| # HVAC Calculator User Guide | |
| ## Introduction | |
| Welcome to the HVAC Calculator, a comprehensive tool for calculating heating and cooling loads for buildings using ASHRAE methods. This user guide will help you navigate the application and perform accurate HVAC load calculations. | |
| ## Table of Contents | |
| 1. [Getting Started](#getting-started) | |
| 2. [Building Information](#building-information) | |
| 3. [Climate Data](#climate-data) | |
| 4. [Building Components](#building-components) | |
| 5. [Internal Loads](#internal-loads) | |
| 6. [Calculation Results](#calculation-results) | |
| 7. [Data Management](#data-management) | |
| 8. [Export Options](#export-options) | |
| 9. [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting) | |
| ## Getting Started | |
| ### System Requirements | |
| - Modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) | |
| - Internet connection (for initial loading) | |
| - Screen resolution of at least 1280x720 | |
| ### Installation | |
| The HVAC Calculator is a web-based application that can be accessed directly through your browser. No installation is required. | |
| ### First-Time Setup | |
| 1. Open the application in your web browser | |
| 2. The sidebar navigation will guide you through the calculation process | |
| 3. Follow the steps in order: Building Information → Climate Data → Building Components → Internal Loads → Calculation Results | |
| ## Building Information | |
| The Building Information section is where you enter general information about your project and building. | |
| ### Required Information | |
| - **Project Name**: Name of your project | |
| - **Building Name**: Name of the building | |
| - **Location**: City or location of the building | |
| - **Climate Zone**: ASHRAE climate zone (selected automatically based on location) | |
| - **Building Type**: Type of building (e.g., Office, Residential, Educational) | |
| - **Floor Area**: Total floor area in square meters | |
| - **Number of Floors**: Number of floors in the building | |
| - **Floor Height**: Average floor height in meters | |
| - **Building Orientation**: Primary orientation of the building | |
| - **Occupancy**: Number of occupants | |
| - **Operating Hours**: Hours of operation | |
| ### Design Conditions | |
| - **Summer Outdoor Dry-Bulb**: Summer outdoor design temperature (°C) | |
| - **Summer Outdoor Wet-Bulb**: Summer outdoor design wet-bulb temperature (°C) | |
| - **Summer Indoor Dry-Bulb**: Summer indoor design temperature (°C) | |
| - **Summer Indoor RH**: Summer indoor design relative humidity (%) | |
| - **Winter Outdoor Dry-Bulb**: Winter outdoor design temperature (°C) | |
| - **Winter Outdoor RH**: Winter outdoor design relative humidity (%) | |
| - **Winter Indoor Dry-Bulb**: Winter indoor design temperature (°C) | |
| - **Winter Indoor RH**: Winter indoor design relative humidity (%) | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Design conditions are automatically populated based on the selected location and climate zone | |
| - You can override the default values if you have specific design requirements | |
| - Click "Save Building Information" to proceed to the next step | |
| ## Climate Data | |
| The Climate Data section displays climate information for the selected location. | |
| ### Available Data | |
| - **Design Conditions**: Summer and winter design conditions | |
| - **Monthly Temperature Data**: Average, maximum, and minimum temperatures for each month | |
| - **Humidity Data**: Average relative humidity for each month | |
| - **Solar Radiation Data**: Solar radiation data for different orientations | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Review the climate data to ensure it matches your project requirements | |
| - The data is used in the cooling and heating load calculations | |
| - Click "Confirm Climate Data" to proceed to the next step | |
| ## Building Components | |
| The Building Components section is where you define the building envelope components. | |
| ### Component Types | |
| - **Walls**: Exterior walls of the building | |
| - **Roofs**: Roof surfaces of the building | |
| - **Floors**: Floor surfaces in contact with the ground or unconditioned spaces | |
| - **Windows**: Windows and glazed surfaces | |
| - **Doors**: Exterior doors | |
| ### Adding Components | |
| 1. Select the component type (Wall, Roof, Floor, Window, Door) | |
| 2. Choose a preset component or create a custom component | |
| 3. Enter the required information: | |
| - Name | |
| - Area | |
| - Orientation (for walls, windows, and doors) | |
| - U-value (thermal transmittance) | |
| - Additional properties specific to the component type | |
| 4. Click "Add Component" to add it to your project | |
| ### U-Value Calculator | |
| For custom components, you can use the U-Value Calculator: | |
| 1. Click "Calculate U-Value" to open the calculator | |
| 2. Add material layers one by one, specifying: | |
| - Material type | |
| - Thickness | |
| 3. The calculator will determine the overall U-value | |
| 4. Click "Use This U-Value" to apply it to your component | |
| ### Editing and Deleting Components | |
| - Click the edit icon next to a component to modify its properties | |
| - Click the delete icon to remove a component from your project | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Add all exterior surfaces of the building | |
| - Ensure that the total area of walls, roofs, and floors matches the building dimensions | |
| - Windows and doors should be assigned to walls, and their area will be subtracted from the wall area | |
| - Click "Save Components" to proceed to the next step | |
| ## Internal Loads | |
| The Internal Loads section is where you define the internal heat sources in the building. | |
| ### Load Types | |
| - **People**: Occupants in the building | |
| - **Lighting**: Lighting systems | |
| - **Equipment**: Electrical and mechanical equipment | |
| ### Adding Internal Loads | |
| 1. Select the load type (People, Lighting, Equipment) | |
| 2. Enter the required information: | |
| - Name | |
| - Quantity (number of people or power in watts) | |
| - Activity level (for people) | |
| - Usage factor (for lighting and equipment) | |
| - Schedule (operating hours) | |
| 3. Click "Add Internal Load" to add it to your project | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Consider different zones or rooms with different occupancy or equipment | |
| - The usage factor represents the percentage of time the load is active | |
| - Click "Save Internal Loads" to proceed to the next step | |
| ## Calculation Results | |
| The Calculation Results section displays the results of the cooling and heating load calculations. | |
| ### Summary Results | |
| - **Total Cooling Load**: Total cooling capacity required (kW) | |
| - **Sensible Cooling Load**: Sensible cooling capacity required (kW) | |
| - **Latent Cooling Load**: Latent cooling capacity required (kW) | |
| - **Cooling Load per Area**: Cooling load per unit area (W/m²) | |
| - **Total Heating Load**: Total heating capacity required (kW) | |
| - **Heating Load per Area**: Heating load per unit area (W/m²) | |
| ### Detailed Results | |
| - **Component Breakdown**: Contribution of each component to the total load | |
| - **Hourly Load Profiles**: Variation of loads throughout the day | |
| - **Psychrometric Analysis**: Psychrometric chart showing the cooling and heating processes | |
| ### Visualization Options | |
| - **Summary**: Overview of the calculation results | |
| - **Component Breakdown**: Detailed breakdown by component | |
| - **Psychrometric Analysis**: Psychrometric chart and analysis | |
| - **Time Analysis**: Hourly and monthly load profiles | |
| - **Scenario Comparison**: Comparison with saved scenarios | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Review the results to ensure they are reasonable | |
| - Use the visualization options to better understand the load distribution | |
| - Save the current results as a scenario for future comparison | |
| - Click "Export Results" to export the results in various formats | |
| ## Data Management | |
| The Data Management section allows you to save and load projects. | |
| ### Saving Projects | |
| 1. Enter a project name | |
| 2. Add a description (optional) | |
| 3. Click "Save Project" | |
| 4. Download the project file (.hvac) to your computer | |
| ### Loading Projects | |
| 1. Click "Load Project" | |
| 2. Upload a previously saved project file (.hvac) | |
| 3. Click "Load Project Data" to restore the project | |
| ### Project History | |
| The Project History tab shows previously saved projects in the current session: | |
| 1. Click on a project in the history | |
| 2. View the project details | |
| 3. Click "Load Project" to restore the project | |
| 4. Click "Delete from History" to remove it from the history | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Save your project regularly to avoid losing work | |
| - Use descriptive names and add detailed descriptions for easier identification | |
| - The project history is only available in the current session | |
| ## Export Options | |
| The Export Options section allows you to export the calculation results in various formats. | |
| ### Available Formats | |
| - **CSV**: Export individual tables as CSV files | |
| - **Excel**: Export comprehensive reports as Excel files | |
| - **JSON**: Export scenarios as JSON files | |
| ### Export Options | |
| - **CSV Export**: Export individual tables (cooling load, heating load, component details) | |
| - **Excel Export**: Export comprehensive reports with multiple sheets | |
| - **Scenario Export**: Export saved scenarios for sharing or archiving | |
| ### Batch Export | |
| The Batch Export option allows you to export all saved scenarios at once: | |
| 1. Click "Export All Scenarios" | |
| 2. Download the ZIP file containing all scenarios | |
| ### Tips | |
| - Use CSV export for importing data into other applications | |
| - Use Excel export for comprehensive reports | |
| - Use JSON scenario export for sharing with other users of the HVAC Calculator | |
| ## Troubleshooting | |
| ### Common Issues | |
| - **Missing Inputs**: Ensure all required fields are filled in | |
| - **Invalid Values**: Check for unreasonable values (e.g., negative areas) | |
| - **Calculation Errors**: Verify that all components are properly defined | |
| - **Export Issues**: Check that you have permission to download files in your browser | |
| ### Validation Messages | |
| The application provides validation messages to help you identify and fix issues: | |
| - **Errors**: Must be fixed before proceeding | |
| - **Warnings**: Indicate potential issues but allow you to proceed | |
| ### Getting Help | |
| If you encounter issues not covered in this guide: | |
| 1. Check the Technical Documentation for more detailed information | |
| 2. Review the Code Documentation for implementation details | |
| 3. Contact support for assistance | |
| ## Conclusion | |
| This user guide provides an overview of the HVAC Calculator's features and functionality. For more detailed information, please refer to the Technical Documentation. | |
| Thank you for using the HVAC Calculator! | |