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Two different R-values for roof for a day?

asked 2016-07-24 19:55:44 -0500

siddharthpatil5's avatar

updated 2016-07-25 05:47:45 -0500

I am modelling a greenhouse and I need to give 2 different R-values for roofs. I have a roof with R2.6 during day and same with R4.6 during night. Can I do this in openstudio?

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answered 2016-07-25 03:55:57 -0500

If you want to be changing the properties of a construction during the simulation in EnergyPlus - the underlying engine used by OpenStudio - you need to use the Energy Management System (EMS).

This would be a pretty simple EMS program, using EnergyManagementSystem:ConstructionIndexVariable. The example 13 in the EMS Application Guide would be a very good starting point!

You need to define two constructions, "Roof-Day-R2.6" and "Roof-Night-4.6", then you define one EMS:ConstructionIndexVariable for each of these. You will need to add one EMS:Actuator for each surface where you want to change the 'Construction State' (if you have a lot of surfaces, you should leverage scripting in order to not go completely nuts).

Define an EMS:ProgramCallingManager: BeginTimestepBeforePredictor calling point would be fine for you.

Then an EMS:Program, where you would just do a simple IF based on Hour, something along the lines of:

EnergyManagementSystem:Program ,
Switch_Roof_Construction,
IF (Hour >= 8.0) && (Hour < 20.0) ,
   SET Roof_Surface1_Construct = Roof-Day-R2.6,
   SET Roof_Surface2_Construct = Roof-Day-R2.6,
ELSE,
   SET Roof_Surface1_Construct= Roof-Night-4.6,
   SET Roof_Surface2_Construct= Roof-Night-4.6,
ENDIF;

You would need to use an EnergyPlus Measure to inject (or create) the EMS code before simulation.

This might seem like a lot if you haven't touched EMS, nor EnergyPlus measures before, but it shouldn't be that hard.

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Thanks Julien, I am new to this EMS but still I will try once with this.

siddharthpatil5's avatar siddharthpatil5  ( 2016-07-27 23:39:15 -0500 )edit

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Asked: 2016-07-24 19:55:44 -0500

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Last updated: Jul 25 '16