[EnergyPlus_Support] Re: newbie just starting any advice where to start, (tutorial?)

["Kristin Field" <fieldkm@xxxxxxxxx>]

I was not that long ago an EnergyPlus newbie myself, so I have some
anecdotal advice from my own experience.  Other people may have better
suggestions, but here's what I've found (sorry the email ended up
being long):

*I like using the IDF Editor because it shows you all the possible
fields to enter for each object and also organizes them to help
prevent you from forgetting to enter something.  Also, the conversion
to English units is nice for us silly Americans (View menu).

*The example files are extremely helpful.  Several of the scenarios
you would want to model are already covered in example files.  I use
these to compare against my own models to see if I connected nodes in
a similar way, to check my assumptions, etc.  If you're lucky, your
model will be similar enough (same #zones, etc.) that you could even
copy and paste the example file and not worry about setting up all the
nodes yourself.  Of course, don't blindly do this, but it could be
convenient for setting up the structure consistently.  These files are
in an "Example Files" folder in your EnergyPlus installation folder.

*There's no getting around the fact that entering in the geometry is
time-consuming and an easy way to make a mistake.  You could download
a free one-month trial version of DesignBuilder software (or buy it)
that gives a GUI to help with this, but if your geometry is
straightforward enough, I find it easier to just enter it in myself. 
  Remember that when you enter the vertices for a surface, always do
so as if you were looking at it from the OUTSIDE of the zone it's
enclosing.  This can be especially easy to forget when you're entering
in a floor - the outside is as if you were lying on the ground
underneath the building and looking up at the floor.

*Compact HVAC objects are a wonderful thing if your system type
matches one of them.  They create all the necessary components and
connections for you.

*It may seem intimidating, but do not fear the documentation.  It is
broken up into smaller parts so that you don't have to read the whole
thing to understand how one object works.  Anytime I'm creating an EP
model, I usually have the Input/Output Reference and Engineering
Reference files open and refer to them often.

*The datasets (in Data Sets folder) can make creating your input files
go a little more quickly.  There are commonly used constructions,
material types, glass types, window types, and design day conditions
already listed in EP code for you.  Cut and paste what you want into
your file.  Any cutting and pasting has to be done in text editing
mode (not IDF Editor), to my knowledge.

*The ground heat transfer modeling is done using an auxiliary program
that generates ground temperatures for you.  Once these (monthly)
temp's are given, the program then assumes your floor surfaces are
exchanging heat through conduction with another surface of those
temperatures, as if it were a wall whose other side was a room that
was at ground temperature (and had no convection or radiation).  It is
explained in the Auxiliary Programs document.  This is a really
important component in most models, so don't forget it!!  It takes
into account perimeter insulation, slab insulation, slab depth,
weather, building height, indoor temperatures, and several other
factors, so it's almost always better than entering in something
you've guessed or have been told to assume.

Once you have created one model successfully, the next ones go a lot
quicker.  The first one is by far the hardest.  Good luck!

Kristin Field

--- In EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "grossonomato"
<grossonomato@...> wrote:
>
> hi all i just started to try to use the program but i am having a hard
> time, i want to make load calculus for HVAC instalation on a building.
> I would apreciate if anyone has anything that can be usefull for me.
> I already did the calculus by hand but this program isn't very
> friendly user to learn just by trial an error.
> 
> Thanks
>




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