Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 9-14-2023

Abstract

Designing a net Zero Energy Building nZEB envelope with high thermal comfort and low energy consumption is vital nowadays. There is some established specialized software for building optimization design, but these programs are time-consuming, expensive, and demand many data input of building parameters. Therefore, it is difficult to follow the optimization procedure. The aim of this research is to present a novel study to optimize the use of Phase Change Material PCM on opaque building envelope using a multi-objective optimization tool. Python (3) is employed to implement EnergyPlus to minimize the initial cost of PCM in commercial buildings, running cost and Thermal Comfort. Phase change material is a self- interactive material that respond exceptionally in different context; therefore, it is required to simulate and optimize the PCM behavior in building envelopes to determine the most effective way to use it. This research suggests a novel multi-objective optimization based on greedy algorithm, for the usage of PCM in opaque building envelopes. The objective of the proposed methodology is to identify the best Thermal comfort and optimal energy consumption by the selection of the efficient type of PCM (melting point and thickness) and the corresponding allocation of PCM material on the opaque building envelope, taking into consideration the initial and running cost. The tested model showed the best 2 locations for using PCM in Cairo is the innermost layer and inner side of airgap. The model also showed good results using PCM and Thermal comfort is enhanced using thicker layer of PCM, while conventional building materials was not able to reach minimum thermal comfort levels. After utilizing the PCM on the opaque building envelope to achieve net Zero Energy Building, a MatLab code is created to optimize the use of a photovoltaic (PV) system for renewable energy on a commercial building. It optimizes the PV efficiency of energy.

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