A Framework for HVAC System Auto-zoning Based on BIM

Abstract

Zoning is an important step in the design of HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system, and the results of zoning can affect the operating efficiency of the HVAC system, thus affecting the building's energy consumption. However, most of this work is currently finished manually based on the designer's own experience, which is highly subjective and time-consuming for engineers. This paper proposes a new framework for automatic zoning of BIM-based HVAC system design. The framework includes five automatic processes: geometric transformation, thermal zoning, load calculation, system zoning, and system load calculation. In this paper, the zoning process is divided into two stages: thermal zoning and system zoning. Thermal zoning is primarily used during load calculation and energy simulation phases, providing valuable insights for HVAC system design. However, it is important to note that the results of thermal zoning should not be applied blindly, as system design is a more complex process. In addition to load characteristics, factors such as the type of HVAC system, duct layout, and cost considerations need to be taken into account. Furthermore, an office building is used as a case study to demonstrate the automatic load calculation process for the HVAC system.