IES-VE User Forum

I am assessing operative temperature in a changing room. The room is heated by radiators and ventilated (supply & extract) by mechanical ventilation. The supply air is heated to 22C by a 1.5kW electric heater. Is there a way to model this (specifically the air side of things) in ApacheSim, or is it necessary to take the ApacheHVAC route?

Thanks

Hi David,

Regarding the air heating, you can apply the supply temperature to an air exchange in Apache.

IES will then keep track of the heating energy based on deltaT (supply temp - external air temp).

In terms of capping the air heating capacity, you could work out a max Delta T for your flow rate and then cap the supply temperature in your profile.

So it should be possible without Apache HVAC.

Seeing as you seem to just have one room, setting up the HVAC system shouldn't take too long though.

Ross

Hi David & Ross

I wonder whether you could simplify the thermal model and just analyse the situation at room level in Apache Sim.

1. Set up the ventilation supply flowrate as an air exchange using external air (in template manager)
2. Apply a heating system to the room (in Apache Systems)
3. Change the size of the heating system from 'unlimited' to 1.5 kW (in template manager)

This will determine whether the 1.5 kW heating capacity is enough to heat the room to the design operative temperature. If actual op' temp' is significantly less then design op' temp, then the radiators will need to make up this difference.
You can then increase the capacity of the heater to determine how much heat is required to meet the design operative temp, this additional heating capacity will then in effect determine the heating capacity of the radiators.

Hope this helps

VEng

Hi Ross & VEng

Thank you for your suggestions and ideas.

In the end I've already taken the ApacheHVAC route, having only four rooms to assess. But still good to know that it is possible, will give it a go on the next project.

David