5

Can EnergyPlus fully replace WUFI for thermal behaviour simulations?

I need to analyse which is more applicable for whole building simulation take into account that bidirectional transfers were already calculated.

luis melo's avatar
225
luis melo
asked 2016-02-26 04:43:00 -0500
Jason DeGraw's avatar
2.2k
Jason DeGraw
updated 2016-03-18 16:30:10 -0500
edit flag offensive 0 remove flag close merge delete

Comments

add a comment see more comments

2 Answers

4

My understanding of WUFI is that it can model 1-D and 2-D heat transfer with detailed moisture (hygrothermal) modeling.

Surface heat transfer in EnergyPlus is 1-D transient with limited moisture modeling capabilities which should give similar results to a 1-D WUFI heat transfer model (no moisture).

MJWitte's avatar
9.7k
MJWitte
answered 2016-03-18 14:07:31 -0500, updated 2016-05-03 08:44:00 -0500
edit flag offensive 0 remove flag delete link

Comments

I am not sure WUFI can model 3D-heat transfer. WUFI has also limited capability in term of HVAC system modeling.

Thierry Nouidui's avatar Thierry Nouidui (2016-03-21 10:39:34 -0500) edit

Correct - no 3D in WUFI. I've edited the answer above.

MJWitte's avatar MJWitte (2016-05-03 08:43:32 -0500) edit
add a comment see more comments
3

If by "whole building simulation" you mean annual energy performance of the HVAC and other systems serving the building, then EnergyPlus may be the only choice. WUFI is probably better for a study focused mainly on moisture performance of the envelope. The model in EnergyPlus was similiar to 1-D WUFI at the time HAMT was added. Because of a lack of input data for materials, HAMT has not really been used all that much and it should be used with caution and probably checked against WUFI.

Archmage's avatar
7.2k
Archmage
answered 2016-05-04 08:51:12 -0500
edit flag offensive 0 remove flag delete link

Comments

add a comment see more comments