ApacheSim

Enables you to assess every aspect of thermal performance, from annual energy consumption and carbon emissions down to individual surface temperatures. ApacheSim is at the core of the IES suite of thermal analysis products, each of which simulates an aspect of thermal performance: solar shading and penetration (SunCast), HVAC systems and control (ApacheHVAC), and natural ventilation and mixed mode systems (MacroFlo).

ApacheSim also enables you to perform carbon emissions calculations for compliance with UK Building Regs Part L and Part J. ApacheSim is based on first-principles models of heat transfer processes and is driven by real weather data.

Keywords

thermal simulation, energy consumption

Validation/Testing

APACHEsim has been tested with ASHRAE Standard 140.

Expertise Required

N/A

Users

Many throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, & USA.

Audience

Mechanical building services engineers.

Input

Input of building shape and form is through a CAD geometrical representation of the building in the IDM. Building constructions, building usage patterns, worldwide climatic weather data, building HVAC systems and natural ventilation openings data can all be input via pre-built databases or created by the user through an intuitive graphical user interface.

Output

Output of the simulations is shown in tabular and graphical form within a self contained results viewer. All reportage can be copied into word processing and spreadsheet packages for further analysis/reporting.

Computer Platform

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 1.4 GHz+, or AMD Athlon 1400+ CPU Faster processors strongly recommended for frequent use of detailed simulation modules such as Radiance and APACHE-sim.

Memory: 512 Mb fast RAM (266Mhz+)

Hard Drive: 500 Mb free for installation, 1Gb free for Project data. Annual thermal simulation results for large models can produce large data files e.g. >50MB.

Optical Drive: CDRW, enabling large projects to be securely backed up.

Video Card: OpenGL compatible video card with 128 Mb RAM. Suggest GEForce or Radeon based cards.

Operating System: Windows 2000/XP.

Minimum screen resolution - 1024 x 768 pixels.

Programming Language

C++, Visual Basic, Fortran

Strengths

Results of the dynamic thermal simulations are linked to further modules in the IES , including component HVAC system modelling, natural ventilation modelling, CFD analysis, daylight compensation control, solar shading analysis, cost and value assessment. Convenient data manipulation coupled with the ability to what-if assessment at design calculation stage. Integrated data model means that design changes are immediately updated elsewhere.

Weaknesses

ApacheSim only simulates water-side at a parametric level.

Contact

Availability

Contact IES at the above address or visit the web site.

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