CAPSOL upgrade info

Version 4.0w

• The user interface is completely rewritten in MS Windows.  Improved user interface based on data sheets. More data sheets can be seen at the same time on the screen, which makes the input of the data easier. The data sheets can be printed making the checking and reporting of the data easier.

• Improved data (wall types, functions, …) handling.  The data directories are saved in the CAPSOL data files (*.cap). It is not necessary to change the wall types, functions, etc. directories every time when opening another CAPSOL data file.  Former version data files (wall types (*.wlt, *.glt), CAPSOL data files (*.dat) ) can be imported into the new version.

• Calculation about 30 to 50 times faster.  Depending on the input and output parameters the calculation can be 30-50 times faster compared to version 3.3.  Yearly energy demand calculations become facile.

• CAPSOL version 4 is a multi-fluid model, as the density and the specific heat are defined per zone. This new feature allows e.g. considering a water circuit in combination with an air circuit.  The air circuit represents the ventilated zones of the building, while the water circuit represents the heating system split up into its components (boiler, pipes, radiators, etc.).

• From bilateral to multilateral ventilation controls.
  In version 3.3 the controlled ventilation was only between two zones, a source zone and a destination zone.
  In version 3.4 & 4 the controlled ventilation is multilateral: an airflow path containing multiple zones is used. Example of an airflow path: air flow from outside to an atrium, then to an office, and through the plenum back to outside.  This new feature allows an improved simulation of e.g. double façades.

• Integrated new function, wall type and material editor.

• The new wall type editor includes a solar transmission factor (g) calculation.  No distinction is made anymore between the basic wall type and the advanced wall type. There is only one (advanced) wall type in CAPSOL version 4.

• The new function editor has improved charting features.

• Function preview during editing.

• Improved signalization of input anomalies.  Red text fields show any error in the parameters entered.

• Improved report module, with charts that can be greatly customized (zoom, pan, etc.), printed and saved as bitmaps.

• The animation generation module allows creating and previewing animations (AVI format) of the transient heat transfer in walls and zones.  The use of external animation software, as requested in the previous versions, is no longer needed.

• The manual is integrated in PDF format into the program for easier reference.