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Tutorial 1
by
Dr. Vishal Garg
Aviruch Bhatia
RathishArumugam
Contents
1. Objective ......................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Installation ...................................................................................................................................... 3
4. The problem .................................................................................................................................... 4
5. Start IDF editor ................................................................................................................................ 5
6. Add Version ..................................................................................................................................... 6
7. Simulation Control .......................................................................................................................... 6
8. Building Object ................................................................................................................................ 7
9. Timestep ......................................................................................................................................... 8
10. RunPeriod.................................................................................................................................... 8
11. Material Regular ......................................................................................................................... 9
12. Construction.............................................................................................................................. 11
13. Global Geometry Rules ............................................................................................................. 11
14. Zone .......................................................................................................................................... 13
15. Wall:Exterior ............................................................................................................................. 14
16. Roof ........................................................................................................................................... 16
17. Floor: Adiabatic ......................................................................................................................... 18
18. Schedule Type ........................................................................................................................... 19
19. Schedule Compact .................................................................................................................... 20
20. HVAC Template Thermostat ..................................................................................................... 22
21. HVAC Template Zone: Ideal Loads Air System .......................................................................... 22
22. Output Table: Summary Report ................................................................................................ 23
23. Output Control: Table: Style ..................................................................................................... 24
24. Start EP launch .......................................................................................................................... 24
25. Select the IDF file ...................................................................................................................... 25
26. View 3D of the model ............................................................................................................... 25
27. During Simulation Run .............................................................................................................. 26
28. Run Status ................................................................................................................................. 27
29. Output data ............................................................................................................................... 27
1. Objective
This tutorial introduces EnergyPlus in simple steps. The tutorial uses a simple building
example to explain the basics of how to use EnergyPlus, give input and read the output of
EnergyPlus. The emphasis is on a very simple square single zone model without any internal
gains and uses IdealLoadAirSystem for cooling and heating.
Most of the information is referred from the Energy plus documentation. You can access
Energy Plus documentation from the following link
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/energyplus_documentation.cfm
2. Overview
About EnergyPlus:(from http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/)EnergyPlus,
DOE’s fully integrated building; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); and
renewables simulation program is one of the most robust simulation tools available in the
world today. It models building heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, and other energy
flows, as well as water. The program includes many innovative simulation capabilities, such
as time steps of less than an hour, modular systems and plant integrated with heat balance-
based zone simulation, multizone air flow, thermal comfort, water use, natural ventilation,
and photovoltaic systems.
EnergyPlus is a stand-alone simulation program without a 'user friendly' graphical interface.
EnergyPlus reads input and writes output as text files. Many graphical user interfaces for
EnergyPlus are available or under development.CYPE-Building Services, Demand Response
QuickAssessmentTool, DesignBuilder, Easy energyPlus, EFEN, AECOsim, Hevacomp, MC4
Suite, and SMART ENERGY are now available.
Software tools that were specifically designed to create Energyplus input file includeEasy
EnergyPlus, ECOTECT, EP Geo, EP Sys, EP-Quick, IFCtoIDF, ESP-r, Green Building
Studio, and IHIT.
You can give input to EnergyPlus by either making the input file (*.idf) in a simple test editor
(such as TextEdit or notepad) or by using a simple user interface ( IDF Editor) which comes
with EnergyPlus installation. This tutorial uses IDF editor for creating the input file.
The tutorial assumes that the reader knows the basics of energy simulation.
3. Installation
How to install EnergyPlus?
Download and install EnergyPlus from:http://www.eere.energy.gov .
If you find any difficulty in download and installation of EnergyPlus, you can write it to
EnergyPlus help desk at http://energyplus.helpserve.com/.
It is recommended that you install E+ and follow the steps given in the tutorial. For more
information on any step please refer to the E+ documentation that comes with the installation.
There are many screenshots that are used in this tutorial.
4. The problem
We will simulate a simple single zone square model with following parameters:
Dimension of the building – (5m X 5m X 3m)
No windows, doors or any openings
Single zone with no partitions
Surface Construction:
To simplify the problem it is assumed that all the surfaces (walls, roof and floor) are made of
concrete and plaster with the following properties:
Windows: None
Environment
Click on IDF
Editor to Start
Any EnergyPlus object may be viewed and edited using a spreadsheet-like grid. For inputs
with several options, a list is provided. When a numeric input has a range of valid values,
those values are displayed. It also automatically provides a list of object names when an
object needs to be linked to another. By displaying all objects of the same kind next to each
other in a grid, it is easy to see how inputs are different across the building. The IDF Editor
outputs an EnergyPlus input file with proper syntax and comments to help the user
understand the input values. In addition, the IDF Editor converts standard inch-pound units
into SI units compatible with EnergyPlus.
The IDF Editor does not check inputs for validity, although some numeric fields are
highlighted if out of range.
6. Add Version
Click 'Version' in the 'Class List' on the top left of the IDF editor and then click 'New Obj'
from the tool bar on the top.
'Obj1' will appear in the first line of the bottom window.
Enter '7.1' in the 'Version Identifier' Field of 'Obj1' as shown in the figure below:
Step 1: Click on
Version
"The Version object allows you to enter the proper version that your IDF was created for.
This is checked against the current version of EnergyPlus and a severe error issued
(nonterminating) if it does not match the current version string."
Save your file: You can save your file with any name. In this tutorial the file is names as
'tutorial.idf'. Keep saving your work frequently as IDF editor does not save file
automatically.
7. SimulationControl
The input for Simulation Control allows the user to specify what kind of calculations a given
EnergyPlus simulation will perform. For instance the user may want to perform one or more
of the sizing calculations but not proceed to a annual weather file simulation. Or the user
might have all flow rates and equipment sizes already specified and desire an annual weather
without any preceding sizing calculations.
When using HVACTemplate:Zone:IdealLoadsAirSystem, there is no sizing required.
HVACTemplate:Zone:IdealLoadsAirSystem provides an unlimited amount of heating and
cooling as the zone requires. When modeling other types of HVAC equipment, then you must
activate the necessary sizing calculations.
Click on
Simulation
control and add
new obj
8. Building Object
The Building object describes parameters that are used during the simulation of the building.
Click the 'Building' Object in 'Simulation Parameters' Class and then click 'New Obj'. Fill the
data as shown below:
Click on Building
and add new Obj
This syntax simplifies building geometry specification by designating onewall of the building
as the building’s north pointing axis. The building model North axis ismeasured from true
(compass) North. Surface facing angles are then specified relative to the building north axis.
The North Axis entry illustrates specification of the building north axis.
9. Timestep
The Timestep object specifies the "basic" time step for the simulation. The value entered here
is usually known as the Zone Timestep. This is used in the Zone Heat Balance Model
calculation as the driving time step for heat transfer and load calculations. The value entered
here is the number of time steps to use within an hour. Longer length time steps have lower
values for Number of Timesteps per Hour. For example a value of 6 entered here directs the
program to use a zone time step of 10 minutes and a value of 60 means a 1 minute time step.
The user’s choice for Number of Timesteps per Hour must be evenly divisible into 60;
theNumber in hour: normal validity 4 to 60.
Click on Timestep
and add new Obj Retain default
value for this field
10. RunPeriod
The RunPeriod object describes the elements necessary to run simulation with use of a
weather file. Multiple run periods may be input. TheRunPeriod object allows the user to
override the use of both the Daylight Saving Period (i.e. use or ignore) and holidays that are
embedded within the weather file.
Field: Name
This optional field allows the RunPeriod to be named for output reporting.
Field: Begin Month
This numeric field should contain the starting month number (1=January, 2=February,
etc.)for the annual run period desired.
Field: Begin Day of Month
This numeric field should contain the starting day of the starting month (must be valid
formonth) for the annual run period desired.
Field: End Month
This numeric field should contain the ending month number (1=January, 2=February, etc.)
forthe annual run period desired.
Field: End Day of Month
This numeric field should contain the ending day of the ending month (must be valid
formonth) for the annual run period desired.
Click on
RunPeriod and
add new Obj
Materials
This definition should be used when the four main thermal properties (thickness,
conductivity, density, and specific heat) of the material are known.
Field: Name
This field is a unique reference name that the user assigns to a particular material. This name
can then be referred to by other input data (ref: Construction).
Field: Roughness
This field is a character string that defines the relative roughness of a particular material
layer.A special keyword is expected in this field with the options being “VeryRough”,
“Rough”, “MediumRough”, “MediumSmooth”, “Smooth”, and “VerySmooth” in order of
roughest to smoothest options.
Field: Thickness
This field characterizes the thickness of the material layer in meters. This should be the
dimension of the layer in the direction perpendicular to the main path of heat conduction.
This value must be a positive.
Field: Conductivity
This field is used to enter the thermal conductivity of the material layer. Units for this
parameter are W/(m-K). Thermal conductivity must begreater than zero.
Field: Density
This field is used to enter the density of the material layer in units of kg/m3. Density must be
a positive quantity.
Field: Specific Heat
This field represents the specific heat of the material layer in units of J/(kg-K). Note that
these units are most likely different than those reported in textbooks and references which
tend to use kJ/(kg-K) or J/(g-K). They were chosen for internal consistency within
EnergyPlus. An only positive value of specific heat is allowed.
Field: Absorptance:Thermal
The thermal absorptance field in the Material input syntax represents the fraction of incident
long wavelength radiation that is absorbed by the material. This parameter is used when
calculating the long wavelength radiant exchange between various surfaces and affects the
surface heat balances (both inside andoutside as appropriate). Values for this field must be
between 0.0 and 1.0 (with 1.0representing “black body” conditions).
Field: Absorptance:Solar
The solar absorptance field in the Material input syntax represents the fraction of incident
solar radiation that is absorbed by the material. Solar radiation includes the visible spectrum
as well as infrared and ultraviolet wavelengths. Values for this field must be between 0.0 and
1.0.
Field: Absorptance:Visible
The visible absorptance field in the Material input syntax represents the fraction of incident
visible wavelength radiation that is absorbed by the material. Visible wavelength radiation is
slightly different than solar radiation in that the visible band of wavelengths is much narrower
while solar radiation includes the visible spectrum as well as infrared and ultraviolet
wavelengths. Values for this field must be between 0.0 and 1.0.
12. Construction
For walls, roofs, floors, windows, and doors, constructions are “built” from the included
materials. Each layer of the construction is a material name listed in order from “outside” to
“inside”. Up to ten layers (eight for windows) may be specified. “Outside” is the layer
furthest away from the Zone airs (not necessarily the outside environment). “Inside” is the
layer next to the Zone air.
Click on
Construction
and add Obj
13. GlobalGeometryRules
EnergyPlus uses a three dimensional (3D) Cartesian coordinate system for surface
vertexspecification. This Right Hand coordinate system has the X-axis pointing east, the Y-
axispointing north, and the Z-axis pointing up.
Click on
GlobalGeometryRules
and add new Obj
14. Zone
Now we start with a new group - Thermal Zone Description/Geometry. Without thermal
zones and surfaces, the building can’t be simulated. This group of objects (Zone, Surface)
describes the thermal zone characteristics as well as the details of each surface to be modeled.
Included here are shading surfaces.
This element sets up the parameters to simulate each thermal zone of the building.
Field: North Axis
The Zone North Axis is specified relative to the Building North Axis. This value is specified
in degrees (clockwise is positive).
The X,Y,Z coordinates of a zone origin can be specified, for convenience in vertices entry.
Depending on the values in “SurfaceGeometry”, these will be used to completely specify the
building coordinates in “world coordinate” or not. Zone Origin coordinates are specified
relative to the Building Origin (which always 0,0,0).
Zone ceiling height is used in several areas within EnergyPlus. Energyplus automatically
calculates the zone ceiling height (m) from the average height of the zone. If this field is 0.0
or negative, then the calculated zone ceiling height will be used in subsequent calculations. If
this field is positive, then the calculated zone ceiling height will not be used -- the number
entered here will be used as the zone ceiling height. If this number differs significantly from
the calculated ceiling height, then a warning message will be issued. Note that the Zone
Ceiling Height is the distance from the Floor to the Ceiling in the Zone, not an absolute
height from the ground.
15. Wall:Exterior
The Wall:Exterior object is used to describe walls that are exposed to the
externalenvironment. They receive sun, wind – all the characteristics of the external world.
Field: Name
This is a unique name associated with the exterior wall. It is used in several other places as
areference (e.g. as the base surface name for a Window or Door).
Field: Construction Name
This is the name of the construction (ref: Construction) used in the surface.
Field: Zone Name
This is the zone name to which the surface belongs.
Field: Azimuth Angle
The Azimuth Angle indicates the direction that the wall faces (outward normal). The angle
isspecified in degrees where East=90, South=180, West=270, North=0.
Field: Tilt Angle
The tilt angle is the angle (in degrees) that the wall is tilted from horizontal (or the ground).
Normally, walls are tilted 90 degrees and that is the default for this field.
Starting Corner for the surface
The rectangular surfaces specify the lower left corner of the surface for their
startingcoordinate. This is specified with (x,y,z) and can be relative to the zone origin or in
worldcoordinates, depending on the value for rectangular surfaces specified in
theGlobalGeometryRules object.
Field: Starting X Coordinate
This field is the X coordinate (in meters).
Field: Starting Y Coordinate
Click on Wall:
Exterior and add four
Objects
16. Roof
The Roof object is used to describe roofs that are exposed to the external environment.
Field: Name
This is a unique name associated with the roof.
Field: Construction Name
This is the name of the construction (ref: Construction) used in the surface. Regardless
oflocation in the building, the “full” construction (all layers) is used.
Field: Zone Name
This is the zone name to which the surface belongs.
Field: Azimuth Angle
The Azimuth Angle indicates the direction of the outward normal for the roof. The angle
isspecified in degrees where East=90, South=180, West=270, North=0.
17. Floor:Adiabatic
The Floor:Adiabatic object is used to describe interior floors or floors that you wish to
modelwith no heat transfer from the exterior to the floor.
Field: Name
This is the name of the construction (ref: Construction) used in the surface.
The Azimuth Angle indicates the direction of the outward normal for the roof. The angle
isspecified in degrees where East=90, South=180, West=270, North=0.
The tilt angle is the angle (in degrees) that the wall is tilted from horizontal (or the ground).
Flat floors are tilted 180 degrees and that is the default for this field.
The rectangular surfaces specify the lower left corner of the surface for their
startingcoordinate. This is specified with (x,y,z) and can be relative to the zone origin or in
worldcoordinates, depending on the value for rectangular surfaces specified in
theGlobalGeometryRules object.
Field: Length
Field: Width
basic values (timestep, hourly, etc). Values are resolved at the Zone Time Step frequency and
carry through any HVAC time steps.
Information from the EnergyPlus Input Output Reference:
ScheduleType
A “schedule type” can be used to validate portions of the other schedules. DaySchedules, for
example, are validated by range -- minimum/maximum (if entered) -- as well as numeric type
(continuous or discrete). Schedules, on the other hand, are only validated for range – as the
numeric type validation has already been done.
Field: ScheduleType Name
This alpha field should contain a unique (within the schedule types) designator. It is
referenced wherever “ScheduleTypes” can be referenced.
Field: range
Since schedule values, in their base descriptions, are all numeric, this field will represent the
min and max range for the values. If this field is left blank, then the schedule type is not
limited to a minimum/maximum value range.
Field: Numeric Type
This field designates how the range values are validated. Using CONTINUOUS in this field
allows for all numbers, including fractional amounts, within the range to be valid. Using
DISCRETE in this field allows only integer values between the minimum and maximum
range values to be valid.
are not set, they cannot really be described in the usual Field # manner. Thus, the
followingdescription will list the fields and order in which they must be used in the object.
Field: Name
This field should contain a unique (within all Schedules) designation for this schedule. It is
referenced by various “scheduled” items (e.g. Lights, People, Infiltration) to define the
appropriate schedule values.
Field: ScheduleType
This field contains a reference to the ScheduleType. If found in a list of ScheduleTypes (see
above), then the restrictions on the ScheduleType could be used to validate the referenced
WeekSchedule (which reference DaySchedule) hourly field values. Field-Set (Through, For,
Interpolate, Until, Value) each compact schedule must contain the elements Through (date),
For (days), Interpolate (optional), Until (time of day) and Value. In general, each of the
“titled” fields must include the “title”.
Field: Through
This field starts with “Through:” and contains the ending date for the schedule period (may
be more than one). Date Field Interpretation for information on date entry – note that only
Month-Day combinations are allowed for this field. Each “through” field generates a new
WeekSchedule named “Schedule Name”_wk_# where # is the sequential number for this
compact schedule.
Field: For
This field starts with “For:” and contains the applicable days (reference the compact week
schedule object above for complete description) for the 24 hour period that must be
described. Each “for” field generates a new DaySchedule named “Schedule Name”_dy_#
where # is the sequential number for this compact schedule.
Field: Until
This field contains the ending time (again, reference the interval day schedule discussion
above) for the current days and day schedule being defined.
Field: Value
Finally, the value field is the schedule value for the specified time interval.
21. HVACTemplateZone:IdealLoadsAirSystem
The simplest piece of zone equipment is the ZoneHVAC:IdealLoadsAirSystem
component.ZoneHVAC: Ideal LoadsAirSystem is used in situations where the user wishes to
study theperformance of a building without modelling a full HVAC system. In such a case,
the IdealLoadsAir System is usually the sole conditioning component: the user does not need
tospecify air loops, water loops, etc. All that is needed for the ideal system are zone
controls,zone equipment configurations, and the ideal loads system component.
This component can be operated with infinite or finite heating and cooling capacity. For
either mode – infinite or limited capacity – the user can also specify on/off schedules for
heating and cooling and outdoor air controls. There are also optional controls for
dehumidification, humidification, economizer, and heat recovery. This component may be
used in combination with other HVAC equipment serving the same zone.
This component can be thought of as an ideal unit that mixes air at the zone exhaust condition
with the specified amount of outdoor air and then adds or removes heat and moisture at 100%
efficiency in order to produce a supply air stream at the specified conditions. The energy
required to condition the supply air is metered and reported asDistrictHeating and
DistrictCooling.
Select AllSummary
from Dropdown list
23. OutputControl:Table:Style
The OutputControl:Table:Style object controls how all standardized reports are
produced.There are seven different option available for output table style such that Comma,
Tab Fixed,HTML,CommaAndHTML,TabAndHTML, All.
The Comma style produces a text file (eplustbl.csv) with the values of the table separated
bycommas. This is a good format for importing the results into a spreadsheet. If you do
openthe file with a spreadsheet, make sure you close the file prior to rerunning
EnergyPlusotherwise the file will not be updated.
The HTML style produces a file (eplustbl.htm) that can be opened with an internet
browserprogram. The values are shown in a tabular format that is easy to view. One
advantage of theHTML style is that the results can be viewed in an internet browser program
and EnergyPluscan be rerun and the “refresh” button pressed in the internet browser program
to see the newresults.
Now Save this file to correct path and you have finished creating the input file
for Tutorial: 1.It is time to run the simulation.
Click on EP-Launch
Select
weather
file for
simulation
The drawing should look like as shown in the figure below. If it does not match there is some error in
the data given for surfaces.
Step 2: Press OK
Step 1: Check for warning
and errors
Click on HTML
to view results
You should get the same numbers as shown in above figure. If you are getting the
same numbers, congratulations, you have successfully completed the getting started tutorial.
Write us for comments or feedback at energyplustutorials@gmail.com