Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
 | 1 | initial version |
Correct, when using Kiva for a zone in EnergyPlus, that zone must have one floor surface touching ground for Kiva to calculate heat transfer for. In your case, you can do two things:
Keep the zones stacked, but use Kiva for only -2 level zone and change the boundary condition for the walls of the -1 level zone to "Ground" or another option that is not "Foundation" for Kiva
Merge the two zones together, deleting the ceiling for the -2 level zone and floor for the -1 level zone.
The second option would likely be more accurate, assuming you merge the zones correctly (sum internal gains like lighting, e.g.).
| | 2 | No.2 Revision |
Correct, when using Kiva for a zone in EnergyPlus, that zone must have one floor surface touching ground for Kiva to calculate heat transfer for. In your case, you can do two things:
Keep the zones stacked, but use Kiva for only -2 level zone and change the boundary condition for the walls of the -1 level zone to "Ground" or another option that is not "Foundation" for Kiva
Merge the two zones together, deleting the ceiling for the -2 level zone and floor for the -1 level zone.zone or modeling that surface as internal mass instead.
The second option would likely be more accurate, assuming you merge the zones correctly (sum internal gains like lighting, e.g.).
