Course info

Description:
Due to climate change, more stringent building energy standards are enforced to reduce building primary energy use. This causes a shift towards the use of more advanced and complex heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in buildings, which often include renewable energy sources.

Building energy simulation programs are powerful tools that have been increasingly used by engineers and researchers for the design, analysis and optimization of HVAC systems in buildings. However, today’s programs have difficulties to handle the challenges posed by the complexity of future HVAC systems.

This course aims to present latest developments in modeling and simulation of HVAC systems based on Modelica modeling language. Modelica is a promising open-source language that features ease of use, visual design of models with combination of Lego-like predefined blocks, ability to define model libraries with reusable components, and support for modeling and simulation of complex applications involving parts from different engineering domains.

The course is organized in three days. In the first day, the course gives a basic introduction of Modelica fundamentals by introducing object-oriented and equation-based modeling. In the second day, the concepts previously learnt are used to develop a model of a simple house with a radiator heating system. In the third day, a more advanced Modelica model consisting of an air-conditioning system for office buildings is developed.

Day 1: Introduction to Modelica and Dymola

• What is Modelica?
• Dymola software tool
• Basics of the Modelica modeling language
• Object-oriented and equation-based formulation
• Modelica libraries

Day 2: Hands-on training 1: Simple house with radiator heating system

• Solving 1D transient heat conduction
• Creating a single-room model
• Building envelope modeling
• Radiator heating system and controller

Day 3: Hands-on training 2: Air-conditioning system for office buildings

• Creating an office building model
• Developing a constant air volume ventilation system
• Heating and cooling generation and distribution (incl. renewable energies)
• Discussion of simulation results

Organizer: Alireza Afshari, Professor (Aalborg University)

Lecturers:
Alessandro Maccarini, Assistant Professor (Aalborg University)
Guest lecturer: Michael Wetter, Computational Senior Scientist (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US)

ECTS: 3.0

Time: 2, 3 and 4 November 2022

Place: The course will be held physically in Copenhagen at Aalborg University campus (A.C. Meyers Vænge 15, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark). If you would like to participate online, please send an email to Alessandro Maccarini (amac@build.aau.dk). Online participation will be limited, and only possible for those who already have a Dymola license.

Number of seats: 18

Deadline: 11 October 2022

Important information concerning PhD courses:
We have over some time experienced problems with no-show for both project and general courses. It has now reached a point where we are forced to take action. Therefore, the Doctoral School has decided to introduce a no-show fee of DKK 3.000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start. This can hopefully also provide new students a chance to register for courses during the year. We look forward to your registrations.