[Equest-users] Is there a Way to Convert eQuest output files to EnergyPlus input files and vice-versa?

[CleanTech Analytics]

  Below is what my research uncovered on the subject (boo)


Joe,
I like to use eQeust and Energy plus for all projects so that I can cross
reference the results. This means doing the same thing twice, and not
necessarily the exact same way. I am wondering if I could use drawbdl to
export my eQUEST geometry to energy plus 6 or 7 without compromising the
geometry file?

If so I am wondering how to get the drawbdl program?

Thanks
      Joe Huang ✆ YJHuang at whiteboxtechnologies.com
 Jan 22
   to me
 Jeremiah,

DrawBDL reads DOE-2.1E, not eQUEST/DOE-2.2, and can export the building
geometry data to an EnergyPlus IDF.  I've also developed 4 years ago a
modified version of DOE-2.1E that exports a full EnergyPlus IDF file.
Unfortunately, EnergyPlus IDF language has changed over time, so that I
must either update the program (doe2ep) and find some other way to upgrade
from EP 3.1 to 6 or 7 (I
don't really keep up with EnergyPlus, so I'm not sure)

 Because I've been getting more requests for translating from
eQUEST/DOE-2.2 to EnergyPlus, for an interim solution I have been working
on a  procedure to modify DOE-2.2 to DOE-2.1E input, that then can be fed
through either DrawBDL (outputs building geometry only) or doe2ep (full
*.inp to *.IDF). I've gotten that procedure (a series of awk and sed
scripts) to work on one test (but very complicated) eQUEST/DOE-2.2 input
file, but in the course of doing this I uncovered some bugs in the
translation to IDF in both programs (DrawBDL and doe2ep). Furthermore, I
doubt
that my 2.2 to 2.1E procedure works in all cases.

Therefore, I don't want to sell DrawBDL explicitly for that purpose, i.e.,
translating 2.2 to Energy IDF, nor do I want to release doe2ep at this
time.  However, I have
thought of providing an eQUEST to EnergyPlus translation as a service until
I get
all the bugs worked out on my programs. What I could do is have you send me
your eQUEST input file which I then test out using the programs and methods
just mentioned, and then give you an estimate of the time and cost for
translating it
to EnergyPlus. Depending on the complexity of your files, it could be very
easy
or it could be very time-consuming to translate.

By the way, I've been selling DrawBDL  for $125 ever since I introduced it
in 1993 (see www.drawbdl.com for details),while I intend to make doe2ep as
open source software once it's done and been updated.

Joe

On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 9:40 AM, CleanTech Analytics <
jeremiah at cleantechanalytics.com> wrote:

> Wouldn't that be nice..
>
> I may be able to have it coded up, but would need funding.
>
> On Fri, Mar 2, 2012 at 9:29 AM, Kathryn Kerns <
> kathryn.kerns at bceengineers.com> wrote:
>
>>  Everyone, it occurs to me that we all could have the best of both
>> worlds if we could start our projects in eQuest, move them over to
>> EnergyPlus if we have complicated HVAC features, and then maybe move the
>> EnergyPlus results back into eQuest for print-out and examination? Now that
>> I think about it, only the first part probably needs to happen if
>> EnergyPlus has energy consumption graphic outputs similar to eQuest? Has
>> anybody ever tried this? It seems a simple solution so I am sure there is
>> something wrong with it.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *Kathryn Kerns*****
>>
>> *Systems Specialist*****
>>
>> *BCE** Engineers, Inc.*
>>
>> *| Ph: 253.922.0446 | Fx: 253.922.0896 |* ****
>>
>>  ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
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>
>
> --
> *Jeremiah D. Crossett*
> *CleanTech Analytics*
> *503-688-8951*
> *www.cleantechanalytics.com* <http://www.cleantechanalytics.com>
>
>
> *
>
> This document may contain valuable information proprietary to CleanTech
> Analytics which is private and confidential. It may not be shared, copied,
> stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of
> CleanTech Analytics
> *
>
>


-- 
*Jeremiah D. Crossett*
*CleanTech Analytics*
*503-688-8951*
*www.cleantechanalytics.com* <http://www.cleantechanalytics.com>


*

This document may contain valuable information proprietary to CleanTech
Analytics which is private and confidential. It may not be shared, copied,
stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of
CleanTech Analytics
*
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