Abstract
Abstract
The extreme thermal conditions of arid climates, characterized by high daytime temperatures and significant diurnal variations, present a vital challenge for building energy efficiency. This paper presents a dynamic multi-zone thermal model of a standard residential apartment (F3 archetype) located in the hyper-arid region of Bechar, Algeria. Developed using the MATLAB/Simscape Thermal environment via the thermal Resistance-Capacitance (RC) analogy, the model simulates the transient temperature behavior and the precise cooling energy demand. The architecture couple’s passive thermal elements (walls, inertia) with dynamic internal heat gains (time-varying occupancy, solar radiation) and an active thermostatic Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) loop. Results demonstrate severe localized overheating under free-floating conditions; specifically, Bedroom 1 and the living room prove to be the most critical rooms reach temperature 46°C. Therefore, in the primary living spaces (Bedrooms, Livingroom, and Kitchen) the with occupant exhibit distinct jagged peaks that perfectly mirror the dynamic occupancy schedules. Furthermore, the model evaluates the disaggregated daily energy consumption necessary to maintain a strict 25°C setpoint, revealing that the living room alone requires up to 15.6011 kWh/day. This highlights the critical role of dynamic metabolic loads and solar orientation in arid building performance.