Overview

 

The MacroFlo view is positioned within the Virtual Environment’s Thermal category and provides facilities for the preparation of input data for the MacroFlo bulk air flow simulation program. The simulation program itself is run from within the Apache view.

 

MacroFlo is a program for analysing infiltration and natural ventilation in buildings. It uses a zonal airflow model to calculate bulk air movement in and through the building, driven by wind and buoyancy induced pressures. Details of the methods used in MacroFlo may be found in the MacroFlo Calculation Methods manual. MacroFlo is invoked as an adjunct to Apache Simulation, as described in the Apache User Guide.

The preparation of MacroFlo input data in the MacroFlo view consists of setting the air flow characteristics of openings in the building (windows, doors and holes). This task is closely analogous to the task of setting construction data for building elements in the Apache view. The MacroFlo view is considerably simpler than the Apache view, however, since its sole purpose is the setting of air flow data for openings.

 

The MacroFlo view consists of the following interface features:

 

These menus provide functions used throughout the Virtual environment and also functions specific to the MacroFlo view under the MacroFlo pull-down menu.

 

This pull-down menu provides functions specific to the MacroFlo view.

 

These icons provide a quick route to functions on the MacroFlo menu bar.

 

This displays the model geometry and provides a graphical means of selecting geometrical objects.

 

This provides functions for manipulating the view of the geometrical model.

 

This list of rooms, opening up to display surfaces and openings in those rooms, provides an alternative way to view and select geometrical objects.

 

Before using the MacroFlo view you should familiarise yourself with the following tools, which provide the means for navigating around the model to view and set room and building element attributes:

 

·       The Virtual Environment menu bar

·       The model workspace

·       The model browser

·       The model view toolbar

 

In particular, you should be familiar with the following procedures described in the ModelIT User Guide:

 

·       Selecting a view of the model workspace using the following buttons on the model view toolbar:

o   Fit view

o   Zoom window

o   Zoom in

o   Zoom out

o   Pan

o   Zoom previous

o   Zoom next

o   View axis (Plan, Right, Left, Front, Back, Axon.)

o   Set axonometric rotation

o   Rotate view

·       Selecting a single room or a set of rooms by clicking in the model workspace.

·       Selecting a single room or a set of rooms by clicking in the model browser.

·       Panning and zooming the model image.

·       Moving between the following model decomposition levels using the up and down arrows on the view toolbar (or by double-clicking on a room or surface):

o   Model level

o   Space level (only surface mode applies in the MacroFlo view)

o   Surface level (only opening mode applies in the MacroFlo view)

·       Moving between model decomposition levels by clicking in the model browser.