Parametric Runs with System Type Changes

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Hello all,

I am hoping someone can help me with this topic. I am using Parametric runs to make changes to a building's envelope, insulation, etc. The last run I want to make is a system change, using a different file. When I do this, the final run is not based on the previous parametric runs, but rather reverts to the original baseline even though I have selected the run to be based on the final parametric. Do I have to input all parametric runs in both files in order to model the system change? Or is there a different way to do this?

Thank you,
Sam

Sam Welge
Manager of Energy Solutions

MURPHY COMPANY, A Century of Solutions
Direct: 314-692-1162 | Main: 314-997-6600
Cell: 314-406-8828
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Sam Welge's picture
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Each time you execute a parametric simulation, an INP file is generated with the same label (number) in the directory containing the base project. Typically you?ll see something like the following in your project directory after a few simulations:

PROJECT_NAME.inp
PROJECT_NAME ? Baseline Design.inp
PROJECT_NAME ? 1.inp
PROJECT_NAME ? 2.inp
etc?

You can point a parametric run to be based off of the inp with a label corresponding to the ?final? parametric. That file should contain all of the cumulative parametric changes to the baseline model.

Does that help?

~Nick

[cid:image004.png at 01D3A0D4.56ABFFE0]
Nick Caton, P.E., BEMP
Senior Energy Engineer
Regional Energy Engineering Manager
Energy and Sustainability Services
Schneider Electric

D 913.564.6361
M 785.410.3317
F 913.564.6380
E nicholas.caton at schneider-electric.com

15200 Santa Fe Trail Drive
Suite 204
Lenexa, KS 66219
United States

[cid:image005.png at 01D3A0D4.56ABFFE0]

Nicholas.Caton at schneider-electric.com's picture
Joined: 2016-02-26
Reputation: 0

Thanks, Nick. I KNEW I had done an outside central plant against package units somewhere in the past. Thanks for reminding me how it is done.
How is your work load? Mine in modeling is at a crawl. But my grandson's High School and travel team baseball is not. His coach thinks he can get a Division I baseball scholarship in a few years (he is a freshman).
Wish I could make some money off of this..
On Thursday, February 8, 2018, 10:02:31 AM PST, Nicholas Caton via Equest-users wrote:

#yiv4667783867 #yiv4667783867 -- _filtered #yiv4667783867 {panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv4667783867 {panose-1:2 11 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} _filtered #yiv4667783867 {font-family:Calibri;panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} _filtered #yiv4667783867 {panose-1:2 11 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;} _filtered #yiv4667783867 {panose-1:2 5 6 4 5 5 5 2 2 4;}#yiv4667783867 #yiv4667783867 p.yiv4667783867MsoNormal, #yiv4667783867 li.yiv4667783867MsoNormal, #yiv4667783867 div.yiv4667783867MsoNormal {margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;font-size:11.0pt;}#yiv4667783867 a:link, #yiv4667783867 span.yiv4667783867MsoHyperlink {color:#0563C1;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv4667783867 a:visited, #yiv4667783867 span.yiv4667783867MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#954F72;text-decoration:underline;}#yiv4667783867 p.yiv4667783867msonormal0, #yiv4667783867 li.yiv4667783867msonormal0, #yiv4667783867 div.yiv4667783867msonormal0 {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;}#yiv4667783867 p.yiv4667783867style1, #yiv4667783867 li.yiv4667783867style1, #yiv4667783867 div.yiv4667783867style1 {margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:11.0pt;}#yiv4667783867 span.yiv4667783867EmailStyle19 {color:windowtext;}#yiv4667783867 span.yiv4667783867EmailStyle22 {color:windowtext;}#yiv4667783867 .yiv4667783867MsoChpDefault {font-size:10.0pt;} _filtered #yiv4667783867 {margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}#yiv4667783867 div.yiv4667783867WordSection1 {}#yiv4667783867
Each time you execute a parametric simulation, an INP file is generated with the same label (number) in the directory containing the base project.? Typically you?ll see something like the following in your project directory after a few simulations:

?

PROJECT_NAME.inp

PROJECT_NAME ? Baseline Design.inp

PROJECT_NAME ? 1.inp

PROJECT_NAME ? 2.inp

etc?

?

You can point a parametric run to be based off of the inp with a label corresponding to the ?final? parametric.? That file should contain all of the cumulative parametric changes to the baseline model.?

?

Does that help?

?

~Nick

?

Nick Caton, P.E., BEMP

|
? Senior Energy Engineer
? Regional Energy Engineering Manager

? Energy and Sustainability Services
? Schneider Electric
|
D??913.564.6361
M??785.410.3317
F??913.564.6380
E??nicholas.caton at schneider-electric.com
|
15200 Santa Fe Trail Drive
Suite 204
Lenexa, KS 66219
United States
|
|

|

?

?

John Aulbach's picture
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Joined: 2011-09-30
Reputation: 1

Nick,

Thank you for the response. So my parametric runs look like this:

[cid:image001.png at 01D3A70C.50827750]

I think what you are saying is that for Run #4 ? Improved HVAC (this is actually a system change now); I will have the separate file with the different system and when creating the parametric run in there, point it to be ?Based On? the input file from Run #2 ? Improve Lighting Efficiency. Is that correct?

I was previously using Run #4 and having it do ?Run Based on Separate Building Description?? and go to the file with the new HVAC system. Which then did not account for the previous changes (easy to notice in the lighting).

Thank you,
Sam

Sam Welge
Manager of Energy Solutions

MURPHY COMPANY, A Century of Solutions
Direct: 314-692-1162 | Main: 314-997-6600
Cell: 314-406-8828
E-Mail: swelge at murphynet.com
Website: www.murphynet.com

Follow us: [facebook] [Linked In] [Twitter]

Sam Welge's picture
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Joined: 2018-03-02
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Hi Sam,
If your ?Improved HVAC? is a system change in a separate model, than the parametric run is going to start with the input file from the separate model. It will only include the improved envelope and improved lighting if those are already in the system change model. Otherwise, you will need copy all the parametric components from parametric runs 1 and 2.
There will be a ?.prd? file along with the other model files when you create parametric runs. You can open this in a text editor and see the command structure of parametric runs, components and keywords. I suggest saving a copy of your model and editing the .prd file to quickly copy the improved envelope and improved lighting efficiency components and keywords into the Improved HVAC parametric run.
Regards,
~Bill

William Bishop, PE, BEMP, BEAP, CEM, LEED AP | Pathfinder Engineers & Architects LLP
Senior Energy Engineer

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Bill Bishop's picture
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Joined: 2012-02-25
Reputation: 7

I think we?re on the same page.

There are multiple ways to skin this cat and arrive at the same correct end result, so what follows is just what I?d do intuitively as a general procedure:

* Finalize the following runs with your ?base? project file
* Baseline
* Improve Envelope
* Improve Lighting Efficiency
* With each parametric building upon the last, use a copy of the ?Improve Lighting Efficiency? run (which should end in ?? 2.inp?) to generate your totally different HVAC state. This will be come your 2nd project file.
* Back in your ?base? project file, your last parametric run for HVAC can enter ?Run Based On:? as your lighting run, however tick the box for ?based on separate building description? and select the .inp associated with the 2nd project file. This last parametric run doesn?t need any components. Something like this will work:

[cid:image001.png at 01D3A713.779B9AE0]

* Potential trip-ups:
* Be sure to choose an .inp which is >0kB when doing ?based on separate building description?
* Be sure when generating a new project from a parametric .inp run that you set the weather file to the correct location ? eQuest likes to assume California when not told otherwise and that has caused me to chase my tail more than once wondering how I saved a ton of energy!

In the end you?ll have all your parametric runs reporting together nicely in your SIM file, parametric reports and visuals.

~Nick

[cid:image002.png at 01D3A712.00C35E90]
Nick Caton, P.E., BEMP
Senior Energy Engineer
Regional Energy Engineering Manager
Energy and Sustainability Services
Schneider Electric

D 913.564.6361
M 785.410.3317
F 913.564.6380
E nicholas.caton at schneider-electric.com

15200 Santa Fe Trail Drive
Suite 204
Lenexa, KS 66219
United States

[cid:image003.png at 01D3A712.00C35E90]

Nicholas.Caton at schneider-electric.com's picture
Joined: 2016-02-26
Reputation: 0