Hisham and others,
As others have mentioned, it’s key to realize that EnergyPlus was designed with the calculation process in mind, not the user input. Definitely start with a template and then start modifying as Jeremiah suggests. Even this, however, is
not very straightforward to learn how to do.
For me, the most useful thing I did for learning how to modify existing HVAC systems was I took a big flip-chart piece of paper and created a very detailed map of all the HVAC components and their relevant inputs. The SVG file is a very
simple representation of the system that doesn’t tell you enough about the multiple objects that need to be modified to edit it.
My process was to start somewhere in the loop (at the cooling coil for instance), and map out the objects, trace the node name to the next object, then do a text search of the file to find every reference to that node name and to that object
name. Finally, you follow the referenced objects (i.e. the cooling coil references the curves that inform it and the schedule the tells its availability). If you put this all on a map, you’ll see that if you want to add a supplemental heating coil, for instance,
you’ll need to edit the node names of the objects before and after where you insert it, as well as editing some of the ‘container’ objects like the Branch. The search for the node names would reveal you also need to edit your relevant setpoint managers to
reflect these new node names (and add a new one to control the coil). It also reveals a few counter intuitive things like that most objects are “connected” by doing two things – using identical node names for inlet/outlet, as well as putting them on the container
‘branch’ object - but a few nodes aren’t. The Supply branch outlet node is connected virtually to the zone equipment inlet node using the AirLoopHVAC object.
Just going through the process of mapping one or two systems this way makes you much more comfortable understanding the logic behind the HVAC inputs, and you won’t need to do the full map anymore for future systems.
Neal
NEAL HUMPHREY | Senior
Associate | 919.449.6879 | nhumphrey@xxxxxxxx
ICF INTERNATIONAL | 9300
Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031 | icfi.com
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