Integrated comparative validation tests as an aid for building simulation tool users and developers

Authors

Paul Strachan, University of Strathclyde
Georgios Kokogiannakis, University of WollongongFollow
I MacDonald, University of Strathclyde
I Beausoleil-Morrison, Canmet Energy Technology Centre, Canada

RIS ID

98805

Publication Details

Strachan, P., Kokogiannakis, G., Macdonald, I. & Beausoleil-Morrison, I. (2006). Integrated comparative validation tests as an aid for building simulation tool users and developers. ASHRAE Transactions, 112 (January), 395-408.

Abstract

Published validation tests developed within major research projects have been an invaluable aid to program developers to check on their programs. This paper sets out how selected ASHRAE Standard 140-2004 and European CEN standards validation tests have been incorporated into the ESP-r simulation program so that they can be easily run by users and also discusses some of the issues associated with compliance checking. Embedding the tests within a simulation program allows program developers to check routinely whether updates to the simulation program have led to signif­icant changes in predictions and to run sensitivity tests to check on the impact of alternative algorithms. Importantly, it also allows other users to undertake the tests to check that their installation is correct and to give them, and their clients, confi­dence in results.