The TCD (Thermal Calculator by Design) program is a thermal calculator, developed at the Department of Civil Engineering at Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Solar gain calculations are based on implemented sun curves for a location in Denmark. These sun curves come from a literature, which includes no explanation on how they were composed. This is limiting the use of the TCD, since it can only be used for a location in Denmark.
Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the existing sun curves and find a method to obtain new ones in order to expand the use of the TCD program.
The existing sun curves have been investigated, and by performing several simulations and calculations it has been explained, how sun curves can be obtained. This investigation was a foundation for developing a method to obtain sun curves from a broadly accessible weather file.
Each step of the procedure is thoroughly explained, since the aim of the study was to develop an overview or a guide that can be read as a manual. Following the steps, new sun curves can be obtained – not only for Denmark, but also for any chosen location. This was proved by using the method to obtain sun curves for a location in Slovenia.
The newly obtained sun curves and thus the method itself have been verified by implementing the new sun curves into the TCD program and comparing the results with simulations, performed in a more advanced simulation tool called BSim. It was concluded that method works well and can be used to obtain sun curves for any location.
Altogether, the developed method provides good results and it contributes to the use of the TCD by expanding its scope to any chosen location.
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