Revision history [back]

Textbook: The design textbook that was taught in my HVAC class was "Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Analysis and Design" by McQuiston and Parker. It explains in detail the basics of HVAC system design, psychometrics, ventilation and load calculations.

Tutorials: I would start with the basics on the OpenStudio website: http://nrel.github.io/OpenStudio-user-documentation/tutorials/creating_your_model/#air-plant-and-zone-hvac-systems.

Once you've reviewed that, David Goldwassers tutorials on youtube are very detailed in setting up some basic HVAC systems and supply/return plenums:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLnZaNoRX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_u3WT2tX1Y&list=PLPk2tlcZM0gx_tG0fQ7oFkUCc2tngpE6l&index=2

For more advanced HVAC systems (radiant, chilled beams, dedicated outside ais systems (DOAS)) the way I've learned how to the build them in OpenStudio is to apply a Ruby measure such as 'Replace HVAC with WSHP and DOAS', then running the model. If the model runs successfully, then I examine the HVAC systems tab and evaluate how the measure has set up that specific type of system. This should get you started on the general work flow of a variety of HVAC systems.

I learned (and am still learning) HVAC systems on OpenStudio first, then on EnergyPlus. Although OpenStudio greatly simplifies setting up the HVAC system, it can be a bit confusing if you are unsure what to make of some of the objects that appear to have no use as 'nodes'. This make a lot more sense when you learn how EnergyPlus models the systems.

For EnergyPlus, I would recommend opening the .idf file from a successful OpenStudio run (under folder 'run/#-EnergyPlusPreProcess) in the idf editor and examining the HVAC design objects. I like to resave the 'preprocess' idf file in the idf editor with 'Save options > Sorted, so that I can then open the idf file directly and review how the components are connected together.

Hopefully this helps.

Textbook: The design textbook that was taught in my HVAC class was "Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Analysis and Design" by McQuiston and Parker. It explains in detail the basics of HVAC system design, psychometrics, ventilation and load calculations.

Tutorials: I would start with the basics on the OpenStudio website: http://nrel.github.io/OpenStudio-user-documentation/tutorials/creating_your_model/#air-plant-and-zone-hvac-systems.

Once you've reviewed that, David Goldwassers tutorials on youtube are very detailed in setting up some basic HVAC systems and supply/return plenums:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLnZaNoRX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_u3WT2tX1Y&list=PLPk2tlcZM0gx_tG0fQ7oFkUCc2tngpE6l&index=2

For more advanced HVAC systems (radiant, chilled beams, dedicated outside ais systems (DOAS)) the way I've learned how to the build them in OpenStudio is to apply a Ruby measure such as 'Replace HVAC with WSHP and DOAS', then running the model. If the model runs successfully, then I examine the HVAC systems tab and evaluate how the measure has set up that specific type of system. This should get you started on the general work flow of a variety of HVAC systems.

I learned (and am still learning) HVAC systems on OpenStudio first, then on EnergyPlus. Although OpenStudio greatly simplifies setting up the HVAC system, it can be a bit confusing if you are unsure what to make of some of the objects that appear to have no use as 'nodes'. This make a lot more sense when you learn how EnergyPlus models the systems.

For EnergyPlus, I would recommend opening the .idf file from a successful OpenStudio run (under folder 'run/#-EnergyPlusPreProcess) in the idf editor and examining the HVAC design objects. I like to resave the 'preprocess' idf file in the idf editor with 'Save options > Sorted, Sorted', so that I can then open the idf file directly and review how the components are connected together.

Hopefully this helps.

Textbook: The design textbook that was taught in my HVAC class was "Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Analysis and Design" by McQuiston and Parker. It explains in detail the basics of HVAC system design, psychometrics, ventilation and load calculations.

Tutorials: I would start with the basics on the OpenStudio website: http://nrel.github.io/OpenStudio-user-documentation/tutorials/creating_your_model/#air-plant-and-zone-hvac-systems.

Once you've reviewed that, David Goldwassers tutorials on youtube are very detailed in setting up some basic HVAC systems and supply/return plenums:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLnZaNoRX0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_u3WT2tX1Y&list=PLPk2tlcZM0gx_tG0fQ7oFkUCc2tngpE6l&index=2

For more advanced HVAC systems (radiant, chilled beams, dedicated outside ais air systems (DOAS)) the way I've learned how to the build them in OpenStudio is to apply a Ruby measure such as 'Replace HVAC with WSHP and DOAS', then running the model. If the model runs successfully, then I examine the HVAC systems tab and evaluate how the measure has set up that specific type of system. This should get you started on the general work flow of a variety of HVAC systems.

I learned (and am still learning) HVAC systems on OpenStudio first, then on EnergyPlus. Although OpenStudio greatly simplifies setting up the HVAC system, it can be a bit confusing if you are unsure what to make of some of the objects that appear to have no use use, such as 'nodes'. This make a lot more sense when you learn how EnergyPlus models the systems.

For EnergyPlus, I would recommend opening the .idf file from a successful OpenStudio run (under folder 'run/#-EnergyPlusPreProcess) in the idf editor and examining the HVAC design objects. I like to resave the 'preprocess' idf file in the idf editor with 'Save options > Sorted', so that I can then open the idf file directly and review how the components are connected together.

Hopefully this helps.