Energy performance assessment of an existing double-skin façade: measurements and simulation

in Energy Forum - Solar Building Skins, 06 - 07 December 2012, Italy (2012, December)

An existing office building with an active double skin façade in Luxembourg has been analyzed. In the first step in-situ measurements have been performed. For this purpose outside, inside and cavity ... [more ▼]

An existing office building with an active double skin façade in Luxembourg has been analyzed. In the first step in-situ measurements have been performed. For this purpose outside, inside and cavity conditions have been measured for representative summer and winter conditions. In a second step, a thermal simulation using TRNSYS was performed. The simulation model has been compared to the time limited series of measurements and thus has been validated for some of the annual meteorological conditions. Then the model has been extrapolated to a whole year in order to assess the energy performance of the given façade. Further a parametric study of alternative façades has been carried out based on the validated simulation model to assess their own performances. For the given case study building, the double skin concept energetically performs well compared to other concepts with non outside (non weather exposed) solar protection, but worse than an external solar protection. The thermal comfort level in the rooms has also been determined by simulation - the calculated room averaged comfort level is quite optimal, but further investigations regarding the local comfort close to the glazed façades still have to be achieved. [less ▲]