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The summary below lists the new features included in this and earlier releases of EnergyPlus (3.1.0, 3.0.0, 2.2.0, 2.1.0, 2.0.0, previous versions).
Input
- Users can now define surfaces as simple rectangles (Simple Rectangular Surfaces) for walls, roofs, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, glazed doors, and shading.
- New detailed surfaces objects (Wall:Detailed, RoofCeiling:Detailed, FloorDetailed).
- InputProcessor can now output defaults, autosizing, and autocalculation statistics.
- New Constant Schedule allows simpler schedule definition.
Daylighting
- New variables for reporting visual discomfort: Time Exceeding Glare Index Setpoint at Ref Point 1 and Time Exceeding Glare Index Setpoint at Ref Point 2.
Zone Model
- Thermochromic windows can now be modeled.
- New Adiabatic Surface option for Outside Boundary Condition.
- New Sinusoidal option for Other Side Coefficient Boundary Conditions allows users to apply a sinusoidal schedule to the surface boundary conditions.
- Two new simplified infiltration models added: Sherman-Grimsrud and AIM-2.
- Ventilated slab has additional SerialSlab system configuration option, allowing multiple ventilated slabs in different zones to be connected in series.
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
- UFAD model upgraded.
- AirflowNetwork wind speed model for height-dependency improved.
- Air Distribution System Model includes more components: heating coil and three heat exchangers.
- Demand Control Ventilation model based on ventilation rate procedure of Standard 62.1-2007.
HVAC
- New Unitary Air-to-Air Heat Pump and Packaged VAV HVAC Templates.
- Improved control of unitary equipment under low-load conditions (Furnaces, Heat Pumps, PTAC, PTHP, and Window AC).
- Furnaces/Unitary Systems now allow high humidity control with cycling supply air fan systems.
- Cool Beam model added.
- Option to size system flow rate and terminal units based on minimum ventilation requirements added; other zone equipment will be sized on zone loads
- Fan:OnOff now models multi-speed fan performance.
- Minimum stops on VAV terminals with reheat can now be scheduled.
- SensibleAndLatent and Desiccant Heat Exchangers now have economizer lockout option.
- Revised air-bypass logica for HeatExchanger:AirToAir:FlatPlace to match the logic used for HeatExchanger:AirToAir:SensibleAndLatent.
- Refrigeration racks and systems now accept either the name of a case or caselist, and compressor or compressorlist.
- Improved moisture condensation controls for Low Temperature Radiant systems.
- EvaporativeCooler:Direct:ResearchSpecial model added.
- Water consumption model for Indirect Evaporative Cooler extended. Secondary air flow rate can now be autosized.
Output
- New tabular reports to support LEED EA Credit 1 forms.
- Tabular reports now can be in Inch-Pound units.
- Improved diagnostics, warnings, and informative messages throughout.
- Output:Reports object converted to simpler Ouput:Surfaces:List, Output:Surfaces:Drawing objects.
Utilities
- New AppGPostProcess utility in combination with Building:Compliance object averages the results from four building rotation runs for Standard 90.1 Appendix G compliance.
- Datasets can now be directly opened from a menu in IDFEditor.
- Weather Converter updated to allow more custom date formats.
- Weather Converter now can include rainfall information (where available) in EnergyPlus weather data files.
Documentation and Guides
- Input/Output Reference and Engineering Reference updated and extended for all new features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 4,000 pages.
Data Sets
- Refrigerant properties for R404a, R410a, and R507a added to the refrigerant database.
- New library of compressor performance curves for refrigeration systems created.
- New performance curves for condensing and high-temperature boilers.
- California Title 24 Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) factor schedules (2008) dataset added.
- California Title 24 operating schedules dataset added.
Input
- Version 3.0 includes widespread changes to input syntax. The complete set of input objects was revised to make the EnergyPlus’ input 'language' more consistent, logical, and informative. Although the majority of words used to describe input object names, field names and key choices have changed, the underlying meanings remain the same. (Yes, this will require substantial changes to existing input data files--aided by the Transition program which can be accessed through the EP-Launch utility.)
- New examples input files for all new features.
Zone Model
- New Ventilated Slab model includes radiant heating and cooling interactions with hollow core slabs
- Infiltration models now allow air flow rate per unit of exterior wall area as an optional input.
- Interior pipe heat transfer loads added into zone air heat balance calculations.
- New optional algorithms for fully-coupled, 1-D finite element heat and moisture transport model for simulating the movement and storage of heat & moisture in and through building surfaces.
- The algorithm for variable system timestep was revised. Changes include uniform system timestep length across zone timestep and stricter management of history terms for zone air conditions.
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
- Additional hybrid (mixed-mode) ventilation controls added to allow global control of surface openings based on master zone, limit opening levels based on wind speed, and allow control of Mixing and Ventilation objects.
- Temperature limit controls added to Mixing and Cross-Mixing objects.
- New Thermal Chimney model added--uses solar radiation to enhance natural ventilation.
- New CoolTower model added--uses natural evaporative cooling to cool incoming air.
- Added new outside air minimum and maximum fractions to easily model 100% (or any fixed value) OA systems, leakage or stuck OA dampers.
HVAC
- Refrigeration system capabilities expanded with more detailed component models. Users can now simulate: (1) variable evaporating temperatures, (2) variable condensing temperatures, (3) mechanical subcoolers that transfer refrigeration loads from less efficient low- temperature systems to more efficient medium-temperature systems, and (4) liquid suction subcoolers.
- Improved error trapping for refrigerant and glycol properties at extreme temperatures and pressures.
- Single-speed cooling towers can now use fluid bypass as capacity control, saving water but requiring more fan energy.
- New linear curve to complement other curve objects.
- Absorption chiller now can connect to steam or hot water loop.
- Enhanced absorption chiller model added.
- Radiant-convective baseboard model added.
- Boiler model upgraded to include performance curve which accounts for load as function of operating temperatures.
- Set Point Managers now test for control node conflicts.
- New system availability managers added: Scheduled On and Scheduled Off.
- New Underground Pipe object added; upgraded Pipe Heat Transfer objects.
- New Fluid Cooler objects added--single and two-speed dry cooling towers for hydronic loops.
- Component sizing factors added for boilers, chillers, and cooling towers.
- Added chilled water thermal storage tank models for both mixed and stratified tanks.
- New Compact HVAC objects:
- Packaged single-zone heat pump system (PSZ-HP)
- Packaged variable volume system (PVAVS)
- Constant volume chilled water/hot water system (single-zone and multi-zone)
On-Site Energy Supply
- PV model restructured to separately model inverters and storage systems.
- DC-to-AC inverter model added along with simple battery model.
- Simple Photovoltaic-Thermal model added for pre-heating outside air and hot water heating.
Economics
- Energy cost calculations now includes real time pricing, minimum monthly charge, and buy/sell/net metering as new inputs
- A new monetary unit object (Currency Type) added
- Additional economic reporting of energy and demand for each charge
Output
- SQLite added as another output format option, providing optional export of time-series results directly to database.
- Standard monthly reports can now be specified by name in the predefined report object without having to include a detailed monthly report object.
Utilities
- EP-Launch now handles blank weather files as if no weather file is specified in group simulations.
- IDF Editor new features include wrapping long text strings over multiple lines within cells, required fields now shown with blue field names, and added recently used file list.
Documentation and Guides
- Input/Output Reference and Engineering Reference updated and extended for all new features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 3800 pages.
Data Sets
- Electronic enthalpy air-side economizer curves
- Microturbine electric generators
Daylighting
- Reference point Illuminance levels calculated by DElight now included in standard output variables.
- DElight reference points now show up on DXF outputs.
Design Day
- Design days now allow scheduled input for Beam and Diffuse Solar values.
- Design days allow users to select periods from weather files to be used in design/sizing calculations.
Input
- Example input files created for all new features (More than 245 example input
files now available). An additional set of realistic, benchmark files (15) have
been added.
Zone Model
- Internal gains can now be entered in intensity:
- People can be entered as number of people, people/floor area or vice versa (area/person).
- Lighting can be entered as total Watts, Watts/floor area or Watts/person.
- Equipment (electric, gas, other) can be entered as Watts, Watts/floor area or Watts/person.
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
- Outside Air Controller now allows boosted air flow rates for high humidity control. A schedule may also be used to operate the outside air economizer based on a time-of-day schedule. Each of these features is also included in the controller for the stand-alone energy recovery ventilator.
- Infiltration can be entered as total volume, volume/floor area, volume/exterior surface area, or air changes per hour.
- Ventilation, mixing and cross mixing can be entered as total volume, volume/floor area, volume/person, or air changes/hour.
- Airflow network model now includes more coil types, including water cooling, water heating, detailed flat water cooling, multimode DX cooling, and multispeed cooling and heating.
- Multiple infiltration and ventilation objects now allowed in each zone, and the temperature control limits for the ventilation object can now be scheduled (instead of constant).
HVAC
- Dual-setpoint humidistat with deadband now available.
- Water heater volume and capacity can be autosized.
- New desiccant dehumidifier with additional capabilities and flexibility compared to the existing solid desiccant dehumidifier model.
- Supply air fan operating mode (continuous versus cycling) can now be scheduled based on time-of-day for window air conditioner, packaged terminal heat pump and water-to-air heat pump.
- New economizer controls added to Controller:Outside Air and Controller:Stand Alone ERV objects. New controls include Dew Point Temperature limit and Electronic (Variable) Enthalpy limit.
- DX System (DXSystem:Airloop object) now allows cool-reheat dehumidification control type.
On-Site Energy Supply
- New operating scheme for electric generators to follow thermal loads.
- New microturbine electric generator model.
- Upgraded equivalent one-diode PV model to include options for BIPV and inverter.
Environmental Impacts
- Environmental emissions can now be scheduled for all fuel types.
Output
- New detailed reports on Internal Gains (People, Lights, Equipment) as well as Simple Air Flow (Infiltration, Ventilation, Mixing, Cross Mixing) in the .EIO file.
- New report variables for summed zone load components.
- Added additional column in internal heat gains reporting that shows the sum of gains/floor area.
Utilities
- Many enhancements in the IDF Editor and HVAC Diagramming tools.
Documentation and Guides
- Input/Output Reference and Engineering Reference updated and extended for all new features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 3700 pages.
Data Sets
- Color schemes for DXF (original and default)
Input
- Example input files created for all new features (More than 225 example input files now available).
Geometry/Window/Wall/Shading
- Surface Surround Subsurface error detection more robust (less false errors)
- Autocalculate now allowed for shading surfaces (number of vertices)
Zone Model
- Zone sizing calculations now include heat gains from domestic/service hot water uses and water heaters.
- User now can choose between ASHRAE Clear Sky and Zhang-Huang solar radiation models for use in design day calculations.
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
- New system availability manager allows system-level control of hybrid ventilation systems.
HVAC
- Water-cooled condenser option added to refrigeration compressor racks for useful heat recovery.
- Chilled and hot-water coils can now be used in the outside air system to preheat or precool outside air.
- New desiccant dehumidifier with additional capabilities and flexibility compared to the existing solid desiccant dehumidifier model.
- Water side economizer (including simulation of integrated and non-integrated water side economizers).
- Water heater improved for indirect heating (e.g. with remote boiler) and autosizable design flow rates for plant connections.
- Packaged terminal air conditioner (PTAC) added to model a fan, DX cooling coil, and a gas, electric, hydronic or steam heating coil serving a single zone.
- Multispeed heat pump with up to four discrete speeds for both cooling and heating.
- Heat losses (and gains) from plant piping.
- New and updated Compact HVAC objects:
- Compact HVAC chilled water coils now use the COIL:WATER:COOLING model by default, COIL:Water:DetailedFlatCooling can be selected as an option.
- Compact HVAC unitary system now supports the draw-thru fan placement option, and allows a schedule for the supply fan operating mode (continuous or cycling).
- New Compact HVAC options for dehumidification and humidification controls for unitary and VAV system types.
- New primary-secondary loop options for Compact HVAC chilled water loops.
- Compact HVAC expanded to support specification of outside air as a combination of flow/person, flow/area and flow/zone.
- Compact HVAC baseboard heat option added for unitary and VAV zones.
- New Compact HVAC objects for unitary heat pump, unitary VAV, packaged terminal air conditioner, and packaged terminal heat pump.
Output
- New tabular reports: surface shadowing, shading, lighting, HVAC sizing, system and component sizing, and outside air.
- New Report:SurfaceColorScheme allow users to select their own colors for building elements in the DXF output.
Utilities
- WeatherConverter now produces KML output (for Google Earth) of latitude, longitude, elevation, and a few climate statistics for locations in a list processing run.
- Add comma delimited form of CLM (ESP-r ASCII files) conversion to WeatherConverter.
- WinEPDraw produces in new default colors.
Documentation and Guides
- Completely rewritten Getting Started manual provides more hands-on example exercises and other information for getting up to speed on EnergyPlus.
- Input/Output Reference and Engineering Reference updated and extended for all new features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 3500 pages.
Data Sets
- New materials data set based on ASHRAE 2005 HOF replaces legacy DOE-2 and BLAST data.
- Updated solar collector data set from the SRCC adds 55 more collectors for a total of 173.
- Added air change rate to ventilation loads report in StandardReports data set.
Input
- Objects and name lengths can now be 100 characters. (Previous limit was 60).
- New weather data for 86 locations added: 69 in Australia, 16 in Canada, and 1 in Iran.
- Three new unit ventilator input files created: UnitVent5Zone.idf, UnitVent5ZoneAuto.idf, UnitVent5ZoneFixedOANoCoilOpt.idf.
- Three new thermal storage example input files created: IceStorage-Parallel.idf, IceStorage-Series-ChillerDownstream.idf, IceStorage-Series-ChillerUpstream.idf.
- Example input files created for all new features (More than 225 example files now available)
Geometry/Window/Walls/Shading
- Shadowing Calculations object now allows user to specify maximum figures in shadowing overlaps.
- Phase change materials (PCM) with variable thermal conductivity and a temperature-enthalpy function incorporated in conduction finite difference solution algorithm.
- Basement program now outputs EnergyPlus IDF for wall and floor surface temperatures.
- Users can now enter interzone surfaces once and EnergyPlus will automatically create the mirror interzone surface.
Zone Model
- Zone Sizing modified to allow standards-type calculation of design outside air flow rates; allows min cooling and max heating limits on design supply air flow rates.
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation
- Zone forced air units added to reporting of mechanical ventilation rate and loads
- Simple Ventilation object now reports air changes per hour
- New options in UnitVentilator include no coil option and fixed amount for outside air control strategy.
- AirflowNetwork model can now use Zone Exhaust Fan, OnOff supply fan and the DX heating coil objects.
HVAC
- Water-to-air heat pumps now use RegulaFalsi solution technique to improve robustness and to speed up simulation.
- Applicability schedule added to System Availability Manager:Low Temperature Turn Off (to support thermal storage).
- Evaporative condenser option added to existing refrigerated case compressor racks including availability schedule and basin heater with controls.
- Draw-through fan configuration added for furnaces, unitary system and air-to-air heat pumps.
- Different supply air flow rates now allowed for cooling, heating and when no cooling or heating is required in unitary, furnace and air-to-air heat pumps.
- Common Pipe for Primary-Secondary systems provides an alternative to the Connection component object to model Primary-Secondary systems
- Balanced flow desiccant heat exchanger option added for the existing heat exchanger-assisted DX cooling coil object.
- Stratified water heater model added.
- Uniform load distribution option added to plant load range based operation scheme.
- Height-dependent air temperature and wind speed now available for most HVAC systems.
Water Manager
- Green roof simulation added.
On-Site Energy Supply
- Fuel cell model updated.
- Combustion micro cogeneration model added.
Output
- Report Variables and Meter Variables (rdd and mdd) separately reported and output as IDF.
- Meters can now report cumulative value in addition to resetting at reporting time interval.
Utilities
- New EP-Launch utility tab added where users can launch Basement, CalcSoilSurfTemp, CoeffCheck, CoeffConv, Slab and Weather utilities.
- CSVproc now supported in EP-Launch.
- IDF Editor now preserves the order of user IDFs and includes a large number of other new features.
Documentation and Guides
- Input/Output Reference and Engineering Reference updated and extended for all new features and updates. Total documentation now exceeds 3300 pages.
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