COMFIE:
an expert system for passive solar design
The expert system, comfie, proposes a thermal analysis of the
building and tests alternative architecture design soloutions. Also it
evaluates the consequences of architectural choices over the thermal performance
of a building - heating load and comfort, and guides towards appropriate
design choices.[5] |
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Fig. 1 [6]
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The Expert Interface:
In this program the heat losses of the building, the solar gains, and
thermal comfort can be studied. For each one, an example is given hereunder,
where the rules underlying the proposals of the expert system are shaded
in gray.
1-The heat losses of the building
The program calculate the heat coefficient (UA) for each zone and for
the whole building. If the user wish to reduce the value, the interface
proposes some modifiations concerning these objects: to add some insulation,
to double glazing, to reduce the ventilation flow rate (Fig. 2). If the
user agrees, the project is automatically modified and the UA values are
recomputed. If the user rejected the proposal, the computer retest other
modifications.[5]
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Fig. 2 [5]
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2- Solar gains:
In this analysis, modifications are concerned to an area of glazings
located in the south walls. The effective UA calculated for the initial
data is compared to the value obtained with an increased area of glazings
(Fig. 3). The user chooses between this new area and the initial one.[5] |
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Fig 3 [5]
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3- Thermal comfort:
In this analysis, the computer checks if the temperature varies beyond
certain limits fixed by the user. If overheating occurs, the expert system
propose different modifications (Fig. 4). If accepted by the user, the
project is automatically updated, and the intial value is recomputed.[5] |
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Fig. 4 [5]
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