Identification of the main thermal characteristics of building components using MATLAB

This paper presents the application of the IDENT Graphical User Interface of MATLAB to estimate the thermal properties of building components from outdoor dynamic testing, imposing appropriate physical constraints and assuming linear and time invariant parametric models. The theory is briefly described to provide the background for a first understanding of the models used. The relationship between commonly used RC-network models and the parametric models proposed is presented. The analysis is generalised for different possibilities in the assignment of inputs and outputs and even multiple output. Step by step guidance illustrated by an example is included. Results obtained using the different possibilities in selecting inputs and outputs are reported.