Editing eQuest Weather Files

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Hi,

I'm working on a calibrated energy model using eQuest. The client has specified that they would like weather data for this model to be taken recently from a local weather station.

I have hit somewhat of a wall so far. I have managed to open an existing .bin weather file in excel, and replaced the existing data with that of my own. However, I cannot get PKAFT.bat (from DOE utilities) to work. I'm wondering if anyone can point out the lines of text in the PKAFT console that that I should change, and how I should change them.

I suspect the cause is this: after I edit the data in excel and import the data back into notepad, the spaces in the original document are not preserved. Could anyone show me a better why to do this?

Any feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks.

Jonathan Chew

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Hi Jonathan,

If you are in detail mode then you have to just replace your .bin weather file by old one in your computer C drive and relink the location of weather file in Project Data tab (attached) then your weather data will automatically replaced.

I hope it helps you.

Thanks!

Ashu Gupta 

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Hi Ashu,

Thanks for the quick reply. I think my problem might have been lost in translation. To help clarify, I have included a screenshot. Basically, the root of what I need to do is have the 'User Selected' weather file be a weather file for a specific city (that happens to not be in the doe.com/download/weather site. The city is Waterloo, Ontario, Canada).

What I have done up to this point is the exchange data in a pre-existing weather file (i.e. Seattle, Washington) with data of my own (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) using excel. The problem now is to get this new weather data to work inside of eQuest.

I understand that I need to use the PKAFT.bat program taken from http://doe2.com/index_Wth.html (bottom of the page). I'm not entirely sure how to prepare my data to be converted using PKAFT, and also, I do not know how to use PKAFT.bat properly.

Thanks again Ashu, all.

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Here is previously mentioned image attachment.

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Hi Ashu, all,

Thanks again for the quick reply. Yes, I am aware that there are databases available. However, my issue is that the client (a university) has asked to provide an energy model based on local data. In fact, the weather station they recommended is actually the on-campus station.

Therefore, we do have to provide a custom .bin weather file. As previously discussed, the issue right now is to format my edited weather data to work in eQuest. Again, it would be the 'User Selected' tab in the schematic design wizard (shown in attached screenshot) that would provide the weather file representing my custom weather data for Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Thanks again Ashu, all

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Jonathan,

I think attached document will help to use PKAFT.bat.

Thanks!

Ashu Gupta

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Hi Ashu, all,

Actually, thus far I have been referring to that document. In it, he references a certain excel file called "Custom_eQuest_Weather_data.xls" and "pysch.xla" (see attached). Would you know where I could obtain this? Apparently it performs some psychometric calculations relevant to reconfiguring the file.

Thanks again Ashu, all

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Jonathan:

I have pysch.xla on my machine because I purchased the Get Psyched! Excel
add-in.

You can download this program for a free trial from KW-Engineering. It costs
$50 to purchase. I find it very useful in my investment grade audits.

Paul Diglio

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Hi Paul,

Thanks for the quick reply, as well as the link. That will be extremely helpful. I am under the assumption then, that psych.xla is needed to run the other excel file in question, "Custom_eQuest_Weather_data.xls". Obtaining this excel file would help me move forward.

Thanks again for the feedback everyone.

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Another way might be to make a epw file if the directions for making that
are clearer/easier and then convert it to bin.
-Rohini

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Hi Rohini, all,

I actually haven't had too much success with the .epw method. Using the guide that Ashu had linked me seems quite foolproof now that I have obtained the add-in (psych.xla) that Paul referred me to. However, the excel template that Jeff Hirsch (from DOE2) made is still missing. I think if it could be found, my problem would be resolved.

I will try the .epw method again, but with the type of data I have available, I believe the .txt to .bin method would be more suitable to my needs. Again, this is contingent on the fact that "custom_eQuest_Weather_data.xls" can be made available.

Thank you all for your feedback and I look forward to hearing back again soon.

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Someone (like Joe Huang, Jeff Hirsch) should write a program to read the Excel file and write it into a text file using the NCDC 80-column format and then convert it back to "weather.bin". It would be very useful.
You can order NCDC weather file (they will send you any 10 consecutive years) for about $200 and use PKAFT to convert to "weather.bin". The webpage http://bepan.info/weather shows how to convert NCDC packed 80-column TEXT DATA to "weather.bin" and back to TEXT TABLE which can then read into EXCEL See 9 - Weather _NCDC.tpe to DOE2.bin to Tables-Charts
The excel file can be saved as text file but I don't think PKAFT can convert it back to "weather.bin". The NCDC format has been changed. Example: the DP column in NCDC is now missing and other calculated results have been added and all the columns have been rearranged.
I have just added a zipped file CONVERT EDITED EXCEL FILE "Weather.xls" BACK TO "Weather.bin" to the website http://bepan.info/weather showing my crazy attempt at converting the Excel file back to "weather.bin". It is 9 MB. Double click on it. It produced a "weather.bin" that was 145 KB instead of 146 KB and I get a "end of file" message. I decided not to figure out what was missing and gave up. It would be quicker and easier to write a program that does the conversion.
Under http://bepan.info/engg-calcs you will find Excel psychrometric programs.
Varkie

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This is an interesting topic, and seems to be getting more discussion
lately (see also [Bldg-sim] "historic weather files for model
calibration" topic from late last year).

There are a number of issues, besides formatting data to one of the
DOE-2 or other weather utility formats, that should be considered. I
think the biggest are:

a) Cleaning the source weather data (i.e. removing extraneous points and
filling gaps). Depending on the location, even NCDC weather data
suffers from data quality issues.
b) Generating solar radiation data for the site. If measured global
horiz is available, estimating diffuse and subsequently DN component is
relatively straight-forward using various correlations that have been
developed from measured data.

The DOE-2 and some other weather utility tools are capable of generating
solar, but I would review the algorithms used to make sure they are
appropriate for your site. As many pointed out, Excel would be an ideal
interface for creating weather files. I tried to use Excel at first,
and after encountering the issues described above, I decided to use a
programming language (MATLAB) that I could implement all the required
operations (i.e. INPUT: Raw, unprocessed NCDC data; OUTPUT: TMY2 format
w/ solar for use with PKATPE utility).

- David

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Hi Varkie, all

I have found a work around to the PKAFT issue. Varkie, as previously mentioned, I have been referring to Jeff Hirsch's eQuest weather guide, and more importantly, the elusive excel sheet that supposedly prepared the data in a much more user friendly method than all previously discussed methods.

Anyways, after turning a 'template' .bin file to a .ft file, I suggest it is opened with a word processing program called 'UltraEdit', instead of either notepad or Excel. In this program, you can edit columns effectively, while preserving the format of the original .bin file, unlike Excel. I have confirmed that the edited .ft file can be converted back to a (.bin) file using PKAFT, and used in eQuest without a 'End of Weather file' error.

As I am currently working through this myself, I can provide an edit to the current guide on your website Varkie, if you like. We can discuss further if you are interested.

Thank you again for all the help everyone. I'm glad this can finally move forward.

Jonathan Chew

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Jonathan,
Thanks for the information. I am going to try again to convert the ?jeddah08.bin? file to ?jeddah08.ft?, make revisions, and convert it back to ?jeddah08.bin? using UltraEdit. Send me the ?edit to the current guide on your website? and I will put it in. Or, I could give you administrative privileges (you must have a Yahoo account) and you can add it.
It would be more convenient if someone were to write a program that converts the Excel file back to ?weather.bin?. It is easier to make changes in Excel. In the case of Jeddah weather, the AP, DB, WB, WS, etc., was changed for 8760 hours (for a higher elevation near Jeddah) with Excel programming. There are other uses such checking the DOE2 model with actual energy performance data.
Thanks for your interest in the website.
Varkie

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