Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: System Outliner and HVAC Templates

The original objective of EPlus simulation was to reduce the use of unnecessary HVAC and to design energy saving buildings.

It is a waste of time and energy to introduce VAV with reheat, and other energy wasting buildings as preferred references in EPlus. Of course, in order to charge a fee, there must be a certificate produced for a building to claim the expenses.

EPlus has already went the wrong direction. More confusions mean more work and more fees. System Outliner and HVAC templates are restricting the scope of EPlus and will be creating more problems for new users in understanding the basic principle of energy conservation simulation and design.

HVAC template is a good teaching tool for generating a good useable IDF learning how to organize and name the nodes, etc. User should not expect to fine a template for every available sysem in use.

System Outliner with OSM is in the wrong direction also, because the ICON's are not in simple modular form. It is duplicting the function of templates in some way. It is not a true drag and drop OOP with system syntax verification.

I am glad that I now have a copy of the Fortran source code. No matter how the GUI evolves, I can have my own simple interface.

Dr. Li

To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
From: obrien_liam@xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 15:41:23 +0000
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: System Outliner and HVAC Templates

Thanks, Linda.

Noted. Hopefully NREL will keep up their excellent work on interfaces because I believe an HVAC interface is one of the remaining major hurdles to widespread adoption.

Liam

--- In EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Linda Lawrie <linda@...> wrote:
>
> Use caution. I note from the webpage:
>
> Recent developer builds of SystemOutliner have a limited ability to
> import idf files. Currently the zones and air loops are imported and
> connected, but many components are left behind. The import routine
> does not work on systems that use plenums. Zones attached to an air
> loop via plenums are not imported into SystemOutliner. The
> application also does not support dual duct air systems at this time.
>
> note too that OpenStudio (not the legacy sketchup plug in) has
> similar problems importing IDF files. The OpenStudio should be
> viewed as an "Alpha" version of software.
>
> Certainly any import of IDF files would probably do better with the
> expanded IDF that one gets from expandobjects unless the software can
> adapt to the HVACTemplate objects.
>
> At 08:28 AM 3/1/2012, Liam O'Brien wrote:
> >Has anyone tried using System Outline to view what HVAC Templates
> >has created? Based on preliminary attempts, it appears that SO
> >cannot read HVACTemplate objects. Perhaps it could read in the
> >equivalent Expanded IDF file? Thoughts? Experiences?
>