Air Infiltration through Building Entrances

Abstract

There is lack of information concerning the energy performance of different entrance solutions. There is also a lack in guidelines how to model them in building energy simulation software. Building energy simulation software such as IDA-ICE can be used to calculate infiltration through the entrances of buildings. Therefore the focus of this master thesis is to find calculation models for different types of entrances and implement these in IDA-ICE. Literature studies on infiltration through swing, sliding and revolving doors were conducted. Out of the information acquired in the literature studies three calculation models were selected. For open-type doors such as swing and sliding doors one model was enough. Revolving doors required two models, one for infiltration through the door seals and one for the infiltration due to the motion of the door. These calculation models, mostly design curves were implemented in IDA-ICE by using or manipulating standard components of the software. A simplified energy model of an office building was created in the sole purpose of analyzing the energy loss of infiltration through the building entrance. An array of six different open-type doors and three revolving doors were simulated under three different door usage schedules. Additionally simulations were conducted on cases with double height of the building, pressurization and pressurization to examine the impact on different entrances from stack effect and mechanically induced pressure difference. Finally due to cooperation with a fellow student the door models were implemented in an energy model of the Nils Ericson terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden. Thanks to energy consumption data and year and location specific climate data the door models could be validated in some extent.