Is there a software other than openstudio plugin to edit HVAC in ASHRAE 90.1 prototype models?

asked 2016-05-13 14:07:33 -0600

nu energy
163 ●6

updated 2017-05-06 08:35:26 -0600

Is there a software other than openstudio plugin to edit HVAC in ASHRAE 90.1 prototype models? https://www.energycodes.gov/developme...

What I'm told is that openstudio doesn't import HVAC and that i need the legacy openstudio plugin to be able to view HVAC, IDF editor is needed if I want to edit HVAC parameters. Isn't there a user interface software like designbuilder that helps work with models and make some changes through a user interface that is simple to use.

thanks,

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answered 2016-05-15 15:57:53 -0600

Dave
1627 ●16 ●4

DesignBuilder has included the ASHRAE 90.1 baseline systems in our HVAC library for some time, and now has an automated baseline building generation system that includes HVAC system generation as part of our new LEED module. I demonstrated this to the folks at our training in Colorado last week who were genuinely impressed. We'll be running webinars in the coming months to show this new functionality in more detail. You can sign up for our free beta testing program and access this functionality via our beta software downloads page.

You can't currently import .idf files directly into DesignBuilder, although we are working on it and hope to have that capability later this year. The best way to import a .idf file right now is to export it as a gbXML file from Open Studio (or Sketchup or any other tool with that ability) and then import it into DesignBuilder. Although the amount of HVAC data is limited in gbXML files, it is very quick to set up proposed and baseline EnergyPlus HVAC systems in DesignBuilder.

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answered 2016-05-21 14:25:43 -0600

nu energy
163 ●6

So I gather that whether I use openstudio, openstudio plugin, DesignBuilder or EDS TAS I will have to re-create the HVAC systems, this is what I'm trying to avoid doing unless there is really no other way. I wanted to continue the work from where PNNL left off. PNNL created all these models already, include HVAC, and DOE posted the IDF files online so that we can work with them, are there supposed to be files for these models other than the IDF files that could've solved this if they were posted on DOE website along with the IDF files? or is the intention of posting the IDF files is viewing only and not really getting full access to PNNL models to work with them? A Again.. I'm still hoping to find a way to access the models and make some adjustments to them without having to redo HVAC all over again.

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1

The problem is not one of intent. The models are posted with the intent that you would be able to work with them and modify them. The problem is that EnergyPlus HVAC model is difficult to work with and that most (all?) vendors have chosen to work with a different model and then translate to EnergyPlus for simulation purposes. When models have different abstraction levels, translation is usually easy only in the high-level to low-level direction. And so vendors don't implement reverse translation from EnergyPlus because it is both hard and not generally useful. Continuing ...

__AmirRoth__ ( 2016-05-21 14:52:29 -0600 )edit

2

This is only a problem for models that are distributed in IDF format, but unfortunately the prototype/reference buildings are an example of such models. The good news is that these buildings are now available in OpenStudio format. Future models will be developed in OpenStudio and available in both OpenStudio (OSM) and EnergyPlus (IDF) formats.

__AmirRoth__ ( 2016-05-21 14:58:15 -0600 )edit

so when PNNL created the files, they did so with energyplus not open studio or any other user interface and this is what they posted the files in IDF format. Good to know that they will be developing future models with openstudio, but I didn't understand if the results of that work is already being posted in OSM format under the OpenStudio format link you shared, I couldn't find the equivalent to the IDF files there, so for example if im looking for the OSM file for the Hospital Prototype of climate zone 2 , I wouldn't find it

nu energy ( 2016-05-21 15:38:29 -0600 )edit

2

You will not find any models in OpenStudio-standards, what you will find are OpenStudio measures that will generate whichever model you want. Unfortunately, I think Hospital is the one prototype that is missing but I think it will be added soon.

__AmirRoth__ ( 2016-05-21 17:42:44 -0600 )edit

2

Hospital will be added as an option in the prototype measure in the next few weeks. The folks at ORNL are finishing this work up now, and testing the OSM-produced IDF against the original PNNL IDF.

ljbrackney ( 2016-05-21 20:04:17 -0600 )edit

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answered 2016-05-13 15:55:46 -0600

__AmirRoth__

4446 ●5 ●17 http://bleedinggreenna...

updated 2017-05-06 08:36:06 -0600

You can develop and edit HVAC systems in OpenStudio and there are templates for setting up most of the standard ASHRAE systems and scripts for generating prototype buildings. What you can't do is read the HVAC system from an EnergyPlus model that you created outside of OpenStudio.

[Updated per Eric's comment]

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I think that second 'can' should be a 'can't'?

ericringold ( 2016-05-13 18:15:39 -0600 )edit

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answered 2016-05-17 18:30:14 -0600

MSawford

121 ●4 http://www.edsltas.com/

updated 2018-10-09 08:58:54 -0600

EDSL Tas has the ability to import IDF files (and gbXML files, DOE2 INP files,...) for geometry, building fabric, and internal gains/schedules. Tas also has an ASHRAE 90.1 Studio which automatically generates the baseline buildings and baseline building HVAC systems with post sizing efficiency tools to automate the majority of the process.

The 90.1 Studio in Tas has the 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016 90.1 HVAC systems. The baseline building lighting and HVAC systems creation is fully automated as well. Once created all the systems are editable if needed, however this should not be the case for the Baseline buildings systems. www.edsltas.com

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answered 2018-10-09 11:25:33 -0600

mdahlhausen

9499 ●19 ●11 http://openstudio.net/

openstudio-standards is a ruby gem bundled with OpenStudio that is made to create the DOE prototype buildings systematically, including HVAC. It is continually updated to improve and fix errors in the original prototypes.

You can make the DOE prototypes with the Create DOE Prototype building measure, and use this measure in the OpenStudio Parametric Analysis Tool to make multiple prototypes. You can also edit the HVAC systems in the OpenStudio App.