Project Options

The following options are available for building entry:

• "Simple capture": Here a 3D building is created with a few parameters, which can be simulated immediately or edited later in HottCAD.
• "HottCAD": Here a complete building can be entered in CAD. In this case, if desired, PV modules can be placed on the roof in HottCAD.
• "Tabular building entry": Here the individual components of the building can be entered in tabular form. The resulting building cannot be opened in HottCAD.

"Silver" and "Gold" customers have the option here to select only a simplified system mode instead of simulating detailed systems, in which the effects of limited heating and cooling capacities on the building are estimated. This mode is the only available mode for "ETU-Simulation Bronze" customers. It is possible to change your mind at a later date. To do so, all that is required is to deselect the simplified mode and confirm the request to delete the systems. Afterwards detailed plants can be selected as usual.

In the detailed mode you can select whether the building has a combined heating and cooling system that both heats and cools the building. An example of this would be a reversible heat pump or a combined heat and power plant that heats in winter and drives an absorption chiller in summer. Alternatively, a heating system and/or a cooling system can be selected. Furthermore, a ventilation system, if necessary with heat recovery, can be added to the project.

Here the calculation modes to be used in the simulation of the project are selected. It is possible to select more than one entry and the selection can be edited at a later time. If "VDI 2078 - Cooling load" or "Summer thermal insulation according to DIN 4108-2 8.4" is selected, additional views are added to the program.

The following options are available:

Free simulation: This is the default option. It uses climate data that can be selected from a selection of available data, e.g. also above average warm or cold years. Usage profiles can be freely selected and edited or completely self-defined. The simulation then calculates the room temperatures, heating and cooling load depending on the selected conditions, i.e. the building, climate and usage profile data. If system technology has been defined, it is simulated coupled with the building.

Air humidity: If this option is selected, the room humidity is calculated in the simulation. For this purpose humidity sources can be defined in the Usage Profiles. From this and from the air exchange with the environment, the humidity in the rooms is simulated in hourly resolution and the comfort is shown in the simulation results.  

VDI 2078 - Cooling load: This option is only available for locations in Germany and Austria, as VDI 2078 is not defined outside these countries. In contrast to the free simulation, artificial climate data are used, which result from the cooling load zone of the location. The main goal of the calculation is to determine the required cooling capacity. The building is only simulated for specific days of the year, i.e. the simulation period cannot be edited. The plant engineering (heating, cooling systems) is ignored. This option is only available for customers with Platinum license.              

Summer thermal insulation according to DIN 4108-2 8.4: This option is only available for locations in Germany and Austria, as DIN 4108 is not defined outside these countries. Here, climate data from test reference years are used, which result from the summer climate region of the location. In contrast to the free simulation, the usage profiles are fixed. The main objective is to ensure that room temperatures are not too high, i.e. the excess temperatures measured in degree hours must not exceed a certain value. The system technology (heating, cooling systems) is ignored.

For the PV system there are different calculation options available, which can be specified here. To calculate a PV system, at least one option must be selected. The following options are available:

• DIN calculation: The results according to the German DIN standard are calculated and displayed (no simulation). No detailed design is required for this. However, this option is only available for buildings in Germany.
• Quick view: The quick view is visible on the "Module fields" page. This allows a quick rough estimate of the plant's economic efficiency and is particularly useful as a first step before the detailed plant design.
• Detailed wiring: The PV system can be designed completely, including the inverter and the wiring of the modules in strings. The system is then simulated and the detailed results are displayed under "Diagrams".