Development of an energy model in system modeling language for future automated residential building applications

Abstract

Today the building energy modeling industry is facing a number of challenges, the advanced programs or methods developed for building energy modeling, are very technical and complex to be used, especially for earlier designs, and the easy programs or methods are not accurate. Moreover, more than a hundred programs developed for energy modeling, have been used in the same building, but most of the time the results differed by about 30%. That is why this thesis has developed a new building energy model in System Modeling Language (SysML), in order to meet, at the same time, the accuracy and the simplicity to be used for future and existing buildings. In this thesis, SysML has been used to develop an energy model and to set up an automation system to the existing building. SysML can do more than simulations, but this thesis is limited to only the simulations steps by using easy applications of SysML and fewer diagrams which could develop in a complete building energy model. SysML is the extension of Unified modeling Language (UML), which uses fewer diagrams than UML. SysML is simple, open and more flexible to be used in any Engineering System. The previous chapter describes SysML and gives the overview and the platform of SysML. The simulations of SysML in this project have been developed through Enterprise Architect and Mat lab software. The inputs used to simulate the program are the parameters of the existing building chosen for modeling that is a student residential building complex located in Stellenbosch, Western Cape in South Africa. Automation system program used in this thesis was based on the norms and building standards of South Africa, renewable energy and the requirements of the buildings’ occupants, in order to meet energy efficiency and safety of the occupants.