Frequency-domain regression method for estimating CTF models of building multilayer constructions

Abstract

The conduction transfer function (CTF) models of heat conduction through building constructions are widely used in building energy analysis and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system design and simulation. A frequency-domain regression (FDR) method is developed to estimate the CTF model of a building construction from its theoretical response characteristics in this paper. First, the theoretical response characteristics are calculated simply by numerical matrix multiplication. The CTF coefficients are then obtained by simply solving a set of linear equations. The tests and comparisons have shown that CTF models obtained by the FDR method are completely equivalent to those found by the methods currently available. The FDR method can provide a short series of CTF coefficients, and the models by this method have a high accuracy in calculating heat gain/loss through building constructions. The FDR method is very simple and straightforward, has high computational speeds, and needs less computational efforts. Therefore, the FDR method is much easier and convenient to use and implement in building energy analysis and HVAC system simulation programs.