Characterization of Linear Reduced Order Building Models Using Bode Plots

Abstract

Simulations of energy supply systems on the urban scale call for dedicated thermal building models with low sim- ulation times and still considering relevant dynamic ef- fects. A common approach for such models are reduced order thermal networks that model heat transfer and stor- age via thermal resistances and capacitances. To con- tribute to the open question, how much wall elements should be used in such approaches, this paper character- izes and compares four different model topologies with one, two, three and four wall elements. The characteri- zation using the Linear Analysis toolbox in Modelica and Bode plots in Python reveals a significantly different be- havior of the One-Element-Model compared to the higher order models. In consequence, the Two-Elements-Model with comparably low simulation times and a similar be- havior as the higher order models qualifies for urban scale simulations.