Example Input Files[LINK]

The EnergyPlus install includes a sample of example input files. For the most part, the developers create these files to illustrate and test a specific feature in EnergyPlus. Then, we pass them along to you for illustrative purposes. The install contains two spreadsheet files related to the example files:

• ExampleFiles.xls - lists all the files available – whether through the install or through an external site.

• ExampleFiles-ObjectLink.xls - illustrates the first 3 occurances in the example files of an object.

Following convention, each example file should have at the top a set of comments that tell what the purpose of the file is and the key features.

For example, the file titled “5ZoneAirCooled.idf” has:

! 5ZoneAirCooled.idf
  ! Basic file description:  1 story building divided into 4 exterior and one interior conditioned zones and return plenum.
  !
  ! Highlights:              Electric chiller with air cooled condenser; autosized preheating and precooling water coils in the
  !                          outside air stream controlled to preheat and precool setpoints.
  !
  ! Simulation Location/Run: CHICAGO_IL_USA TMY2-94846, 2 design days, 2 run periods,
  !                          Run Control executes the run periods using the weather file
  !
  ! Location:                Chicago, IL
  !
  ! Design Days:             CHICAGO_IL_USA Annual Heating 99% Design Conditions DB, MaxDB = -17.3°C
  !                          CHICAGO_IL_USA Annual Cooling 1% Design Conditions, MaxDB =   31.5°C MCWB =   23.0°C
  !
  ! Run Period (Weather File): Winter 1/14, Summer 7/7, CHICAGO_IL_USA TMY2-94846
  !
  ! Run Control:             Zone and System sizing with weather file run control (no design days run)
  !
  ! Building: Single floor rectangular building 100 ft x 50 ft. 5 zones - 4 exterior, 1 interior, zone height 8 feet.
  !           Exterior zone depth is 12 feet. There is a 2 foot high return plenum: the overall building height is
  !           10 feet. There are windows on all 4 facades; the south and north facades have glass doors.
  !           The south facing glass is shaded by overhangs. The walls are woodshingle over plywood, R11 insulation,
  !           and gypboard. The roof is a gravel built up roof with R-3 mineral board insulation and plywood sheathing.
  !           The windows are of various single and double pane construction with 3mm and 6mm glass and either 6mm or
  !           13mm argon or air gap. The window to wall ratio is approxomately 0.29.
  !           The south wall and door have overhangs.
  !
  !           The building is oriented 30 degrees east of north.
  !


  ! Floor Area:        463.6 m2 (5000 ft2)
  ! Number of Stories: 1
  !
  ! Zone Description Details:
  !
  !      (0,15.2,0)                      (30.5,15.2,0)
  !           _____   ________                ____
  !         |\     ***        ****************   /|
  !         | \                                 / |
  !         |  \                 (26.8,11.6,0) /  |
  !         *   \_____________________________/   *
  !         *    |(3.7,11.6,0)               |    *
  !         *    |                           |    *
  !         *    |                           |    *
  !         *    |               (26.8,3.7,0)|    *
  !         *    |___________________________|    *
  !         *   / (3.7,3.7,0)                 \   *
  !         |  /                               \  |
  !         | /                                 \ |
  !         |/___******************___***________\|
  !          |       Overhang        |   |
  !          |_______________________|   |   window/door = *
  !                                  |___|
  !
  !      (0,0,0)                            (30.5,0,0)
  !
  ! Internal gains description:     lighting is 1.5 watts/ft2, office equip is 1.0 watts/ft2. There is 1 occupant
  !                                 per 100 ft2 of floor area. The infiltration is 0.25 air changes per hour.
  !
  ! Interzone Surfaces:             6 interzone surfaces (see diagram)
  ! Internal Mass:                  None
  ! People:                         50
  ! Lights:                         7500 W
  ! Windows:                        4 ea.: 1) Double pane clear, 3mm glass, 13mm air gap
  !                                        2) Double pane clear, 3mm glass, 13mm argon gap
  !                                        3) Double pane clear, 6mm glass, 6mm air gap
  !                                        4) Double pane lowE,  6mm lowE glass outside, 6mm air gap, 6mm clear glass
  !
  ! Doors:                          2 ea.:    Single pane grey,  3mm glass
  !
  ! Detached Shading:               None
  ! Daylight:                       None
  ! Natural Ventilation:            None
  ! Compact Schedules:              Yes
  !
  ! HVAC:                           Standard VAV system with outside air, hot water reheat coils,
  !                                 central chilled water cooling coil. Central Plant is single hot water
  !                                 boiler, electric compression chiller with air cooled condenser.
  !                                 All equipment is autosized. HW and ChW coils are used in the outside air
  !                                 stream to precondition the outside air.
  !
  ! Zonal Equipment:                AirTerminal:SingleDuct:VAV:Reheat
  ! Central Air Handling Equipment: Yes
  ! System Equipment Autosize:      Yes
  ! Purchased Cooling:              None
  ! Purchased Heating:              None
  ! Coils:                          Coil:Cooling:Water, Coil:Heating:Water
  ! Pumps:                          Pump:VariableSpeed
  ! Boilers:                        Boiler:HotWater
  ! Chillers:                       Chiller:Electric
  !
  ! Results:
  ! Standard Reports:               None
  ! Timestep or Hourly Variables:   Hourly
  ! Time bins Report:               None
  ! HTML Report:                    None
  ! Environmental Emissions:        None
  ! Utility Tariffs:                None

In addition to the idf files, usually an .rvi and perhaps a .mvi of the same file set is included. As discussed previously, the .rvi is used with the ReadVarsESO post-processing program and the .eso file to create a .csv file which can be read easily into Excel^TM. Like the .rvi, the .mvi file can be used with the .mtr file to create a similar version for “metered” outputs.