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Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] EnergyPlus suitability for use in my postgrad project


Oh, in case I wasn't clear:
I would use EnergyPlus directly.  Once you understand how to program it, you will be in good shape.  I think your models will be fairly simple, so I think it would be possible to hack it to make it do what you want.

On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 2:32 PM, Chien Si Harriman <<mailto:chien.harriman@xxxxxxxxx>chien.harriman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi,
> I think EnergyPlus is the best tool out there to do what you want.  I think you could probably create schedules as external files and link them to E+.  The documentation spells out a way to do this, I have tried it, and it works.  These external files are basically text files that are referenced in the E+ idf.
> I don't know exactly your application though, so I can't say certainly what you want.  I imagine you want to change the thermostat setpoint in some way that your algorithm predicts.  This should be possible.  E+ is programmer friendly because all you have to do is know how to write to a text file.  I am a programmer as well and I could help you figure out how to hack E+ to do what you want.
> Another area where E+ excels is running in the cloud.  You can choose several operating environments including Linux.  This is not straightforward but it can be done, though it does not happen "out of the box".  I don't know how much time you have to complete your research.  But within a week or two I am sure you can figure out how to do this with a computer science background.  
> Another challenge all energy modelers face is managing multiple simulations and pulling the results for viewing/analysis.  I have becoming familiarized with ways to analyze data coming from E+ with statistical packages like R, which makes it even more ideal for research.  All of this takes custom scripts and knowing how to set things up, but with a computer science background you will have no trouble, once you understand how it works.
> The most "computer science friendly" version of E+ that I know of is OpenStudio.  I have been starting to use it and it is quite amazing.  
> Feel free to ping me if you'd like to understand more.  I don't know of another energy modeling platform that has all of this flexibility, but it requires some work and research to get it all done.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 2:23 PM, Jim Dirkes <mailto:jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [EnergyPlus_Support] <<mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>  
>> Good thing James is a Computer Science graduate or heâ??d have his hands full.  Actually, heâ??ll still have his hands full!

>>  

>> James V Dirkes II, PE, BEMP, LEED AP
>> <http://www.buildingperformanceteam.com/>>> www.buildingperformanceteam.com
>> Energy Analysis, Commissioning & Training Services
>> 1631 Acacia Drive, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 USA
>> <tel:616%20450%208653>>> 616 450 8653

>>  

>> From: <mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:<mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
>> Sent: Monday, June 02, 2014 3:59 PM
>> To: <mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: [EnergyPlus_Support] EnergyPlus suitability for use in my postgrad project

>>  

>>  

>> Difficalt question. If I were to do this in e+, I would write my controls using the EMS objects. EnergyPlus is not so "external link" friendly, so I would keep it all within the energyplus environment.

>>  

>> Perhaps consider TrnSys. It's more for custom controls, hydronic heating and the building model (although not quite as amazing as e+) is good enough and really just a "latch on" object. If you have an Intel Fortran compiler, you could even tweek or write your own componants. In fact, I would go as far as to recommend it in your case. However, it also has quite a learning curve.

>>  

>> It's not free. :-(

>> Mit freundlichen Grü�en- Sent from my iPhone (excuse the brevity)

>>  

>> i. A.

>> Jean Marais

>> b.i.g. bechtold

>> Tel.   <tel:%2B49%2030%206706662-23>+49 30 6706662-23

>> 
>> On 01.06.2014, at 14:15, "<mailto:jamdroid09@xxxxxxxxx>jamdroid09@xxxxxxxxx [EnergyPlus_Support]" <<mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>>>  

>>> Hi,

>>>  

>>> I am a Computer Science post-graduate doing a project to investigate the potential energy savings of a smart thermostat that predicts occupancy in a home. Before I invest too much time learning EnergyPlus I wanted to check that this is the best tool to use for my needs.

>>>  

>>> Basically what I want the tool to do is build a simple model of a typical UK home using a hot water space heating system (e.g. a condensing boiler). I then need to use an API to link this model (specifically turning heating on/off command) to my own model (for home occupancy predication). My model will be based on several sensors around the home with a controller unit to detect when occupants are asleep / away etc. and regulate the heating accordingly.

>>>  

>>> The purpose of the model I will develop is to test occupancy prediction algorithm(s) against other thermostat types (e.g. programmable). There will be various metrics to test algorithm effectiveness so accuracy of the home model is not the upmost concern.

>>>  

>>> The above is a short summary of what I plan to do so my questions are:

>>> -Should I use EnergyPlus directly? I had a look at software using EnergyPlus at <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory>http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tools_directory, but after spending the best part of a day looking through the free tools I think I may be better off avoiding their extra layers of complexity.

>>> -Is there any software out there which is more appropriate or perhaps easier to learn in a short timescale?

>>> -Are there any simple home model examples that I can look at?

>>> Any other advice would be appreciated.

>>>  

>>> Thank you for your help,

>>> James

>>>  

>> 
>> 
> 




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 Posted by: Chien Si Harriman <chien.harriman@xxxxxxxxx>

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