Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Golden, CO Partner(s): NRGsim Inc. – Portland, Oregon
November 9, 2016
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Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Golden, CO
Partner(s): NRGsim Inc. – Portland, Oregon
DOE Total Funding: $100,000
FY16 DOE Funding: $100,000
Cost Share: $20,000
Project Term: August 18, 2016 – August 18, 2017
Funding Type: Small Business Voucher (SBV) Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) Round 2
Related Projects: EnergyPlus
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
NRGsim Inc., an advanced energy system modeling and software development company in Portland, OR, has built a prototypical model that could allow DOE’s flagship simulation tool, EnergyPlus, to more accurately simulate the thermal impacts of phase change materials (PCMs) in building envelopes. PCMs, like the gel-based heating and cooling pads athletes use to soothe their muscles, store and large amounts of heat when they melt and release it when they solidify. As outdoor temperatures change throughout the day, PCMs act as a damper on indoor temperature fluctuations, reducing the amount of energy HVAC systems need to maintain indoor comfort.
With guidance from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), NRGsim will complete model documentation, develop and perform tests, complete the model feature set—translating measured data into the model, capturing hysteresis effects, and handling sub-cooling effects—and integrate the code into EnergyPlus for deployment.
PROJECT IMPACT
Accurate simulation of energy use is critical for driving investment in energy efficiency. A recent study found that buildings designed using energy modeling consumed 44% less energy than the average national commercial building and 15% less energy than buildings designed sans modeling.1 Improved modeling capabilities will allow engineers to accurately evaluate the energy savings of PCMs in building envelopes, accelerating the market adoption of an otherwise low-risk, high-reward energy conservation measure and increasing energy savings further.
CONTACTS
DOE Technology Manager: Amir Roth
Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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1 Pickard, Kelly. 2030 Commitment Measuring Industry Progress Toward 2030. Washington, DC: The American Institute of Architects, 2013. Accessed September 21, 2016: http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab100374.pdf