Hello everyone!
I am using EnergyPlus in order to calculate the sunlit fraction (by unreflected beam solar radiation, as specified in the Input-Output Reference) of window glazing areas with the presence of external shading devices (e.g. venetian blinds, shades). The output values of Surface Outside Face Sunlit Fraction seem to be unaffected by the presence of these shading devices.
I also tried another case: I removed the shading devices and added an overhang (through the Shading:Building:Detailed object in EnergyPlus). This time I get variable output values of Surface Outside Face Sunlit Fraction, indicating that the overhang was taken into account.
So, is it safe to suppose that, at the moment (at least), EnergyPlus cannot calculate the sunlit area of external surfaces that are shaded by shading devices like blinds, shades, screens etc.(I guess it has to do with the polygon clipping algorithms) ?
Or is there a way that can be calculated in EnergyPlus?
Thanks,
Spyros
Spyros Akritidis
Research Student
School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Loughborough University
m: +44 077 6399 5008
e: S.Akritidis at lboro.ac.uk
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