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Solar study for simple building

asked 2017-10-11 02:32:26 -0500

efish2000's avatar

updated 2018-04-17 19:09:11 -0500

hi. trying to set up a simple solar study to view glazing and orientation implications for a simple chapel building of which there is no DOE base building type. So far our model does not appear to be very sensitive to these inputs. Is there a way to reduce the space type and schedule influences, to just show how the building is responding to solar ordination and different glazing options? thx. new to oepnstudio.

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answered 2017-10-11 12:49:44 -0500

I suspect that the easier method would be to isolate the output variables that give you this information. These output variables will provide the amount of solar radiation transmitted through the window, which is added as heat to your building zone.

Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Transmitted Solar Radiation Rate,hourly; !- Zone Average [W]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Exterior Windows Total Transmitted Beam Solar Radiation Rate,hourly; !- Zone Average [W]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Exterior Windows Total Transmitted Diffuse Solar Radiation Rate,hourly; !- Zone Average [W]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Heat Gain Rate,hourly; !- Zone Average [W]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Heat Loss Rate,hourly; !- Zone Average [W]

or in terms of energy

Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Transmitted Solar Radiation Energy,hourly; !- Zone Sum [J]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Exterior Windows Total Transmitted Beam Solar Radiation Energy,hourly; !- Zone Sum [J]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Exterior Windows Total Transmitted Diffuse Solar Radiation Energy,hourly; !- Zone Sum [J]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Heat Gain Energy,hourly; !- Zone Sum [J]
Output:Variable,*,Zone Windows Total Heat Loss Energy,hourly; !- Zone Sum [J]

To observe the amount of solar radiation incident on an outside, sun-exposed, building surface, you can use the variables:

Output:Variable,*,Surface Outside Face Incident Solar Radiation Rate per Area,hourly; !- Zone Average [W/m2]
Output:Variable,*,Surface Outside Face Incident Beam Solar Radiation Rate per Area,hourly; !- Zone Average [W/m2]
Output:Variable,*,Surface Outside Face Incident Sky Diffuse Solar Radiation Rate per Area,hourly; !- Zone Average [W/m2]
 Output:Variable,*,Surface Outside Face Incident Ground Diffuse Solar Radiation Rate per Area,hourly; !- Zone Average [W/m2]

All these variables an more can be found in the EnergyPlus output file with the extension *.rdd.

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brilliant! thx for your help. there seems to be some issue with viewing the output variables on a mac OS 2.3.0 but I will ask on a separate thread.

efish2000's avatar efish2000  ( 2017-10-11 18:33:17 -0500 )edit

The OS GUI has limited assess to output variables. If you would like to add custom variables that are a part of the *.rdd file, you can use the Add output variable measure in OS for each variable you want. To add the measure, click on Comonents & Measure > Find Measuresthe Online BCL menu should popup. If you don't have an account you can setup up one here https://bcl.nrel.gov/. From the Online BCL menu, click on Reporting > QAQC > Add output variable. Click the checkbox and download. In OS, go to the measures tab (left) and add the measure (right) to the OpenStudio measures (middle).

JustinShultz's avatar JustinShultz  ( 2017-10-12 12:32:47 -0500 )edit

Thx! It took a while but i got it. I added the output variable measure for each variable that i wanted but then added the ViewData measure calling up the same variable. Might be an easier way but this works great!

efish2000's avatar efish2000  ( 2017-10-15 22:35:59 -0500 )edit

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Asked: 2017-10-11 02:32:26 -0500

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Last updated: Oct 11 '17