Development of solar heat gain factors database using meteorological data

In tropical and subtropical regions, solar heat gain via fenestration, part icularly on vertical surfaces, plays an important role in determining the t hermal performance of a building. For sizing air-conditioning equipment, ma ximum solar heat gain factors (SHGFs) are used for estimating the design pe ak load. Recently, the SHGF data representing the prevailing weather condit ions have become essential and more practical for part load performance des igns and daylighting schemes evaluation. In the absence of measured solar r adiation data for the determination of SHGFs, meteorological radiation mode ls may be used. This paper presents the validation of SHGFs prediction mode ls based on sunshine hours and horizontal solar data. statistical assessmen ts for the models have shown that using sunshine hours to predict the hourl y SHGFs may not be appropriate for dynamic building simulation studies. For the average SHGFs computation, all models present acceptable results. In d etermining the SHGFs for horizontal and vertical surfaces at the peak and o ther significant levels, all prediction models perform better than the ASHR AE clear sky approach, particularly at high significant levels. This findin g also provides information For the estimation of total air-conditioning pl ant capacity at both the peak load operation and the multiple equipment siz ing under part load condition. (C) 2000 Elsevier science Ltd. All rights re served.