hybrid evolutionary algorithm was used to optimise the energy performance of a case study of 26 buildings in the Matthäus district (Basel) using CitySim as the energy modelling tool. The results indicated that air conditioning plant should not be necessary in Switzerland if occupants behave appropriately. Concrete strategies for minimising the primary energy demand for the case study were also identified subject to constrained investment capital. This demonstrated that optimally (environmentally) sustainable solutions can be found at the urban scale, to help guide urban designers' decisions.

Energy Demand Analysis for Building Envelope Optimization for Hot Climate: A Case Study at AN Najah National University

Silvia Coccolo, Jérôme Henri Kämpf, Dasaraden Mauree, Sameh Monna, Jean-Louis Scartezzini

The study aims to analyse the heating and cooling demand of the An Najah university campus, and to optimize the building envelope for selected buildings, in order to achieve energy efficiency, and make use of renewable solar energy. Building and urban simulation programs are used to evaluate the effects of applying different technologies and design strategies on the energy consumption. The university campus hosts 11 university buildings. The proposed methodology makes use of an urban energy modelling tool, called CitySim and Design Builder based on EnergyPlus model to analyse the heating and cooling demand of the university campus and assess the solar potential of the site. The energy calculation considers the hourly heating and cooling demand per building, and for the whole campus. The solar irradiation received by the buildings envelope (walls and roofs) consider the impact of the urban environment, including the inter-reflections between buildings and albedo of the outdoor surfaces. The climatic data provided by Meteonorm. The geometrical information of the campus and selected buildings retrieved by GIS while the physical characteristics of buildings are based on on-site previous studies. The results point to the potential for a significant decrease in energy consumption for cooling and heating.

2016

Microstructured glazing for daylighting, glare protection, seasonal thermal control and clear view

André Gabriel Kostro

The appropriate choice of glazing in a facade depends on many factors. They include amongst other criteria: location, orientation, climatic condition, energetic efficiency, usage of the building, required user comfort, and the architectural concept. On the south facade of high-rise buildings in particular, it is a challenge to have simultaneously large glazed area, no glare, no excessive cooling loads, a clear view and sufficient natural light flux. In Switzerland, electric lighting, heating and air conditioning account for about 74% of the total energy demand in private housing and 32% of the overall Swiss electricity usage. This energy consumption can be strongly influenced by using the most appropriate fenestration system. A software was developed during this thesis to engineer new complex fenestration system (CFS) that have a two dimensional profile. The originality of the implemented Monte Carlo ray tracing algorithm is the separation of intersection and interaction. The model also calculates an accurate bidirectional transmission distribution function that is used in combination with Radiance to obtain a rendering of the daylighting distribution in an office space or dynamic daylight metrics such as the daylight factor and daylight autonomy. Finally, to estimate the thermal performances, a simple nodal thermal model was added to simulate the temperature evolution and the thermal loads in a given office. This tool was validated. A glazing combining several functions and that can contribute to significantly reduce energy consumption in buildings was developed using this novel ray tracing approach. It was designed to obtain a strongly angular dependent transmission and a specific angular distribution of transmitted light. The engineered geometry provides elevated daylight illuminance by redirecting the incoming light towards the depth of the room. This redirection simultaneously reduces the glare risk. For an optimised usage of available solar radiation, the transmission of direct sunlight is maximised in winter and minimised in summer. Taking advantage of the changing elevation of the sun between seasons, such a seasonal variation can be created by a strongly angular dependent transmittance. A fabrication process was identified and samples of embedded micromirrors were produced to demonstrate the feasibility. The fabrication of such structures required several steps. The fabrication of a metallic mould with a high aspect ratio and mirror polished surfaces is followed by the production of an intermediate polydimethylsiloxane mould that was subsequently used to replicate the structure with a ultraviolet (UV) curable polymer. Selected facets of these samples were then coated with a thin film of reflective material. Finally, the structures were filled with the same polymer to integrated the mirrors. The blocking effect can be obtained by a combination with well placed reflective stripes, those were fabricated by lift-off lithography. The samples were characterised during the various fabrication steps using various microscopy techniques, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, profilometry and optical measurements. A setup was built for the measures of angular dependent transmittance. The final samples redirect up to 70% of the light flux and are very transparent when looking through at normal incidence.

EPFL2015

Microstructured glazing for daylighting, glare protection, seasonal thermal control and clear view

André Gabriel Kostro

EPFL2015