Hi,
Does anyone know of any current tools that use the BIN method? I am
imagining something that both processes weather data into BINs (taking into
account occupied versus unoccupied times), and maybe includes some
templates for common energy efficiency measures?
Thanks,
Mike Karpman
You could try Binmaker Pro from InterEnergy.
No templates but I believe you can define hours.
Dave Bryan,**AIA, LEED AP
Back in the day, I used a BASIC program called ASEAM that was developed by an ASHRAE research project. It was capable of modeling only a single zone and limited number of HVAC systems (as I recall). I think I found a version of it online a few years ago and then decided I'd probably not use it, and no longer have it. You may be able to find it.... ASEAM (A Simplified Energy Analysis Method) uses a modified bin method approach for energy calcs.
James V Dirkes II, PE, BEMP, LEED AP
I have a program called TMY2BIN which converts freely available TMY2
hourly weather files into bin weather files for use in simplified energy
calculations. It does allow you to define occupancy hours. Cost is
$25 Check it out at: http://www.hvacware.net
I do not have any calculations for common ECM's that use this bin
weather data. That's why you get the big bucks.
Randy
Randall C. Wilkinson, P.E., C.E.M.
I also recall ASEAM from back in the mid-1980's, when it was thought to be an easier
program to teach than DOE-2 for
a USAID project to help ASEAN countries develop building energy standards. Back in those
days, ASHRAE TC 4.7 was quite
involved in refining the modified bin calculation method that got known as the TC 4.7
Simplified Energy Analysis Procedure.
The best implementation of the modified bin method that I know of was TrakLoad, also
mid-1980's vintage, developed by Robert Sonderegger, now at Itron, though I doubt that
Robert is still marketing or supporting the program.
This is all ancient history, as far as energy calculations goes. I see no advantage to
the bin method as compared to a hour-by-hour simulation, especially if you have to go
through a lot of hoops to resurrect the programs as well as get the weather data into the
bin format (though that's really very easy to do).
Joe Huang
All:
For what it is worth, I've found the bin based (beta) online energy savings calculator tool used to support DOE Advanced Rooftop Campaign to be very useful - see: http://www.pnnl.gov/uac/
It's very well documented, and uses an innovative hybrid approach combining regressions of the DOE Commercial Reference Buildings along with bin-based calculation methods for determining cooling energy savings associated with (compressor based cooling - no support for evaporative cooling) rooftop unit related improvements. The tool accounts for part load efficiencies and basic economizer operations. The tool allows for users to create custom load lines representing building cooling loads, and offers a spreadsheet import for using RTU specific performance data, if needed. One can even use it to extract bin hours (DB + MCWB) for canned schedule sets for a large set of US weather sites. With a bit of post processing, given the output bin data one can easily also estimate the energy savings associated with ventilation energy recovery as a possible RTU replacement option. A useful deployment of taxpayer funded commercial buildings research, IMHO.
Also - I have the executables for ASEAM, if anyone wants them. My recollection is that ASEAM won't run on a 64 bit machine - period. and needs to run in 16 bit mode on a 32 bit windows machine operating in Windows 95 compatibility mode. Nevertheless, it is still a pretty interesting ASCII text GUI (multi-zone) bin based estimating tool. Contact me offline if you want me to send it to you. The documentation behind ASEAM is largely available (free pdf download to ASHRAE members) as the final report for ASHRAE RP 363 : "Upgrading Documentation of the Proposed TC 4.7 Simplified Energy Analysis Procedure". While I agree with Joe - it's certainly old-school, the documentation is still solid if one is looking to build their own measure specific custom spreadsheet-based calculator, etc.
All the Best,
Chris Balbach, PE, CM, CMVP, BEAP, BEMP, BESA
ASEAM is available through Archive.org's wayback machine at:
http://web.archive.org/web/20031209152712/http://fishbaugher.com/aseam.htm
I think it was DOS software.
Jason
Definitely DOS.
James V Dirkes II, PE, BEMP, LEED AP
Thanks everyone for your feedback, it?s much appreciated.
FYI, the context is that we are looking into different options for
predicting energy savings for a custom measure incentive program in New
York (incentives are based on projected savings). We want to implement a
standard approach for popular measures, so that consultants do not need to
perform hourly modeling or spreadsheet calculations themselves (accuracy
varies greatly, and reviewing these analyses requires big resources). We
are looking into both off-the-shelf tools as well as developing our own.
*From:* bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org [mailto:
bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On Behalf Of *Chris Balbach
*Sent:* Wednesday, August 28, 2013 9:46 AM
*To:* Joe Huang; bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Bldg-sim] BIN Method Tool
All:
For what it is worth, I?ve found the bin based (beta) online energy savings
calculator tool used to support DOE Advanced Rooftop Campaign to be very
useful - see: http://www.pnnl.gov/uac/
It?s very well documented, and uses an innovative hybrid approach combining
regressions of the DOE Commercial Reference Buildings along with bin-based
calculation methods for determining cooling energy savings associated with
(compressor based cooling ? no support for evaporative cooling) rooftop
unit related improvements. The tool accounts for part load efficiencies
and basic economizer operations. The tool allows for users to create custom
load lines representing building cooling loads, and offers a spreadsheet
import for using RTU specific performance data, if needed. One can even
use it to extract bin hours (DB + MCWB) for canned schedule sets for a
large set of US weather sites. With a bit of post processing, given the
output bin data one can easily also estimate the energy savings associated
with ventilation energy recovery as a possible RTU replacement option. A
useful deployment of taxpayer funded commercial buildings research, IMHO.
Also ? I have the executables for ASEAM, if anyone wants them. My
recollection is that ASEAM won?t run on a 64 bit machine ? period. and
needs to run in 16 bit mode on a 32 bit windows machine operating in
Windows 95 compatibility mode. Nevertheless, it is still a pretty
interesting ASCII text GUI (multi-zone) bin based estimating tool.
Contact me offline if you want me to send it to you. The documentation
behind ASEAM is largely available (free pdf download to ASHRAE members) as
the final report for ASHRAE RP 363 : ?Upgrading Documentation of the
Proposed TC 4.7 Simplified Energy Analysis Procedure?. While I agree with
Joe ? it?s certainly old-school, the documentation is still solid if one is
looking to build their own measure specific custom spreadsheet-based
calculator, etc.
All the Best,
Chris Balbach, PE, CM, CMVP, BEAP, BEMP, BESA
*From:* bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org []
mailto:bldg-sim-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
*On Behalf Of *Joe Huang
*Sent:* Tuesday, August 27, 2013 11:34 PM
*To:* bldg-sim at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Bldg-sim] BIN Method Tool
I also recall ASEAM from back in the mid-1980's, when it was thought to be
an easier program to teach than DOE-2 for
a USAID project to help ASEAN countries develop building energy standards.
Back in those days, ASHRAE TC 4.7 was quite
involved in refining the modified bin calculation method that got known as
the TC 4.7 Simplified Energy Analysis Procedure.
The best implementation of the modified bin method that I know of was
TrakLoad, also mid-1980's vintage, developed by Robert Sonderegger, now at
Itron, though I doubt that Robert is still marketing or supporting the
program.
This is all ancient history, as far as energy calculations goes. I see no
advantage to the bin method as compared to a hour-by-hour simulation,
especially if you have to go through a lot of hoops to resurrect the
programs as well as get the weather data into the bin format (though that's
really very easy to do).
Joe Huang
It has been several years since buildings had to submit computer energy
analysis of design construction documents showing that the building complies
with local, city, state & federal building energy codes. The same is true
for LEED certification. This information can analyzed statistically to
predict building performance.
Varkie Thomas