Natural Ventilation and Infiltration model Options

Data tab on Model Options dialog.

Natural ventilation

Natural ventilation (and infiltration) can either be 'Scheduled' or 'Calculated'.

 

 

You should generally use the Scheduled natural ventilation model option because it is quicker and easier to enter the related model data and also because the simulations run more quickly.  However if you need to calculate natural ventilation rates which can be achieved with a particular configuration then you should use the Calculated option.

Note: This natural ventilation setting also affects the way that infiltration is treated. It isn't possible to calculate infiltration as a constant (or scheduled) value while using the EnergyPlus Airflow Network for Calculated natural ventilation.

More on Natural Ventilation modelling.

Infiltration units

There are 4 different ways to specify infiltration in calculations not using the AirflowNetwork (Heating and Cooling design and Simulation with Scheduled natural ventilation):

 

 

The selection made here will affect the units of the infiltration data prompted for on the Constructions tab under Airtightness.

 

The infiltration defined in the model is converted to m/s for input to EnergyPlus. The conversion from these options to m/s uses the methods described in EN 12831.

Airtightness method

When the Calculated natural ventilation method is selected there are 2 ways to define the airtightness of the building: