Modeling Simple Corridor

[ew0187]

I am trying to model a simple building, 1 floor. I just need simulate the natural ventilation through the corridor and a inner courtyard with a raised pyramid shaped ceiling. I have created the model in Google SkethUp, imported it to IES VE and created all the necessary requirements (to my knowledge) to simulate a natural ventilated space. But I keep on receiving an error message when I simulate " External holes are not permitted". I have recreated the building, systems, and simulation 3 times and i still get the same error message. Please let me know what i can do?

[David]

Hi,
You'll have an opening to the external... you need to make sure that it's a window or a door because the VE cannot handle unbound volumes. Assign an always open 100% profile within MacroFlo if you want to simulate a continually open entry.

Hope that helps.
David.

[ew0187]

i am trying to create both an courtyard (uncovered) and an courtyard(covered). the roof and floor both have hole, which i created for the courtyard(uncovered), you suggest i make that entire opening and in macroFlo set it as always opened?

[ew0187]

i am trying to create both an courtyard (uncovered) and an courtyard(covered). the roof and floor both have hole, which i created for the courtyard(uncovered), you suggest i make that entire opening and in macroFlo set it as always opened?

I tried your suggestions, all external holes i changed to windows and set them to always open. i still get the error message in ApacheSim. any other suggestions?

[ZapBran]

don't want to state the obvious but...
...
...
...why are you creating a courtyard?
...
...
... that's an open space... the IES is for modeling rooms.
If you are looking for a cfd package to model wind movements in a valley or car park look for another software package.
You going to try simulating the pitch at Wembley next?

Model the building- not the open spaces between the rooms!

[ew0187]

i think you misunderstood what i meant. i am only looking to model the building. i have created a model of a single floor building, all one zone. there is a section of the building with a triangular shaped roof. the building is fully enclosed and i want to simulate with only natural ventilation. does that clarify the problem?

[ZapBran]

sorry - 'uncovered' in my old mind meant no roof...

right...

you have no 'holes' on external planes? No openings on a wall... ceiling... floor?

Then you must have intersecting/clashing spaces... use the ModelIT check function to identify errors and address them.

[PCully]

I'll jump in here to help out a bit more - if there are no obvious external holes then use the ModelIT Check (in ModelIT select the menu settings >> Model >> tick Surfaces (it's worth checking for intersections too) then click the Check button). This will launch a report and there will be a section highlighting geometry problems in the model including External Holes.

Sometimes External Holes can appear in a model as tiny slivers on surfaces, the report will help you track these down then it's just a case of finding them on the external surfaces and deleting them.

Phil