DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010

The aim of this exercise is to help you learn,

understand and analysis the issues of sun paths and
thermal analysis, while exposing you to the Autodesk
Ecotect Analysis 2010 software. The sun paths
exercises will explore the implications of location and
time of year on sunlight and shadows.
The thermal analysis exercises will explore the
implications of alternative roofing materials on
thermal performance of a small structure and also
conduct a series of analysis to determine the thermal
balance equation for the same building at a particular
day of the year.
If you would like to get a copy of Autodesk Ecotect
Analysis 2010, you can download a copy from
the Autodesk Architecture and Design Education
Community Web site.
http://students.autodesk.com/
Once you sign-up with your QUT email address
you will be able to download and register a range
of different Autodesk applications. You also have
access to a series of Autodesk Ecotect training
packages, which can help you learn Ecotect.
The training packages contain demonstrations,
movies, power points lectures and example models.
(Modified versions of these model files have
been used for these tutorial exercises.) If you are
interested in really learning how to use Ecotect,
then the Autodesk Ecotect Training Packages are
essential.
Due to time constraints we will only be scratching the
surface of Ecotects capabilities in the tutorial.
DE40 BACHELOR OF DESIGN (ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES)
SCHOOL OF DESIGN
QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY


DAB 330 INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES 1
SEMESTER 1 2009
AIM:
DOWNLOADING ECOTECT:
FIGURE 1. AUTODESK - ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN - EDUCATION COMMUNITY WEB SITE
FIGURE 2. AUTODESK - ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN - EDUCATION COMMUNITY WEB SITE
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
THE ECOTECT USER INTERFACE
STEP ONE: Please download the DAB330_MODEL_01.eco Ecotect file from Blackboard as instructed by you
tutor, or from the following external link; (933kb)
http://education.heise.com.au/DAB330/ECOTECT/DAB330_MODEL_01.eco
The Ecotect user interface consists of four main areas, the menu and tool bar, the control panel, the pages
tab and the working panel.
Menu and Tool bar -
Located at the top of the screen, the Menu and Tool bar is where you will control many of the command in
Ecotect. Of particular important to our tutorial is that the date and time control is located on this menu bar.
Control Panel-
Located on the right hand side of the screen, the control panel is where you will control many different
aspects of the model. The control panel is how you would, select new model components to create, adjust
the materials used in the model and manipulate the view of the model.
Pages Tabs -
Located on the left side of the screen, the pages tabs are used to switch between the different pages which
appear in the working panel of the user interface. Several different pages can be selected, project, 3d
editor, visualise analysis and report, for the purpose of our tutorial we will mainly be using the project,
visualise and analysis pages.
Working Panel -
The working panel display the contents of the selected page. Notice the saved view tabs located at the
bottom of the panel.
PAGES TABS MENU AND TOOL BAR
FIGURE 3. ECOTECT USER INTERFACE - THE VISUALISE PAGE
CONTROL PANEL
WORKING PANEL
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
Project Page -
The project page allows you to store information about the project itself. This is also where you set the
location, by choosing a weather file and the solar orientation (North point). The terrain type can be set to
control the local environmental effects as can the height above sea level.
3D Editor -
The 3D Editor is where you would build a model as a 3D shell. The amount of detail used should be
appropriate for the current stage in the design process. At early stages you may just model the spaces in
the building as aggregated zones. For a house this may just consist of the living and sleeping zones. Within
Ecotect there is normally also a roof zone and there is always an outside zone. Due to time constraints you
are not be expected to do any model creation or editing.
FIGURE 4. THE PROJECT PAGE.
PROJECT PAGE
CHANGE THE LOCATION
CHANGE WEATHER FILE
FIGURE 5. A VERY COMPLEX MODEL SHOWN IN THE 3D EDITOR
3D EDITOR PAGE
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
FIGURE 6. THE ANALYSIS PAGE - WITH NO ANALYSIS.
FIGURE 7. MOVING THE SUN ALONG ITS PATH, IN THE VISUALISE PAGE.
Analysis Page -
The Analysis page allows you to select the various types of analysis and the parameters within the selected
analysis. We will only be considering Thermal Analysis.
OPTIONAL HOMEWORK: Please download the DEMO002.ppsx power point file for a more detailed
explanation of the Ecotect user interface from the following external link; (2374kb)
Download the DEM002.ppsx Powerpoint file here.
STEP TWO -
Switch to the Visualise tab and then select the Shadow Settings tab on the control console, check the
Daily Sun Path box. Make sure the Display Shadows button is on. Click and hold the left mouse button
on the sun and move it around its sun path. Notice how the time of day changes when you move the sun
along the sun path. Press and hold the shift key to move the sun path to different days and months.
THE SUN PATHS AND LOCATION EXERCISE
ANALYSIS PAGE
CONTROL THE ANALYSIS AND THE TEXT INFORMATION
THE DIFFERENT ANALYSIS WHICH ECOTECT CAN COMPUTE
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
QUESTION ONE:
What effect does changing the day to winter have on the shadows cast on the building? Watch the effect on
walls and also through windows onto the floor. Enter the information below:
STEP THREE -
Select the PlanSectionShadow saved view in the Working Panel then check the Daily Sun Path box, you
should now be able to the lights entering the building much clearer.
STEP FOUR -
We are now going to compare the path of the sun on the hottest and coldest days of the year. Select the
Analysis Page, select the Search Data For button and select the Coldest Day (Average) and notice how
Ecotect automatically changed the date. Record the sun position and the light amount of light entering the
building at morning, midday and afternoon. (Export an image or screenshot.)
FIGURE 8. MOVING THE SUN ALONG ITS PATH, IN THE VISUALISE PAGE.
FIGURE 9. FINDING THE COLDEST DAY (AVERAGE) FIGURE 10. THE CHANGING DATE
STEP FIVE -
Repeat the same process, but for the Hottest Day (Average) and make sure you record the information for
the same time as previously.
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
STEP SIX -
We are now going to repeat the exercise, but move our model to Melbourne. Change to the Project page
and double click on the weather file. This should open up a dialogue box in which you can select the
Melbourne weather file. When prompted to update the global position, click yes.
STEP SEVEN -
Complete the Coldest Day (Average) Sun path analysis for the Melbourne location. Record the information as
previously.
STEP EIGHT -
Complete the Hottest Day (Average) Sun path analysis for the Melbourne location. Record the information as
previously.
FIGURE 11. CHANGING THE WEATHER FILE - MOVING TO MELBOURNE
QUESTION TWO:
What effect does changing the local to Melbourne have on the path of the sun? What are the differences
during the different times of year? Enter the information below:
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
THERMAL ANALYSIS
STEP NINE: Please download the DAB330_MODEL_02.eco Ecotect file from Blackboard as instructed by you
tutor, or from the following external link; (142kb)
Download the DAB330_MODEL_02.eco FILE HERE.
STEP TEN -
Go to the Project tab and check that North Offset is set to -180.
Go to the Analysis tab, set the day back to Hottest Day (Average) and
set the Thermal Calculation to Hourly Temperature Profile. Set the
Highlight Zone to LivingRoom.
Hit the Calculate button. The line for the LivingRoom zone will be
drawn in the same colour as in the 3D Editor tab. Make sure you record the
Average Temperature for the LivingRoom Zone, which you can find in the
Analysis text report box at the bottom of the screen. Copy and paste the
Hour Temperature Profile numbers into an excel spreadsheet, and record
the model name and orientation. Dont forget to save your excel file!
FIGURE 12. NORTH OFFSET
FIGURE 13. YOUR FIRST
THERMAL ANALYSIS!
FIGURE 14. THE INFORMATION TO COPY. RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT COPY TO CLIPBOARD FIGURE 15. EXCEL
THE TEMPERATURE INFORMATION FOR THE SELECTED ZONE IS THE BOLD LINE
SELECTING THE ZONE THE ANALYSIS
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
STEP ELEVEN -
Go to the Project tab and set the North Offset to 0 and repeat the Calculation from Step Ten. Make sure
you record the same information and copy into you excel file. Copy the information into the same excel
worksheet one above the other, as we will be comparing information between two different models.
STEP TWELVE -
Go to the Project tab and set the North Offset to different 90 degree intervals and repeat the Calculation
from Step Ten until you have recorded all of the different orientations of the model. Make sure you record the
information and copy into you excel file, noting the orientation each time. Copy the information into the same
excel worksheet one above the other, as we will be comparing information between two different models.
STEP FOURTEEN -
Repeat STEP TEN for the new Model and record the results in your excel file.
STEP FIFTEEN -
Go to the Project tab and set the North Offset to 0 and repeat the Calculation from Step Ten. Make sure
you record the same information and copy into you excel file. Repeat for each of the different orientations as
in STEP TWELVE.
STEP THIRTEEN: The model we just tested had a simply corrugated iron roof with no insulation. We will now
test the impact of changing the roof material to a Concrete Roof Asphalt. (These two different materials are
extreme alternatives to ensure we will get different results.) When you open the new file you will notice that
the roof has changed colour.
Please download the DAB330_MODEL_03.eco Ecotect file from Blackboard as instructed by you tutor, or
from the following external link; (142kb)
http://education.heise.com.au/DAB330/ECOTECT/DAB330_MODEL_03.eco
QUESTION THREE:
Compare the results from the four different sets of data youve collected. Compare the difference in
temperature between the different orientations and the different roofing materials.
-Which orientation would you prefer for the dwelling?
-What had a greater influence on the temperature in the dwelling, the orientation or the roofing mater?
Explain why, with data examples?
-Which orientation and roof material would you choose for the building? Explain Why, with data examples?
Enter the information below and continue onto the next page:
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
STEP SIXTEEN -
Go to the Project tab and set the North Offset to -180 again. We will now perform a series of different
Analysis to balance a thermal equation.
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
FIGURE 16. THERMAL BALANCE EQUATION FROM YOUR LECTURE.
FIGURE 17. DETERMINING THE INTERNAL GAINS QI FOR 12PM DURING JANUARY. (MONTHLY AVERAGE)
FIGURE 18. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THERMAL ANALYSIS
WHICH ECOTECT CAN COMPLETE.
STEP SIXTEEN -
From the lecture we have been introduced to the Thermal Balance
equation by Szokolay. For the next part of this exercise we will be
demonstrating the Thermal Balance Equation for 12 pm in January.
Referring to the figure on the right, notice that ecotect can determine
the different elements of the Thermal Balance Equation. Complete and
record the values for , Qi, Qc, Qs & Qv for 12 pm in January. Record this
information in your excel file.
CRICOS No. 00213J
a university for the
world real
R
Thermal System
Qi internal heat gain
Qc conduction heat gain
Qs solar heat gain
Qv ventilation heat gain
Qe evaporative heat loss
Thermal balance
Qi + Qc + Qs + Qv + Qe = 0
Szokolay, 1980
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
QUESTION FOUR:
Using the information youve analysed balance the Thermal Equation and enter it below. You will have to
determine what one of the criteria is in order for the equation to balance.
- If you did not balance the equation would the temperature in our room be raising or falling? Explain why?
Enter the information below.
NAME:
DATE COMPLETED:
PLEASE FILL IN THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION, AND SAVE THIS PDF FILE WITH BOTH OF YOUR LAST
NAMES IN THE FILE NAME.
NAME:
STUDENT NUMBER: STUDENT NUMBER:
DAB330: Thermal Analysis Semester 01 - 2010
THE FOLLOWING IMAGES ARE FROM THE OLD SQUARE ONE WEBSITE AND ARE COPYRIGHT DR ANDREW
MARSH. THEY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED HERE TO HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE THERMAL BALANCE
EQUATION AND BECAUSE THE SQUARE ONE WEBSITE IS NO LONGER ONLINE.
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