Finally got the EPlus plugin for sketchup to work. I guess you really can use it only for the geometric aspects of modeling. You still have to do some edits in the idf file if you want to change the construction or add equipment into your model. The plugin has a "getting started" manual visible in the plugins tab of sketchup. It teaches you how you can define zones and zone parameters. It doesn't tell you how the animation function works, so this is the next thing I will have to find out.
Showing posts with label Simulation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simulation. Show all posts
I began experimenting with the Energy Plus plugin for Google SketchUp. The concept of the tool is to use SketchUp to render a building model and launch a EPlus simulation from it. It is an excellent tool from the geometric aspect as you just have to click and drag shapes to make the structure. The problem is that the simulations don't work!!! Output CSV (Comma Separated Value) files don't come out. Why? It might be a problem of passing parameters or some issues in variable naming consistency. I guess I have to read the Input Output Reference of EPlus to find out. It looks like I'll be using the plugin to render the geometric aspect but I'll use the EPlus IDF (Input Data File) editor to work on the thermal and run parameter. As soon as I figure this out, I'll be saying something about it here. 'Til then....
I just finished doing the tutorial exercises for Energy Plus. It is an interesting application because you can simulate the cooling and heating performance of a building. You start out by creating partitions of the building you want to analyze. The software has values on construction materials taken from ASHRAE databases.
Thermal zones of model
The next step is to render sub elements like windows and doors. As soon as this done, energy plus can render it as a .dxf file.
Rendering windows and doors
You can then simulate building performance based on weather/climate data taken from WMO. You can also add HVAC, lighting or occupancy components to your model. After running your model, you can get a good estimate of your energy performance. The output would be something like this:
Site and Source Energy
| Total Energy (GJ) | Energy Per Total Building Area (MJ/m2) | Energy Per Conditioned Building Area (MJ/m2) | |
| Total Site Energy | 233.55 | 503.77 | 503.77 |
| Net Site Energy | 233.55 | 503.77 | 503.77 |
| Total Source Energy | 655.37 | 1413.66 | 1413.66 |
| Net Source Energy | 655.37 | 1413.66 | 1413.66 |
Building Area
| Area (m2) | |
| Total Building Area | 463.60 |
| Net Conditioned Building Area | 463.60 |
Resized picture of end use output
drawings taken from Energy Plus getting started guide
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