IDA Indoor Climate and Energy
A tool for simulation of thermal comfort, indoor air quality and energy consumption in buildings. The mathematical models in IDA ICE are described in terms of equations in a formal language, NMF. This makes it easy to customize the models for the needs of a particular project. Advanced users can do this themselves by using the IDA Simulation Environment (IDA SE).
Keywords
design, energy performance, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, commercial buildings
Validation/Testing
N/A
Expertise Required
IDA ICE is designed for HVAC designers, not being experts on simulation methods. Has an advanced level appreciated by simulation experts as well.
Users
250, primarily in Europe
Audience
HVAC designers, researchers
Input
Thermal characteristics, internal loads and schedules, heating and cooling equipment and system characteristics, building geometry. User enters data through an interface based on Windows 95/98/NT.
Output
A single zone IDA ICE model with default primary and secondary systems, comprises a total of about 600 time dependent variables, any of which may be plotted, such as: zone heat balance, including specific contributions from: sun, occupants, equipment, lights, ventilation, heating and cooling devices, surface transmissions, air leakage, cold bridges and furniture.Solar influx through windows with full 3D account for local shading devices. Air CO2 and moisture levels. Air and surface temperatures. Comfort indices, PPD and PMV, Total energy cost, based on time-dependent prices.
Computer Platform
PC with Windows 95/98/NT. Minimum 16 MB of RAM memory and 20 MB of free hard-disk space are needed.
Programming Language
Common Lisp, Fortran
Strengths
IDA ICE has been requested, specified and partly financed by a group of thirty leading Scandinavian AEC companies. The mathematical models have been developed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (KTH) and at Helsinki University of Technology. The models are not tailored to Scandinavian needs but seek to capture the international state-of-the-art in building performance modeling. Whenever appropriate, models recommended by ASHRAE have been used.
Weaknesses
Execution time is highly dependent on model structure and control. A yearly simulation of a ten zone model takes ten minutes on an 450 MHz PC. The execution time increases roughly in proportion to the number of zones.
Contact
Company: |
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Address: |
Box 1367 |
Telephone: |
+46 (8) 56 48 79 00 |
Facsimile: |
+46 (8) 56 48 79 01 |
E-mail: |
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Website: |
Availability
Software prices range from $400 for an itroductory three months rental to $2000 for a full license. Please see the web site for details.