This knowledge session, hosted by Richard Tibenham and Michael Pollock from IES Consulting, supported the analysis of HVAC simulation through the Virtual Environment’s ApacheHVAC application.

1. Achieving Excellence with IESVE Essential Knowledge Series
IESVE for HVAC Simulation
www.iesve.com
Using ApacheHVAC for Detailed Simulation
and Plant Analysis
Michael Pollock
Consultancy Manager
Richard Tibenham
UK Business Development Manager

2. Michael Pollock
Consultancy Manager
(VE Consultancy)
Richard Tibenham
UK Business
Development Manager
(VE Consultancy)

3. Agenda
▪ When to Use ApacheHVAC
▪ Introduction to ApacheHVAC
▪ Advantages of Detailed HVAC Modelling
▪ ApacheHVAC Systems Wizard
▪ HVAC Systems Library
▪ Autosizing
▪ Loads Reports
▪ Central Plant Heat Pumps
▪ Energy Meters
▪ Q&A
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4. De-risk Innovative Design Solutions
Minimise Performance Gap
When to use ApacheHVAC
Building Performance Ratings Methods
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Building Performance ratings including NABERS, LEED,
BREEAM use detailed HVAC Modelling to accurately predict
energy demands.
Simulate innovative design solutions to help demonstrate
the suitability of a design solution as well as identify
potential issues and risks with a new design solution.
Simulating plant performance in detail to accurately predict
plant efficiency and system energy demands and explore
opportunities to optimise building efficiency.
Decarbonisation and Net-Zero Strategies
Support accurate predictions of carbon emissions from new
buildings and retrofit of existing buildings.

5. Introduction to ApacheHVAC
Features include:
www.iesve.com
• User Friendly
• Flexible
• Schematic
• Component based
network
• Multiplexing
• Pre-built Systems
• Auto-sizing
• Loads Reports
• Hot Water Loops
• Chilled Water Loops
• Central Plant Heat Pumps
• VRF
ApacheHVAC is the module within the Virtual Environment
used to Perform Detailed HVAC Modelling with ApacheSim

6. Advantages of
Detailed HVAC Modelling

7. Advantages of Detailed HVAC Modelling
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Plant Capacity
Basic HVAC
Unlimited Heating & Cooling Capacity
Detailed HVAC
• Central Plant Capacity
• Loop Capacity
• Coil Capacity
• Radiator Capacity
• Loop Temperatures
• Ambient Temperatures

8. Advantages of Detailed HVAC Modelling
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Heating / Cooling Efficiency
Basic HVAC
Constant Seasonal Efficiency
Detailed HVAC
Efficiency dynamically calculated
at each timestep.
Efficiency influenced by:
• Part Load
• Loop Temperatures
• Ambient Temperatures

9. Advantages of Detailed HVAC Modelling
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Pump and Fan Power
Basic HVAC
Pump and fan power modelled as constant
Auxiliary Energy Value.
Detailed HVAC
Each pump and fan within network
separately modelled.
Power draw calculated at each time-step
based upon part load conditions.
Analysis of individual components allows
for enhanced analysis of results and
opportunities to make savings.

10. Advantages of Detailed HVAC Modelling
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Plant Controls
Basic HVAC
Limited Control over system operation
Detailed HVAC
Flexible control of Airside Network:-
• DCV
• Supply temperature control
• Night Cooling
• Free-Cooling
Control over Water Networks
• Variable pumps Speed Control
• Temperature Control

11. HVAC System Wizard

12. HVAC System Wizard
General Setup and
Zoning
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Wizard accessed from the
Apache Module
Create new or update
existing HVAC Network
Use existing Room Groups
or HVAC Zones
Choose between ASHRAE or
CIBSE methodology for
Room Loads analysis

13. HVAC System Wizard
Airside System
Selection
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Select prototype from a
range of System Libraries
Assign system type to
selected Room Group
Include multiple network
types and groups within a
single project
Annotated graphics
illustrate each system
configuration

14. HVAC System Wizard
Waterside and Plant
Equipment Selection
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Select from a range of
Chiller, Boiler, Heat Pump,
VRF systems
Assign Heating/Cooling
source to each of the
Airside Networks

15. HVAC System Wizard
HVAC Loads, Sizing &
Reports
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Size Room Loads
Determine Peak Heating and
Cooling Loads for each Space and
calculates the required airflow
rates to meet Peak demand
Size System Loads
Sizes coils, fans Boilers, chillers
etc. based on previous loads
calculation
Run Apache Simulation
Perform a Dynamic Simulation
using the Autosized HVAC Network

16. HVAC System Wizard
ApacheHVAC Network
www.iesve.com
Upon Completion HVAC
network can be accessed
and modified within
ApacheHVAC
Green boundary and
checkbox indicates
network has been fully
Autosized
Changes can be made to
default network
efficiencies in line with
design

17. ApacheHVAC Prototype
Library and Autosizing

18. ApacheHVAC Prototype Library
Import Networks
www.iesve.com
Pre-built and fully autosizable
networks available to import into
any project.
Export Networks
Custom networks created by the
modeller can be saved to library to
re-use on future projects.

19. ApacheHVAC System Parameters
System Info Linked to
Apache Room Data
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Heating / Cooling Setpoints
Automatically synced to Room
Data.
Updating set-points,
ventilation rates, occupancy
etc. automatically reflected in
HVAC network settings.

20. ApacheHVAC Autosizing
System Info Linked to Apache Room Data
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All HVAC components and controllers automatically
sized to meet peak loads from loads analysis.
Autosized values indicated by Green text.

21. ApacheHVAC Loads reports
Sizing Reports
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Automatic reports created
with Building/System/Room
level results.
Use to aid HVAC system
selection.

22. Modelling Heat Pumps

23. Heat Pumps
Reduced Grid CO2 Emissions Factor
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CO2 Emissions associated with Grid
Electricity are steadily reducing
annually and future projections
continue this trend as more renewable
energy is added to the mix.
With the current carbon emission
factors, CO2 emissions from Electricity
are now lower than Natural Gas
making it a cleaner fuel option for use
in space heating.
This is further compounded when Heat
Pumps with High COP’s are utilised.
Source: BEIS Updated Energy and Emissions Projections 2017

24. Heat Pumps
High Efficiency
www.iesve.com
A Heat Pump is an efficient means
of generating heat which uses a
vapour compression cycle to move
energy from outside to inside the
building thus achieving
efficiencies greater than 100%.
Rated conditions are typically
provided at 7°C Outdoor
Temperature and 35°C Hot Water
Temperature.

25. Heat Pumps
Sensitivity to
Operating Conditions
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The operating conditions for a
heat pump are important to
understand when determining the
efficiency and ultimately the
associated energy consumption.
For example, operating a heat
pump at higher temperatures will
typically result in lower operating
efficiencies.

26. Heat Pumps
Central Plant Heat
Pump Modelling
www.iesve.com
Loop can include multiple
heat pumps that can be
sequenced.
Heat pumps can be
modelled as Heating Only
or Heating and Cooling.

27. Heat Pumps
Auxiliary Heat Source
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Systems can be designed
to include Secondary Heat
sources to support Heat
Pumps under colder
conditions.
Auxiliary water heating
can be added to either
primary or individual
secondary loops.

28. Modelling with
Energy Sub-Meters

29. Energy Sub-Meters
Creating an Energy Metering Tree
www.iesve.com
Energy Meters are created to track energy usage
within a dynamic simulation model.
Flexible tree structure allows for multiple tiers to
be created.
Energy metering can be set to match installed
metering strategy to facilitate calibrated energy
modelling.

30. Energy Sub-Meters
Assigning Energy Meters
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Any energy consumer within the model can be
linked to an energy meter allowing the energy
usage to be grouped along with associated loads.
Energy meter results would then be reviewed
within VistaPro.

31. Interrogating HVAC
Results Within VistaPro

32. Results Analysis Room Level Results
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33. Results Analysis HVAC Airside Components
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34. Results Analysis HVAC Waterside Components
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35. Results Analysis HVAC Nodes
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36. Results Analysis HVAC Controllers
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37. Results Analysis Energy Meters
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38. Consultancy Support
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• Geometric modelling
• UK Building Regulations modelling for Part L/Section
6/EPC/MEES compliance & strategic support
• Enhanced Building Energy Models (CIBSE TM54, NABERS,
BREEAM GN32 & ASHRAE 90.1)
• Detailed HVAC modelling adopting IES ApacheHVAC
• Net-Zero and Decarbonisation modelling for strategic
solutions and compliance (e.g. SFT NZPSB Standard)
• Part O strategy support & compliance modelling
• Daylight modelling for Planning Assessments
• CFD for Data Centres/External Comfort/Pollutant Dispersal

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40. IESVE Training
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IES Overheating Training (Online Live) - Elmhurst Energy
19th April –
Overheating in partnership with Elmhurst:
Live Online Training | IES (iesve.com)
Multiple Training courses from the IES Training
Team:

41. www.iesve.com
Richard.Tibenham@iesve.com
Michael.Pollock@iesve.com
Thank you
Q & A