Revision history  [back]

Correct, when using Kiva for a zone in EnergyPlus, that zone must have one floor surface touching ground for Kiva to calculate heat transfer for. In your case, you can do two things:

  1. Keep the zones stacked, but use Kiva for only -2 level zone and change the boundary condition for the walls of the -1 level zone to "Ground" or another option that is not "Foundation" for Kiva

  2. Merge the two zones together, deleting the ceiling for the -2 level zone and floor for the -1 level zone or modeling that surface as internal mass instead.

The second option would likely be more accurate, assuming you merge the zones correctly (sum internal gains like lighting, e.g.).

Correct, when using Kiva for a zone in EnergyPlus, that zone must have one floor surface touching ground for Kiva to calculate heat transfer for. In your case, you can do two things:

  1. Keep the zones stacked, but use Kiva for only -2 level zone and change the boundary condition for the walls of the -1 level zone to "Ground" or another option that is not "Foundation" for Kiva

  2. Merge the two zones together, deleting the ceiling for the -2 level zone and floor for the -1 level zone or modeling that surface as internal mass instead.zone.

The second option would likely be more accurate, assuming you merge the zones correctly (sum internal gains like lighting, e.g.).