EnergyPlus Advanced: Complex Building Energy Simulation

Install SketchUp using the free desktop 2017 version for this course, configure si units in architectural design, and prepare the Euclid extension to connect SketchUp with EnergyPlus.

Install the Euclid open-source extension for SketchUp and enable it via the extension manager. Use the Euclid toolbars to prepare geometry for energy models in EnergyPlus.

Install the energyplus software by navigating to energyplus.net, downloading the latest release (for example 24.1.0), and running the Windows, Linux, or Mac installer with default settings.

Install Visual Studio Code as your text editor for EnergyPlus projects by downloading from the official site, choosing the appropriate OS, adding to PATH, and launching the editor.

Build EnergyPlus zone A geometry in SketchUp with Euclid, using a 6.5m by 6.5m base, 3m height, and windows 3m by 1m and 4m by 1m, then save as IDF.

Create zone b beside zone a as a five by ten by three meter box with doors and a seven by one meter window; set wall boundary conditions for EnergyPlus.

Save your geometry frequently while configuring boundary conditions, separating walls into outdoor and indoor surfaces, and attaching zones to prepare accurate energy model exports for EnergyPlus.

Browse and import SketchUp geometry into EnergyPlus, choose a weather file, and configure simulation parameters such as version, zone sizing, convection algorithms, and time step.

Set the site location to the Chicago EPW, select design days for the winter extreme and hottest summer, and define a run period from January 1 to December 31.

Explore ground temperature modeling with the kiva tool for energyplus simulations, including preparing input yaml, selecting weather files, and generating hourly output csv for analysis.

Learn to use the Kiva tool to model ground temperature, convert to Celsius, and input monthly averages in EnergyPlus to see how ground conditions influence building energy results.

Explore how to define and name thermal zones and surfaces, leverage SketchUp and Euclid for automatic geometry, and add insulation in interior walls to control heat transfer in energy simulations.

Learn to model infiltration in EnergyPlus with the flow coefficient method, defining flow coefficient, stack coefficient, pressure exponent, wind coefficient, shelter factors, and schedules for zone accuracy.

Learn to configure energy simulations by defining people, lights, and equipment for two zones (office and warehouse) using EnergyPlus schedules and parameters automatically filled from Euclid SketchUp.

Learn how zone ventilation differs from infiltration, and configure EnergyPlus vent schemes with schedules, flow-per-person or flow-per-area methods, and zone mixing effects on indoor air quality and cooling load.

Design an ideal loads air system in EnergyPlus to meet zone heating and cooling setpoints using schedules and auto-sized capacity.

Design a building HVAC system using EnergyPlus zone equipment, starting with Zone A baseboard heating and Zone A window air conditioner, with an outdoor air mixer, cooling coil, and fan.

design zone hvac equipment in energyplus by adding a baseboard heater and window air conditioner, reconfiguring to draw-through air, and defining mixer, coil, outdoor air, and equipment connections.

Explore the central plant system in EnergyPlus, linking supply and demand sides with boilers, pumps, splitters, and mixers, and define plant loops, nodes, and branches using the syntax map.

Define a central heating plant by replacing zone a and zone b electric baseboards with convective water heaters, set inlet/outlet nodes and autosize the design capacity, updating equipment lists.

Learn to model a hot water plant loop in EnergyPlus by defining the plant loop, supply and demand sides, and setpoint managers, using an example file and a text editor.

Define heating supply side branches on the plant loop, including inlet, bypass, central boiler, and outlet branches, then specify mixers, splitters, and connector lists for accurate energy simulation.

Define the demand side of the plant loop by mirroring the supply side: establish branch lists, connectors (splitter and mixer), baseboard zones, and a bypass for stable flow.

Diagnose and resolve EnergyPlus warnings, including interior wall construction order and setpoint manager configurations for boiler and hot water outlets, to ensure accurate results.