IaaC Blog

This first analysis was about the energy which could be spend at each SM on different loccation.For Studio II our proposal was a self sufficient building hotel. The building that has been worked had severals changes to fit in my conception…The possibility about the room change position could be a way to the guest control by himself the  natural source without spend energy.The graphic  below shows some general values according with the colors.

This building have one of the proposal ,the fact of the rooms  going out from the  normal location.On that shot this analysis shows a morning shadows projecting on the ground .We can can see difference colors shadows depending of the how deep the rooms are been projecting from in side to out side.

The last one was an analysis that was not efficient from the perpective. The intention was not to relate some vales linking with the sun light but the way we could get to view a out side sun from inside position.The room was not at the right proportion so the shadows inside of the room occupy mostly the space .

Project Description:
light seeking machines are programmed to push grounded bricks towards light cast onto the floor.  (eg. the sunlight coming through a window).  As the sun rises and sets the light path moves and the bricks follow, thus creating emergent patterns.
Lighting simluations via Ecotect will be used to:
1.  Study how brick placement can change the daylight factor
2.  Speculate and map the potential “buildable” area
3.  Help calibrate the sensitivity of the machine’s light sensors (eg. only drive towards x range in lumens)

Daylight Factor – Analysis Grid:

This study shows how will the number of bricks, it’s placement and material effect the daylight factor of a space?

Using Tedngai’s “Ecotect Analysis Grid 2 Rhino” script, DF analysis data was converted to a surface as a means of 3D mapping “buildable“ area.  The surface peaks and valleys represent high and low lumen levels, and or the absence or prsence of a brick.

Sample Ecotect Data:

1.2768, 1.28509, 1.28971, 2.2466, 3.2209, 6.85491, 13.5377, 16.4381, 17.3614, 19.4248, 19.1552, 17.8918, 17.594, 14.5499, 6.93391, 2.14391, 2.20469, 1.53283, 1.28647, 1.27194, 2.30118, 2.73324, 2.74547, 3.41999, 6.16329, 8.74706, 12.8397, 15.7009, 16.3073, 16.8703, 17.0259, 16.4576, 14.7066, 12.666, 8.22195, 4.83835, 2.97473, 2.02677, 2.40924, 2.30426, 2.0747, 2.02002, 2.69397, 3.96526, 5.18788, 7.06709, 9.70132, 11.1143, 12.1092, 13.5396, 11.7393, 12.2442, 11.5015, 9.74278, 6.9234, 4.75648, 3.81966, 3.62953, 2.42884, 2.75764, 1.83838, 1.94818, 2.2208, 3.75749, 4.04008, 5.90577, 7.41432, 8.33884, 9.43079, 9.25285, 9.03335, 8.62411, 8.31394, 7.14627, 5.73228, 3.91285, 3.94581, 3.76494, 2.97021, 2.5216, 1.89475, 2.14126, 3.055, 3.08061, 2.89965, 4.04766, 5.57898, 6.80126, 6.36056, 6.40134, 6.67575, 7.15078, 5.91055, 5.69576, 4.27529, 3.05747, 2.99106, 3.09462, 2.20309, 2.05633,
1.85562, 2.03552, 3.10559, 2.49052, 3.13657, 3.41528, 5.54401, 5.92736, 6.36552, 5.90912, 5.88865, 6.22181, 6.2505, 5.57344, 4.11307, 3.71256, 3.17819, 2.73857, 1.96613, 3.06346, 2.01836, 2.02988, 2.26621, 2.35518, 3.38627, 3.344, 4.12191, 3.99017, 4.26249, 4.88275, 4.80359, 4.77441, 4.54185, 4.21487, 3.04055, 3.04184, 2.35258, 2.26329, 1.94979, 1.9444, 1.90657, 2.31015, 2.42426, 2.38327, 2.82048, 2.84921, 3.04882, 3.74024, 3.54746, 4.0733, 3.77888, 3.4448, 3.30655, 3.87451, 3.02156, 2.93381, 3.04403, 2.37739, 2.16169, 1.75126, 1.79731, 2.16931, 2.24606, 2.35343, 2.81032, 2.36299, 3.24828, 3.10861, 3.5611, 3.06863, 3.19607, 3.57656, 3.15272, 3.18106, 2.37691, 2.42856, 2.24275, 1.9301, 2.16177, 1.62165, 2.13292, 1.90805, 1.95094, 2.0845, 2.36087, 2.33945, 2.7065, 2.82244, 2.27793, 2.52459, 2.57047, 3.29654, 2.67105, 2.57165, 2.75952, 2.37649, 1.95443, 1.97441, 1.92028, 1.77821,
1.41463, 1.58291, 2.00339, 2.00491, 2.26463, 1.8814, 2.3462, 2.30018, 2.37029, 2.60315, 2.60932, 2.44595, 2.74773, 2.57349, 2.31259, 2.23082, 2.06018, 2.02529, 1.9747, 1.72442, 1.6252, 1.88378, 1.61556, 2.26583, 1.98621, 2.32065, 2.27648, 2.52604, 2.45433, 2.76427, 2.46203, 2.74566, 3.12017, 3.00515, 2.29023, 1.89043, 1.71414, 1.86376, 1.57139, 1.4298, 1.56866, 1.52367, 1.86996, 1.47389, 2.20521, 1.97464, 2.366, 0, 2.96831, 0, 0, 3.04562, 0, 0, 2.24489, 1.906, 1.79433, 1.72464, 1.61449, 1.58028, 1.59958, 1.44488, 1.46463, 1.82442, 1.55283, 1.95514, 2.27154, 2.33628, 2.42075, 2.46626, 0, 2.10981, 1.96945, 2.27968, 2.1647, 1.9145, 1.54681, 1.75096, 1.45142, 1.45571, 1.37694, 1.41833, 1.47806, 1.76558, 1.86742, 1.41017, 2.28152, 1.92666, 0, 2.4009, 2.37541, 0, 1.97827, 1.96118, 1.95548, 1.57764, 1.83329, 1.42455, 1.40263, 1.56174, 1.50026, 1.39591, 1.39619, 1.53413, 1.49531, 1.43636, 1.8753, 1.84723, 2.19027, 1.90457, 0, 1.83741, 1.63231, 1.77766, 1.56946, 1.5087, 1.50814, 1.50956, 1.46052, 1.57554,

Rhinoscript to Convert Ecotect Data:

Option Explicit
'Script written by Ted Ngai	Apr 2008
'This work is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
'http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/

Call ReadPts()

Sub ReadPts()

	Dim strFilter, strFileName
	strFilter = "Text File (*.txt)|*.txt|All Files (*.*)|*.*||"
	strFileName = Rhino.OpenFileName("Open Point File", strFilter)
	If IsNull(strFileName) Then Exit Sub

	Dim objFSO, objFile, objFileCC
	Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

	On Error Resume Next
	Set objFile = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFileName, 1)
	Set objFileCC = objFSO.OpenTextFile(strFileName, 1)
	If Err Then
		MsgBox Err.Description
		Exit Sub
	End If

	'Read all the numbers into an array
	Dim txt, a
	txt = objFile.ReadAll
	a = Split(txt,",")
	If Not IsArray(a) Then Exit Sub
	'Rhino.Print Ubound(a)
	'Rhino.Print a(0)

	'Check for number of columns
	Dim col, row, b
	row = 1
	b = objFileCC.ReadLine
	col = Split(b,",")
	'Check for number of rows
	Do While objFileCC.AtEndOfStream <> True
		objFileCC.SkipLine
		row = row+1
	Loop
	Rhino.Print "U : " & Ubound(col)
	Rhino.Print "V : " & row

	'create points
	Dim u,v, x, y, z, n,nMax, arrPoints()

	'Find max value
	Dim aMax, aTemp, k
	ReDim aTemp(row*Ubound(col)-1)
	k = 0
	For v = 1 To row
		For u = 1 To Ubound(col)
			aTemp(k) = CDbl(a(k))
			k = k+1
		Next
	Next
	aMax = Rhino.SortNumbers(aTemp, False)

	'assign value to x,y,z
	n = 0
	nMax = row*Ubound(col)
	ReDim arrPoints(nMax-1)
	'Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(False)
	For v = 1 To row
		For u = 1 To Ubound(col)
			'Scale the u v points or apply mathematical other functions to transform the points
			x=10*u
			y=10*v
			z=(CDbl(a(n))/aMax(0)*50)-55
			arrPoints(n) = array(x,y,z)
			n = n+1
		Next
	Next

	Dim UVcount(1)
	UVcount(0) = Ubound(col)
	UVcount(1) = row
	If Ubound(col) > 1 And row > 1 Then
		Rhino.AddsrfPtGrid UVcount,arrPoints
	Else
		Rhino.Print "Cannot make surface"
	End If
	'Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(True)

	objFile.Close
	Set objFile = Nothing
	Set objFSO = Nothing

End Sub

Once in Rhino, the infomation was altered via the mesh patch command in order to make a more legible surface

Results from Data:

Further Alterations:

The data currently shows the presence of bricks as valleys and the absence of bricks as peaks.  Further alterations to the script itself or to the surface in Rhino in order to reverse the values.  By doing so, this information can simulate what the brick composition may look like.

Link to full PDF

There are very interesting things to be analysed, when a classroom is the subject.

First of all, the important thing is having enough natural light reaching everywhere.

LIGHTING ANALYSIS

In Bulgaria (my country) the  regulations require to have at least 300 lux measured in the dark corners of the room, at 70cm distance from the floor (the regular school desk high is 60-70cm depending on the age of the students).

So, in Ecotect, I made a model of a classroom (7,5 x 11meters) facing east with 3 regular windows with 4,4m2 each (or 13,2m2)  and a desk at the darker corner of the room which is 70cm from the floor.

the model

I measured the light at 10am in the morning, on 21st of december (when the light conditions are worst). From the analysis I can see that the light at the corners is not enough for the requirements. And as a result, I need bigger windows

The windows here have a surface of 5,5m2  (or 16,5m2 for all of them). As a result, the lux measured at the darker corner of the desk is close to 370lux, so now I can say that the result is good and it can meet the regulations in Bulgaria.

THERMAL ANALYSIS

Lets start again with a geometry made in Ecotect. I will use the same classroom, for which I already know how big windows should be. But to make it more real, I will have to use a corridor zone behind the classroom, and 2 more classrooms surrounding my zone which I will explore. The idea is having more options and things to change.

Firstly, lets see how the room is performing if there are 30 kids (65W each-typing) inside all of the classrooms, but the materials are standart (single brick walls etc.). The operation hours are set to weekdays only between 7:00 and 18:00. The air change rate for the classrooms are 0,5 and for the corridor is set to 2. Natural ventilation system.

winter period

summer period

We can see, that during the time of occupancy the temperatures inside the classroom are almost equal and are close to the lower normal conditions (18-25 degrees) even though the temperature outside is very different. That is because of the high U-value of the standard materials of Ecotect, which allows the temperature losses during the time when there is nobody in the classrooms. However, 30 kids typing (65W) are enough to heat up the room close to 18 degrees. However, this is not enough for a classroom and other problem is that the first 1 hour is very cold through the year and it takes time for having close to normal conditions inside.

In Bulgaria, the National standard requires different (far lower) U values for the materials used in constructions. The requirements are: walls inside-not more than 0,5; doors/windows-not more than 2; walls (exterior) – not more than 0,35; roofs, slabs etc (exterior) – not more than 0, 25; etc.

winter period-BG National standard materials

summer period-BG National standard materials

We can see, that now, using the Bulgarian National standard materials for all seasons we have comfortable temperature inside the classroom that does not depend on the occupancy so much. Also, there is no more 1 hour uncomfortable temperature period before having normal temperatures inside like in the previous graph. On top of that, we can see that during the summer period, there is no need for occupancy, the temperatures are constantly between 22-24 degrees, doesn`t matter of how many people are there.

But can we spend less money from somewhere? What about having cheap windows with higher U-value (single glazed)

winter period-BG materials-cheap windows

summer period-BG materials-cheap windows

During the summer period, we can see that with cheaper windows there is almost no difference, but during the winter period, the classroom is almost cold, even when there is occupancy inside. And 18 degrees are not enough for sitting kids. So, good windows are must.

It is interesting to see how things are different during the winter (the worst case), if there are no kids in the other classrooms but only in the classroom where we are making the thermal analysis.

winter period-no kids in the other classrooms

Conclusions:

Low U-value walls, roofs, windows, etc worth investing in climate conditions like in Bulgaria.

The occupancy does not make a big difference when a good materials were used.

The cheap windows are not good enough because of the cold winter. During the summer, there is no difference. So maybe for hot climates, expensive windows are not the key, but a good isolation on the roof, walls, etc.

shading device

For the purpose of this seminar I am going to study the environmental performance for a house of 140 m2 I designed which is currently being under construction. During the design of the house I used the theoretical backgound of sustainable design.In this assignment I am  going to use Ecotect in order to 1) assess the so far design choices made 2) optimise the environmental performanceof the design through moderate changes in shading elements types and materials.

One of the most important decisions in design was the house’s orientation. In order to maximize the solar gains in winter and minimise them during summer the houses largest percentage of openings were orientated towards the south.

 summer incident solar radiation winter incident solar radiation

In a diagramatical comparison of the total incident solar radiation expressed in cumulative values we see in the summer the house gets less exposed to incident solar radiation than in the winter due to its orientation.

By conducting thermal analysis on the actual orientation of the house we get  total number of 17296932 Wh for heating and cooling gains on a fully airconditioning model.

On a hypothetical 37 deg rotation of the North  (which would place the house orthogonally to the site) the same analysis we get the sum of  16247432 Wh

Although, the same analysis on an only heating model proves that the thermal confort is covered by a percentage of that ranges from 86.2% to 89.6% . The conclusion could be that the house could function without cooling systems supporting it.

annual distribution of temeratures in fully air-conditioned model (zone6)

annual distribution of temperatures in only heating model (zone6)

 On a hypothetical 37 deg rotation of the North  (which would place the house orthogonally to the site) the same analysis proves that the percentage of thermal confort drops to 82.5%-87.9% while the thermal analysis on the actual orientation of the house provides a number of 17296932 Wh for heating and cooling gains on a fully air-conditioning model.

For the master bedroom (zone 5) two different types of shading were tested through the software: vertical  and rotated louvres.

VERTICAL LOUVRES
 HOURLY TEMPERATURES – Saturday 30th June (181)

Zone:  Zone 5
Avg. Temperature:  26.1 C  (Ground 17.9 C)
Total Surface Area:  86.400 m2 (540.0% flr area).
Total Exposed Area:  56.800 m2  (355.0% flr area).
Total South Window:  0.000 m2 (0.0% flr area).
Total Window Area:  3.340 m2  (20.9% flr area).
Total Conductance (AU):  84 W/°K
Total Admittance (AY):  322 W/°K
Response Factor:  3.57

ROTATED LOUVRES
HOURLY TEMPERATURES – Saturday 30th June (181)

Zone:  Zone 5
Avg. Temperature:  26.1 C  (Ground 17.9 C)
Total Surface Area:  86.400 m2 (540.0% flr area).
Total Exposed Area:  56.469 m2  (352.9% flr area).
Total South Window:  0.000 m2 (0.0% flr area).
Total Window Area:  3.340 m2  (20.9% flr area).
Total Conductance (AU):  83 W/°K
Total Admittance (AY):  321 W/°K
Response Factor:  3.58

From the comparison in these two cases we see a minimal increase on the responce factor and a 0.331 m2 decrease on the exposed area. Therefore the impact of the orientation of the louvres is minimal on a horisontal  placement.

The analysis pretends to evaluate and optimize climatic conditions of the Museum of Contemporary Art and in particular the exhibition areas most affected by its orientation.

1. THE SITE

Latitude:  21°00′

Longitude:  99°00′

Altitude:  2,000 m

2. SUN PATH ANALYSIS

The sun path analysis shows the problems in the exhibition area (upper level). Where the sun, at 1600 hrs on different days, enters the building, difficulting the climate control.

3. INSOLATION ANALYSIS

The insolation analysis shows the high values of insolation in the south west facade of the building.

4.  HEATING-COOLING LOADS ANALYSIS

The heating cooling loads rises considerably in May and June.

5.  THE PROPOSAL

The proposal is a grid shading device along the exhibition area

6.  NEW ANALYSIS

7.  THE RESULT

A white grid in the upper level that protects the exhibition areas.

Using Ecotect a number of analysis were done on a section of a mixed use, medium to high density neighbourhood, which has been designed to accommodate 10,000 people, in order to assess the environmental performance of the build fabric.

SHADOW RANGE

These diagrams show the full shadow range for both the summer and winter solstice. They clearly show the difference in shadows cast between the times when the sun path is at its lowest and vice versa. They show areas within the public domain which receive the least amount of shade allowing one to determine possible locations for  outdoor community, recreational or commercial activities.  In order to minimise overshadowing in the public domain, further tests could be done by reducing the height of the buildings, altering the distance between the buildings, angling the facades etc.

Summer solstice: June 21st

Winter Solstice: Dec 21st

SUN PATH DIAGRAMS

The following sun path diagrams compare the amount of sunlight hitting the facades of one of the buildings in each diagonal row of buildings showing the times of year that the facades will receive sunlight.

2 Storey building – no obstructions       4 storey building NW of a 3 storey building

3 storey building NW of 2                         3 storey building NW of 4 storey building

storey building

The results show that most of the facades receive sunlight for the greater part of the year for most of the day especially in the summer months when the sun is at its highest. This would require some shading devices to be incorporated into the facade of the building which would block the summer sun but allow the winter sun to enter the buildings.  Where there is clearly some overshadowing, where sun is being blocked by a larger building to the south, one could look at altering the height of the buildings and the distance between the buildings and angling the facades etc.

SOLAR ACCESS ANALYSIS

A solar analysis was carried out for each floor of a selected building showing the average daily values for direct and diffuse solar radiation.  Being 20meters wide in some cases it quickly became clear that rear of the aparments facing north would not receive much light internally.   Using a solar access analysis one is able to compare and contrast the incident solar radiation for each consecutive  floor exploring various options for creating internal courtyards towards the rear and sides of the building to allow more light into the internal spaces.

Date range:  Jan 1st-Dec31st

Time Range: 6am-8pm

Rooftop:

A. Showing solar access to the rooftop area

B. Creating additional lightwell

Second Floor:

A. Showing solar access to the internal courtyard to the rear

B. Increased solar access by providing lightwell above

First Floor:

A. Showing solar access to the internal courtyard to the rear if there was a light well above.

B. Creating additional lightwell

Ground Floor:

A. Showing solar access to the internal courtyard to the rear if there was a light well above.

B. Increased solar access by providing lightwell above

This analysis helped to determine the desired locations for the various programs within the building.  The areas receiving the greatest amount of daylight adjacent to light wells and internal courtyards would be most appropriately zoned for residential use and rooftop gardens whilst those areas receiving less light ie. on the lower floors and towards the western end of the building could be used for commercial space.

LIGHTING ANALYSIS_RADIANCE

The following luminance studies were carried out for the winter solstice at both midday and at 4pm on one of the upper floors to measure the maximum daylight factor  and amount of reflected light inside the apartments at different times of the day.

2nd floor facing South:

December 21st at midday

Contour Bands

December 21st at 4pm

Contour Bands

Daylight Factor

2nd Floor facing North towards the rear courtyard:

December 21st  (Midday)

Contour Bands

Daylight Factor

December 21st at 4pm

Contour Bands

Daylight Factor

At midday you would be receiving the most amount of light into the courtyard to the rear and in turn decent amount of reflected light to the internal space to the rear of the aparment , whereas in the afternoon when the sun is low, as light does not reach the rear courtyard there would not be much light reaching the rear of the apartment. Conversely the front of the apartment facing south would receive a large amount of daylight both at midday where the sun directly enters the apartment and a good amount of reflected light in the afternoon when the sun strikes the walls of the apartment.

THERMAL ANALYSIS_excersize

In order to understand thermal analysis a small excersize was undertaken in class using the following parmaters under zone management:

General Settings

Occupancy: 5

Internal Gains: 20

Thermal Properties

Heating Ventilation System: Full Air Conditioning

Thermostat Range: 21-24 degrees

Hours of Operation: 8am-6pm (weekdays)  8am-1pm(weekends)

Interzonal Adjacency Calcualations were carried out for larger room within the following building.

Here is an example of the Hourly Temperature Profile for the original settings showing how the internal temperature remains constant whilst the outside temperature rises  due to there being a full air conditioning system used in the building between the hours of 8am and 6pm.

Here is an example of the Monthly Heating/ Cooling Loads for the original settings.  One can observe the variations the summer and winter months.

The task was to effect paramaters like: orientation, materials properties, etc. on the energy consumption of a building.

We used the following paramaters and achieved the following results.

The best option which will provide the most energy uses the following parameters:

Orientation: as in model

U-Value(all wall surfaces): as in model

Internal Gains: -50%

Window U-Value : -50%

Window Area: as in model and -15%

Resulting in the following conclusions :

Retaining the current orientation ie. limiting the number of windows on the facades directly facing the sun;

Minimising the U-value for the windows ie. provding glazing allowing less heat to travel through the surface;

Miantaining the u-value for the wall surface ie.  allowing heat to enter in winter and be dissipated in summer;

Mainting an average window size to prevent extreme heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter

The concept of the hotel lies in individual capsules positioned on a high vertical wall with different rotations. The interest of the analysis was to see the differencies of the performance of the capsule depending on rotation. Four main rotation positions of the capsule were chosen for the study. The location chosen was New-Delhi.

For each position of the capsule a Daylight Factor was calculated as well as Luminance image for the interior (calculated by Radiance). It is important to note that the floor surface of the capsule is changing depending on the totation.

The time of analysis was set to 12:00 21st December.

For the concept of the project it was also important to calculate the visibility of the wall from each capsule (depending on rotation).

Thermal zones were assigned to each capsule to analyse the differencies of performance.To optimise the performance certain adjustments were made. The most important adjustment was changing the wall material of the capsules from framed timber plaster to timber clad masonry. As a result of these adjustments the gains were reduced 20%