12-month load calculation in EnergyPlus
From a recent conversation on load sizing here:
"1. Trace700 usually will run all 12 cooling design months and so it may happen that a zone does not peak in same month as the summer design OADB and this may be due to a higher solar component in the off month. So I always recommend, whether running Trace or E+, to run all 12 months for cooling design."
This seems to be a common reason for differences in cooling design sizing between Trace and OpenStudio/EnergyPlus.
The solution is to add in 'SummerDesignDay' 'SizingPeriod:DesignDay' objects for each month. From what I can tell, most .ddy files packaged with the TMY3 datasets include 'SizingPeriod:DesignDay' objects for only 1 month for heating and 1 month for cooling.
12 month design day data are available
So it's possible to do a 12-month cooling design load calc by taking the 12-month data, finding the appropriate 'SizingPeriod:DesignDay' objects for the site, copying them over to the .ddy file, and then reimporting that into OpenStudio.
It's a bit tedious.
Does anyone know if there is a .ddy dataset available online that includes 12-month 'SizingPeriod:DesignDay' objects for TMY3 locations?
EDIT: http://ashrae-meteo.info/ is a website that shows a map of ASHRAE design day data. No .ddy capability, but still very useful.
I downloaded the 12 month design day from the link but it has the same days information than the .ddy file.
@obuchley, try this link: http://energyplus.helpserve.com/knowledgebase/article/View/130/47/design-conditions-definitions-monthly-all-regions-for-all-ashrae-2013-design-condition-locations