Output Details and Examples — EnergyPlus 8.3

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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™. Like the .rvi, the .mvi file can be used with the .mtr file to create a similar version for “metered” outputs.