Energyplus co-simulation - sizing results different
I am running a co-simulation with Energyplus (v8.5) and Python using the PyEp package (https://pyep.readthedocs.io/en/latest/). The energyplus model is based of the DOE 'Large Office' archetype model (https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings...).
I want to validate the performance of the co-simulation by comparing the results with the reference file run straight from energyplus. For this example, I am changing the following setpoints such that they follow the original schedule of the reference file:
- CLGSETP_SCH
- CW-Loop-Temp Sched
- BLD_LIGHT_SCH
Upon running both simulations and comparing results, I find that the results of the sizing are different, e.g. the component sizing results.
Based on this, I suspected that the sizing is being run differently in the co-simulation from the reference simulation. One reason I can see for this is that the zone temperature setpoints for the winter design day and summer design day in the schedules is missing (as the "Schedule:Compact" object needs to be deleted in place of the "ExternalInterface:Schedule" object). This point was actually also mentioned in the following unmethours post (although without a solution): https://unmethours.com/question/25753...
So my question is how the zone temperature setpoint (which is one of my manipulated/control variables) information for the design winter and summer days can be fed to the co-simulation?
I did find the following in the External Interfaces Application Guide (https://energyplus.net/sites/default/...):
"For the objects ExternalInterface:Schedule and ExternalInterface:Variable, the field “initial value” is required, and its value will be used during the warm-up period and the system-sizing".
So how do I get around the fact that the schedule value changes between hours and between the winter and summer design day?