10.07.2015   BACKGROUND

The Purpose and Function of Lacasa

It was the aim of the project to develop a practical planning and diagnostic tool focusing on the analysis and optimization of energy use, in the framework of renovation and retrofitting programs, in existing buildings, as well as new buildings starting from the design phase. In order to ensure the practicality of the tool, the engineering firm GERTEC GmbH, Essen, was integrated into the project as an commercial partner of the Solar Institute Julich. The following functions were encompassed:

Function Group

Program Function

Model

Thermal simulations of buildings Models of the ambient building ventilation Library of building cross sections

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment (HVAC) Integration of solar units into heating and air conditioning equipment

Data Format

Materials databank according to DIN 4108 Building elements databank from the manufacturer

Use of various weather datasets (test reference year, meteorological conditions)

Interfaces

Interfaces from CAD to VDI 6021 (reading in building data into the models) Interface to include components of other programs (for example TRNSYS) Interface to read measurement data Graphic and text representation of the calculations

Process

Parallel simulation of buildings and active HVAC-facilities

Determination of the parameters needed to analyse the energy characteristics of

existing buildings

Design of the control and regulatory systems of the technical installations

Supporting docu­ments

Heat output according to DIN 4701

Calculation of the cooling load according to VDI 2078

Integrated proof of thermal insulation