I would like to start a discussion about tips on how to create a better
energy model with less time. This is an easy example but it does save
time if you currently do not turn off the components.
To make it easier to delete the extra exterior walls that are created
between shells in eQUEST, go to the Project Properties and remove the
roofs, ceilings and interior walls.
Otto
Great tip (and nice model)!
The ability to turn on/off 3D view surfaces is something I often catch
myself forgetting when it could save me time - it's also something I
wish I knew about for my first few tricky models =).
A related timesaver/accuracy note comes to mind from a question brought
up recently on the lists:
- A great/quick way to check and correct if exterior roof/floor
surfaces are defined (incorrectly) in-between separate & stacked shells
from the wizards is to go to the same location and turn off all items
except Roofs and Floors. You can then quickly identify, highlight and
remove any unwanted surfaces.
- I might intentionally do this in my own models when I have
unique roofs on multiple levels and will plan to remove the unwanted
"sandwiched" surfaces once in detailed in this fashion.
- Notice how if you hold ctrl to rotate/zoom the model, a
reference wireframe pops up which can make it easy to verify where such
surfaces should/shouldn't be located. You don't need to move the mouse
for a quick reference.
I like the idea of "share a quick timesaver/accuracy tip" - hope this
picks up!
NICK CATON, E.I.T.
Nice idea, Otto Schwieterman!
I like your post but until now I have only merge inp file by the function of
"import" in eQuest, which will be very useful when a huge building or a
group of buildings are modeled.
*Tips:*
*
*
*At the model beginning, all of the shell and air-side system need to be
specified to make sure there will no duplicate name for any component in the
model. This is not hard: just edit it in wizard model, both the shell and
system. And also make sure the coordination is also correct with the real
design. *
*
*
*There will be a most probability of duplicate name in water-side, so if the
models do not share the same chilled / domestic / hot water loop, rename all
of water side staff before merging the inp files.*
*
*
*Before the merging, my suggestion is that editing or testing
or debugging the model first, otherwise you will find that after merging the
model becomes huge, very long time to run, and hard to edit, test, debug.*
That's my tips ( not small ;) ), any corrections are welcome.
Regards,
Grammy
Thanks very much for sharing this. this was a great start. i hope this works
as a good inspiration for others.
thanks again.
-Soni
Tip #3
Here is another tip unrelated to the ones below. If you have multiple zones served by central systems, create all zones served by a system before creating zones served by another system. This bunches the zones together and makes it easier to assign systems later. Also, if you have a large building, you can go into the inp file and insert a new system above the group of zones it serves, then reopen the eQuest file without saving it. The system will then show up in eQuest with all the zones already assigned to it.
For example, if a building has 25 zones on the east half of the building served by AHU1 and 25 zones on the west half served by AHU2, set the wizard to create one system per floor. Then, create all zones served by AHU1. They will be numbered 1 through 25 (Unless you change the default naming convention). Then, create all zones served by AHU2. They will be numbered 26 - 50. Once you enter the detailed edit mode, go into the inp file, copy the code for system1 and paste it above zone 26. Then, reopen eQuest without saving it. System 2 will show up with zones 26 - 50 assigned to it. If you have a large building, this can be a big time saver.
Jeremy
This isn't so much a tip as a bug workaround. If, when zooming in/out of the 3D view, your model disappears, right click and choose "reset camera." Then click on one of the other views (e.g. air-side or water-side systems) and then go back to your building shell view and the model should be visible under the 3D tab once again.
Adam Towell
Be sure to keep on saving, my eQUEST crashes many times when I click on
my building in 3-D view.
Best,
Omar Katanani