Predicting Control Performance of Residential Heating Systems with an Analog Computer

A properly designed residential heating system must provide homeowner comfort under a broad range of operating conditions. Doing this with an economically priced system requires knowledge of the many variables affecting system performance. A typical heating system including the house, furnace, heat conveyance, and thermostatic control has been simulated on an analog computer facility. By varying computer inputs to reflect changing outdoor weather conditions, house construction, type of heating plant, and occupancy, system performance with different types of controls can be readily evaluated. This type of computer analysis facilitates early consideration of component design variations aimed at achieving optimum performance with minimum cost.