LESOCOOL

Calculates the airflow rate by stack effect, as well as the cooling potential and the overheating risk in a naturally or mechanically ventilated building, showing the temperature evolution, the air flow rate and the ventilation heat transfer. It take into account convective and radiative heat gains.
 
Single zone modelling is sufficient for most purposes. However a multizone model is available for the evaluation of the temperature evolution along the air path. This model is applicable to a single air path through zones ventilated in series.
 
The Windows interface and the small number of input parameters make Lesocool very user friendly. It has a standard interface for non experts in building physics and a professional edition allowing more functions. The user can shift easily from one interface to the other. LESOCOOL is part of the LESO series.

Keywords

airflow, passive cooling, energy simulation, mechanical ventilation

Validation/Testing

N/A

Expertise Required

Understanding of basic building thermal and airflow physics.

Users

: First version distributed in 1996, about 50 customers.

Audience

Architects, building physics consultants, engineers.

Input

Size and position of openings, first layer material and surface of walls, time schedules for heat gain, ventilation and external temperature.

Output

Numerical file and diagrams of air- and wall surface temperatures, airflow rate and evacuated thermal power versus time for duration up to a couple of days.

Computer Platform

PC-compatible, 486 or higher, Windows 95 or higher

Programming Language

Visual Basic

Strengths

User-friendly interface, simple model coupling natural ventilation (stack effect) and thermal behaviour of the building.

Weaknesses

LESOCOOL is not a full building simulation program, but it allows rapid parametric studies to evaluate overheating risks and the potential of passive cooling by ventilation with outdoor air. It therefore only includes the parameters which strongly influence this cooling potential. It cannot simulate multi-layer and thin walls and the simulation period must not exceed a few days. For the multi-zone modelling, zones must be ventilated in series without bifurcation. The dominant thermal coupling between zones must be due to ventilation.

Contact

Availability

Demo version available at website. Site-license software packages for CHF 500.- purchased through LESO-EPFL at the above address. 50% discount for education.

Printable Version