EnergyPlus Online Simulations for EcoAdvisor Online Multimedia training
TDG has built a proof-of-concept "online interface" for EnergyPlus specifically for use with a new EcoAdvisor energy training module that we are now under developing. (See www.EcoAdvisor.com). The new EcoAdvisor module is "Web-Enabled Integrated Design and Operations" (WEIDO). It will be highly interactive and will let the user explore many design options. As part of the "interaction", WEIDO will provide feedback to the user about energy and other impacts of design-related user decisions.
The use of EnergyPlus is totally transparent to the user of EcoAdvisor. The user does not need to know how to use EnergyPlus. The user simply makes design-related "decisions" in the usual EcoAdvisor multimedia fashion by selecting a choice from the options presented. The user's choices can trigger the need for one or more energy impacts. EcoAdvisor will accomplish the needed EnergyPlus simulations in background mode, using input files for typical buildings and climates, and will present selected summary results graphically to the user.
We have explored 3 ways for providing feedback to the EcoAdvisor user about the energy impacts or user decisions:
- Pre-calculated EnergyPlus results: these will be available for just a few key typical building and climate locations.
EnergyPlus simulations performed online in "real time:" User decisions would trigger a completely online automatic process in which simulations are performed on the EcoAdvisor web-server that uses pre-defined and parameterized EnergyPlus files and climate locations.
EnergyPlus inputs and outputs are online but simulation processing locally on the user's computer: using a simulation "package" of executables and climate data that is downloaded to the user's machine. This entire process is transparent, once the user agrees to download the simulation package and successfully installs it. A shockwave web interface will allow users first download simulation executables onto the local computer, type in the installed location, then the web interface will permit users change building parameters like orientation, exterior wall construction, shading types, glass types etc. A "Run" button may be used to kick off simulation runs in the background after changes have been made. Energy use will be fed back to users in the form of bars or numbers, more specifically, the web interface will find and parse through the DOE-2 results and filter out the targeted parts.
We have used the 1st option in previous EcoAdvisor modules and have code available for use. We have also successfully tested the 3rd option for EnergyPlus. A demonstration module is being prepared.
Each option has advantages and limitations. For example, using The pre-calculated "canned" simulations has the obvious issue of lack of flexibility in responding to particular user objectives and climate locations. Similarly, a major issue with running simulations on the web server is the potential of bogging down the server disk space, memory and CPU time if multiple users try to run parametrics at the same time. Apparently for this reason one online server limits users to one run at a time. Conversely, with the option of downloading the simulation package, there are issues of (1) making the download process as easy and foolproof as possible and (2) properly protecting software intellectual property rights. We are addressing examining these issues at the present time.
We currently favor using options 1 and 3 above. We plan to refine both of these options, and to let the user choose which option to use.
EcoAdvisor
Radiance Generation
Online Multimedia
DOE-2 Param
EnergyPlus Tools
