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Transitioning PNNL prototype IDF files to EnergyPlus 9.1.0?

asked 2019-05-03 15:05:57 -0600

mike765's avatar

updated 2019-05-06 18:52:18 -0600

PNNL apparently did quite a bit of work a little while back to generate a number of prototype building models for use in EnergyPlus (available here: https://www.energycodes.gov/developme...). Unfortunately, the IDF files are now a little out of date. I am trying to run a simulation using EnergyPlus 9.1.0 on a Windows machine and I am unable to transition these IDF files to version 9.1.0. The latest version that the Transition Utility tool lets me get to is 8.3 or 8.4.

Does anyone know: (1) how to transition an older IDF file to work with E+ version 9.1.0, or (2) where I might find newer prototype building files (IDF) that will work with E+ 9.1.0?

Thanks in advance.

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which set of files are you looking at? I have updated successfully some sets.

Luis Lara's avatar Luis Lara  ( 2019-05-03 17:09:53 -0600 )edit

This would be the 2012 IECC residential set for WA state, specifically some of the single-family homes.

mike765's avatar mike765  ( 2019-05-03 17:37:04 -0600 )edit

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answered 2019-05-03 18:47:29 -0600

kbk78's avatar

I see that version 9.1.0 has trouble transitioning some older version EnergyPlus Files. But the transition works fine with version 8.9. So, I use energyplus version 8.9 to transition files upto version 8.9 and then use 9.1 to transition from 8.9 to 9.1.

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If this doesn't work, try updating to 8.5 first. Then use the 9.1 updater to go from 8.5 to 9.1.

ericmartinpe's avatar ericmartinpe  ( 2019-05-06 16:05:13 -0600 )edit

Don't I need a transition file (such as "Transition-V5-0-to-V8-5-0") to do this? But I only see transition files that go up to V8.4 on the download website.

mike765's avatar mike765  ( 2019-05-07 13:35:06 -0600 )edit

Are you using the IDFVersionUpdater utility in EP-Launch v9.1? EnergyPlus 9.1 comes with Transition files from v7.2 all the way up to 9.1. What is the original version you are transitioning from? If it's older than v7.2 you may need additional transition files.

ericmartinpe's avatar ericmartinpe  ( 2019-05-07 14:34:17 -0600 )edit

I am indeed using the IDFVersionUpdater utility in EP-Launch v9.1, but it does not appear to have included any transition files (I am running the 64-bit version on Windows). Is there a way to download these transition files?

mike765's avatar mike765  ( 2019-05-07 14:57:34 -0600 )edit

Correction, it looks like they may be included but I must access them from the File menu in EP-Launch and not from the utility. I will try converting to 7.2 and then from 7.2 up to 9.1.

mike765's avatar mike765  ( 2019-05-07 15:01:40 -0600 )edit
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answered 2019-05-06 15:57:33 -0600

updated 2019-05-06 16:04:05 -0600

The openstudio-standards library is intended to create OpenStudio models of the DOE prototype buildings (non-residential). It is maintained by both PNNL and NREL. You can make prototype models using the Create DOE Prototype Building measure on BCL. See the background on the DOE Prototype buildings on the forum.

For residential buildings, I'm not aware of any updates to the models you've linked to. Depending on your application, you may want to use ResStock instead. Documentation here.

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Thanks for the info/clarification. This is good information.

mike765's avatar mike765  ( 2019-05-21 18:02:27 -0600 )edit

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Asked: 2019-05-03 15:05:57 -0600

Seen: 571 times

Last updated: May 06 '19