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Solar Distribution: FullExterior vs FullInteriorAndExterior

Hello UnmetHours Community,

I have a building energy model with rounded corners. I have discretized the rounded corner into segments of wall and glass because EnergyPlus can do rounded walls. However, when I run the energy model I get a number of errors regarding the choice of the FullInteriorAndExterior component. I believe it is because light transmitted through a window is incident on the inside of another window. I have changed to FullExterior and receive no errors.

My question is, am I losing accuracy with regards to the amount of transmitted beam radiation?

The significant difference I understand from the Input/Output reference manual is that the FullExterior option forces all transmitted radiation to the floor. I would like to use some interior glass partitions at a later stage. Is it possible to use FullInteriorAndExterior or even a more accurate calculation for my complex geometry?

Thank you, Justin

Solar Distribution: FullExterior vs FullInteriorAndExterior

Hello UnmetHours Community,

I have a building energy model with rounded corners. I have discretized the rounded corner into segments of wall and glass because EnergyPlus can do rounded walls. However, when I run the energy model I get a number of errors regarding the choice of the FullInteriorAndExterior component. I believe it is because light transmitted through a window is incident on the inside of another window. I have changed to FullExterior and receive no errors.

My question is, am I losing accuracy with regards to the amount of transmitted beam radiation?

The significant difference I understand from the Input/Output reference manual is that the FullExterior option forces all transmitted radiation to the floor. I would like to use some interior glass partitions at a later stage. Is it possible to use FullInteriorAndExterior or even a more accurate calculation for my complex geometry?

Thank you, Justin

Solar Distribution: FullExterior vs FullInteriorAndExterior

Hello UnmetHours Community,

I have a building energy model with rounded corners. I have discretized the rounded corner into segments of wall and glass because EnergyPlus can do rounded walls. However, when I run the energy model I get a number of errors regarding the choice of the FullInteriorAndExterior component. I believe it is because light transmitted through a window is incident on the inside of another window. I have changed to FullExterior and receive no errors.

The error I receive is:
** Severe ** Problem in interior solar distribution calculation (CHKBKS) ** ~~~ ** Solar Distribution = FullInteriorExterior will not work in Zone=F1_GARDEN ** ~~~ ** because vertex 1 of back surface=474D26 is in front of receiving surface=CF2DF2 ** ~~~ ** (Dot Product indicator=5.8592) ** ~~~ ** Check surface geometry; if OK, use Solar Distribution = FullExterior instead. ** Severe ** Problem in interior solar distribution calculation (CHKBKS) ** ~~~ ** Solar Distribution = FullInteriorExterior will not work in Zone=F1_GARDEN ** ~~~ ** because vertex 2 of back surface=474D26 is in front of receiving surface=CF2DF2 ** ~~~ ** (Dot Product indicator=5.8592) ** ~~~ ** Check surface geometry; if OK, use Solar Distribution = FullExterior instead.

My question is, am I losing accuracy with regards to the amount of transmitted beam radiation? radiation when I select FullExterior instead of FullInteriorAndExterior?

The significant difference I understand from the Input/Output reference manual is that the FullExterior option forces all transmitted radiation to the floor. I would like to use some interior glass partitions at a later stage. Is it possible to use FullInteriorAndExterior or even a more accurate calculation for my complex geometry?

Thank you, Justin

Solar Distribution: FullExterior vs FullInteriorAndExterior

Hello UnmetHours Community,

I have a building energy model with rounded corners. I have discretized the rounded corner into segments of wall and glass because EnergyPlus can do rounded walls. However, when I run the energy model I get a number of errors regarding the choice of the FullInteriorAndExterior component. I believe it is because light transmitted through a window is incident on the inside of another window. I have changed to FullExterior and receive no errors.

The error I receive is:

 ** Severe  ** Problem in interior solar distribution calculation (CHKBKS)  
 **   ~~~   **    Solar Distribution = FullInteriorExterior will not work in Zone=F1_GARDEN  
 **   ~~~   **    because vertex 1 of back surface=474D26 is in front of receiving surface=CF2DF2  
 **   ~~~   **    (Dot Product indicator=5.8592)  
 **   ~~~   **    Check surface geometry; if OK, use Solar Distribution = FullExterior instead.  
 ** Severe  ** Problem in interior solar distribution calculation (CHKBKS)  
 **   ~~~   **    Solar Distribution = FullInteriorExterior will not work in Zone=F1_GARDEN  
 **   ~~~   **    because vertex 2 of back surface=474D26 is in front of receiving surface=CF2DF2  
 **   ~~~   **    (Dot Product indicator=5.8592)  
 **   ~~~   **    Check surface geometry; if OK, use Solar Distribution = FullExterior instead.  
instead.

My question is, am I losing accuracy with regards to the amount of transmitted beam radiation when I select FullExterior instead of FullInteriorAndExterior?

The significant difference I understand from the Input/Output reference manual is that the FullExterior option forces all transmitted radiation to the floor. I would like to use some interior glass partitions at a later stage. Is it possible to use FullInteriorAndExterior or even a more accurate calculation for my complex geometry?

Thank you, Justin