experience in modelling heating systems

fclauson

Does any one have experience or a good pointer to software which will allow one to model a heating system.

If you have your heat demand from PHPP or DEAP then you have choices to make about how much solar vs heatpump vs oil vs pellet etc

PHPP gives the expected demand but gives little guidence on the best mix of solar vs other sources (it does not calculaiton on the "Solar Fraction for Space heating")

bambampop

Hi

Perhaps i missed the point but If you have the demand, couldn't you just specify a mix of systems based on their output rating? You wouldn't usually use solar for space heating. Also, i would choose a system suited to the distribution method. Will you use rads, underfloor or other? The carbon trust has figures on the carbon content of fuel splits if thats any interest. They're UK figures but would give you and idea.

In terms of modelling software, there are quite a few. IES etc. but getting to grips with them might take more time/effort than getting a services engineer to do a calc.

bambampop

Sorry just re-read your post. You're using PHPP so presumably you are building near passive spec and so the load would be quite small. That may work with solar, idk.

Do-more

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory/subjects.cfm/pagename=subjects/pagename_menu=materials_components/pagename_submenu=hvac_systems

There are a number of free software packages on the above list fc.

No idea if any of them are any good for you, but I'm sure it will wile away a few hours!

Be sure and let us know if you have any joy, every time I think I have arrived at a solution for heating and DHW something else crops up and I go around in another circle!

BTW have you decided anything on what lighting to install?

fclauson

thanks - that really will while away time as I play with each one

Just got a TSol report done by a supplier - really useful - uses EN 12976 to do the maths

Shows for my build solar panels wil lsave 380litres of oil !!- might even purchase a copy

On the lights we have come up with a suspended ceiling model (about 150mm cavity which will take ducts, cables and lights

Francis

Do-more

fclauson wrote: »

Just got a TSol report done by a supplier - really useful - uses EN 12976 to do the maths

Shows for my build solar panels wil lsave 380litres of oil !!- might even purchase a copy

I just came across this Polysun solar thermal simulation software it seems to do a similar job to the TSol but is much cheaper for a home user, the "Polysun Light" licence costs €119, TSol only seems to be available in a Pro version costing around €575.

Polysun have a demo version available to download on there website but the location is fixed to a point in Switzerland.

Has anyone any experience of the Polysun software?

beyondpassive

You can get a student or 1 month trial version of Ecotect, is based on an AutoCAD, Revit BIM tools platform and is familiar enough for CAD users. It a friendlier interface than Ecodesigner which runs on ArchiCAD. If you just want a schematic, this is useful http://www.heatweb.com/

fclauson

Do-more wrote: »

I just came across this Polysun solar thermal simulation software it seems to do a similar job to the TSol but is much cheaper for a home user, the "Polysun Light" licence costs €119, TSol only seems to be available in a Pro version costing around €575.

Polysun have a demo version available to download on there website but the location is fixed to a point in Switzerland.

Has anyone any experience of the Polysun software?

I got a quote from Tsol for a 1 month licence for £50 - but I am also convincing my potential heating supplier that they should be doing this for me