Way back, some one was collecting list of items that people want to see
incorporated in eQuest. Not sure if it is still happening, but figured I
would put it out there if someone is listening.
Ease of use -
1. Setup to use pdf file in the wizard for geometry. Sketchup allows this.
Most of these old buildings do not have dwg files, one can get only pdf's.
This will really save a lot of time, even if the rest of the following does
not get implemented.
2. When the wizard creates the inputs, like 0.5 cfm/sqft, or min flow of
0.3, can it be created as a user/wizard default value, so that if one wants
to change it in detailed mode, it can be changed by just changing this one
value instead of going through all the zones. Same for lighting and plug
loads - enter one value that acts as default and can be changed easily.
3. Option for no OA at the zone level in the wizard.
4. The schedules for lighting and plug loads - the minimum is pretty low -
0.05 for lighting, which doesn't happen even in new high performance
buildings that I have worked with. Can the default be changed to 15-20%. I
know that I can change it in the wizard, but no harm in asking since it
saves a step in the multitude of steps. Similarly, for plug loads, the
default min should be pretty high - 30-40%.
5. A place to input utility monthly data, so that eQuest can directly
calculate the calibration values like CVRMSE etc. This will save the going
to excel step.
6. When the HVAC system is parallel or series fan powered box, just keep it
for the external zones and make the internal zones with SVAV and no reheat.
This is what I have seen in every building that I have modelled so far.
On the system side, can we have an option for the OA system without having
to go through dummy zone? A system that sends its OA to all the child
systems and gets the return from these child systems. This way, the OA
system can have energy recovery or heating, cooling etc. It will be like a
regular system without the hassle of dummy zones, and the return
temperatures will be from the child systems and not that of the dummy zone.
This system will be easy to implement since it is not connected with the
building load calculation side at all.
If folks have faster methods to model/data entry for any of the above, I am
all ears.
Thanks
-Rohini
Wish List:
I would like to be able to attached a boiler or cooling tower to a geo-thermal
loop and control either one based on loop temperature setpoint instead of using
a schedule.
Paul Diglio, CEM, CBCP
I would like to see a way to input inefficient systems. For example I have a system right now where the placement of the mixed air sensor and the discharge air sensor fight each other and cause the unit to cool air that it will immediately heat up. There doesn't seem to be a way to model this type of inefficiency.
Adam Towell
If there was a way to model all the inefficiencies, I would love it.
Another one is leaking steam/hot water valves in summer - maybe the
development team can allow for min flows/settings on the valves for this.
Btw, I think the following is already happening if you have economizer and
the supply temp reset. I always end up with heating increase with
economizer. Have to check if it happens with all modes of control on supply
temp.
All:
Please never call me a guru. I am just an "older" user.
Gotta new nifty problem, which someone already knows..
I have an automobile service bay below a dealership in the Los Angeles area. They have 4-10 ton split systems, each?4,000 CFM (16,000 CFM all toll).
There is an exhaust system pulling in 22,000 CFM of outside air through the automobile entrance ramp down into the basement shop...and out the exhaust fan.
I am wondering if I should just call these fan coils (package, and cooling only).? Then?I think the outside air is a separate path than having to go directly throuhg the unit.
Winner gets a pretend $100 bill. Thanks.
John R. Aulbach, PE, CEM
Hi John. Not sure if I exactly understand your problem, but it would seem to me the question is whether the exhaust fan impacts the loads on your split systems. If it doesn't (i.e. the air is just pulled in to an unconditioned area and exhausted), then I would just ignore it and model the exhaust fan energy as a misc elec load. If its does (the fan draws the air through the space served by the splits), then model as an exhaust fan with source as infiltration. Either way the splits can be modelled as they really are. Michael Wilson, P.Eng.
I agree. I see this a lot. There needs to be a MA setpoint (economizing) control that is separated from than the SA setpoint control.
I was the one gathering the wishlist. I spent quite a bit of time
collecting information from various members of this list-serve and the
BLDG-SIM list-serve and sent it off to whoever I could think of at the
time, but I haven't heard that it really went anywhere. I'm happy to
re-open the document, incorporate the recent requests, and open it for
public comment (or voting on each item to determine importance/relevance),
IF somebody will use the information and it will actually go somewhere. If
not, I won't waste my time.
--
Karen
Is anyone from RMI on the list? Maybe they can help with getting this on
the developers to-do list for next version since RMI is into deep retrofits
and has some modelling tools for eQuest?