modelVAVMultiZone

Multiple-zone VAV

Extends from Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Interfaces.PartialAirHandler.

Information

Description

This template represents a multiple-zone VAV air handler for a single duct system serving at least two terminal units.

The possible configuration options are enumerated in the table below. The user may refer to ASHRAE (2021) for further details. The first option displayed in bold characters corresponds to the default configuration.

Configuration parameterOptionsNotes
Outdoor air section Single damper for ventilation and economizer, with airflow measurement station
Separate dampers for ventilation and economizer, with airflow measurement station
Separate dampers for ventilation and economizer, with differential pressure sensor
Relief/return air section Return fan with modulating relief damper
Modulating relief damper without fan
Relief fan with two-position relief damper
Nonactuated barometric relief is currently not supported.
Supply fan - Blow-through position No fan
Single fan - Variable speed
Fan array - Variable speed
At least one supply fan must be specified, either in blow-through or draw-through position. Those two configurations are exclusive from one another.
ASHRAE Guideline 36 does not have any particular logic yet for handling fan arrays. If a fan array is selected, all of the fans are currently controlled together at the same speed, regardless of the number of VFDs.
Heating coil - Preheat position Hot water coil with two-way valve
Modulating electric heating coil
No coil
Cooling coil Chilled water coil with two-way valve
No coil
Heating coil - Reheat position No coil ASHRAE Guideline 36 does not support heating coils in reheat position yet.
Supply fan - Draw-through position Single fan - Variable speed
Fan array - Variable speed
No fan
At least one supply fan must be specified, either in blow-through or draw-through position. Those two configurations are exclusive from one another.
ASHRAE Guideline 36 does not have any particular logic yet for handling fan arrays. If a fan array is selected, all of the fans are currently controlled together at the same speed, regardless of the number of VFDs.
Return fan Single fan - Variable speed
Fan array - Variable speed
No fan
The relief fan and the return fan are both optional and they are exclusive from one another.
Relief fan No fan
Single fan - Variable speed
Fan array - Variable speed
The relief fan and the return fan are both optional and they are exclusive from one another.
Controller ASHRAE Guideline 36 controller An open loop controller is also available for validation purposes only.
Exhaust fan Not available: see note All exhaust fans that normally operate with the air handler must be configured separately, by means of a dedicated template.
Heat recovery Not available: see note Currently no heat recovery equipment is supported.

Simulation model assumptions and requirements

Pressure reference

The duct static pressure sensors use the outdoor absolute pressure as an approximation of the reference pressure in the mechanical room where the air handler is located.

When a building static pressure measurement is required by the control sequence (ctl.typCtlFanRet=AirHandlersFans.Types.ControlFanReturn.BuildingPressure), the corresponding sensor pBui_rel is instantiated within the current class. In this case, an additional variable pBui needs to be connected to the control bus to pass in the value of the absolute pressure in a representative space of the building. This is a modeling requirement, the actual control point remains the relative building static pressure.

References

  • ASHRAE, 2021. Guideline 36-2021, High-Performance Sequences of Operation for HVAC Systems. Atlanta, GA.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Configuration
Booleanhave_senPreBuisecOutRel.typSecRel == Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Types.ReliefReturnSection.ReliefDamper or secOutRel.typSecRel == Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Types.ReliefReturnSection.ReliefFan or secOutRel.typSecRel == Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Types.ReliefReturnSection.ReturnFan and secOutRel.typCtlFanRet == Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Types.ControlFanReturn.BuildingPressureSet to true if building static pressure sensor is used

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Components.OutdoorReliefReturnSection.MixedAirWithDampersecOutRelOutdoor/relief/return air section
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.TemperatureTAirMixMixed air temperature sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Fans.NonefanSupBlo
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.TemperatureTAirCoiHeaLvgHeating coil leaving air temperature sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.TemperatureTAirCoiCooLvgCooling coil leaving air temperature sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Fans.SingleVariablefanSupDra
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.TemperatureTAirSupSupply air temperature sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.DifferentialPressurepBui_relBuilding static pressure
Buildings.Fluid.Sources.OutsideoutOutdoor conditions
Buildings.Fluid.Sources.Boundary_pTbuiBuilding absolute pressure in representative space
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.TemperatureTAirRetReturn air temperature sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.SpecificEnthalpyhAirRetReturn air enthalpy sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Sensors.DifferentialPressurepAirSup_relDuct static pressure sensor
Buildings.Templates.Components.Coils.WaterBasedHeatingcoiHeaPre
Buildings.Templates.Components.Coils.WaterBasedCoolingcoiCoo
Buildings.Templates.Components.Coils.NonecoiHeaReh
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.JunctionjunHeaWatSupHHW supply junction
Buildings.Fluid.FixedResistances.JunctionjunHeaWatRetHHW return junction
Buildings.Templates.AirHandlersFans.Components.Controls.G36VAVMultiZonectl

Revisions

  • September 5, 2023, by Antoine Gautier:
    Refactored with a record class for configuration parameters.
    This is for #3500.
  • February 11, 2022, by Antoine Gautier:
    First implementation.