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Overview of Standard Level

(Does not belong to the main tutorial example – no need to follow details)

👉  Start with an empty building.

👉  Start with a building with a single zone. Unlike starting with an empty building, a project ready to simulate will be opened up. This building contains the geometry of a single zone with a southerly orientation. The building has default settings for wall constructions, glazing, shadings, location, synthetic weather, mechanical zone ventilation, controller setpoints and everything else needed for a simulation.

👉  Open or close (toggle) the side bar. The side bar contains Palettes (list of objects to insert) and Properties (some editable parameters for the selected object).

👉  Open or close the log window. The log window contains error and warning messages. By double clicking on an error message, the program will attempt to take you to the location where the problem can be addressed. Objects mentioned in the error message are linked: Clicking on the link will open up the object form.

👉 General tab: Main information about the project: Global Data, HVAC Systems, Energy Meters and tables with model details.

👉 Floor plan tab: 2D view of the building geometry. Building body, zones, windows and doors can be inserted and edited here.

👉 3D tab: The model and results can be visualized and animated here. Selecting an object will open up a property page in the side bar. Double clicking on an object will open up the object form.

👉 Simulation tab: Simulation options are given and all different kind of simulation runs are started here. Statistics from made simulations are shown as well as links to key results.

👉 Outline tab: Outline view of the project (Expert edition only)

👉 Summary tab: Overview of the simulation results (Not always shown in the Standard edition)

👉 Details tab: Details of the simulation results (Not always shown in the Standard edition)

👉 ESBO Wizard: A special simpler user interface for setting up a multi-zone simulation model. This user interface is not treated in this guide. See the online help texts for more information.

👉 VELUX Wizard: A special simpler user interface for setting up a single zone simulation model with special emphasis on natural ventilation by windows. This user interface is not treated in this guide. See the online help texts for more information.

General tab

 Start new building with a single zone

 Modify Project data

 Modify Location data: Geographical position, weather data.

👉  In this area you have access to different parameters that are valid for the whole building. This will be explained in more detail in Sections 6 and 9 through 12.

👉  In this area, you have access to the structure and parameters of the air handling unit(s) (explained in more detail in Section 8) and the building plant, as well as the meters for keeping track of energy and CO₂ emissions (explained in more detail in Section18).

 Change the table view: Individual tables can be viewed and edited by clicking on the corresponding radio button. Many parameters (data related to zones, surfaces, windows, loads, constructions, etc.) can be changed directly in these tables. Tables can be sorted and data can be visualized in 3D. Make sure you understand how these tables work.

 Export the input tables to Excel

 Expand the current input table to a separate (larger) window.

Floor plan tab

 Go to the Floor plan tab

 Use the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

 Select an object (e.g. the building body) to edit its properties in the side bar (ensure that the Properties and not the Palette view of the side bar is active)
 

Note: The steps below are for orientation only, don’t try to build anything serious yet.
 

👉  Rename, cut, copy, delete, replace or edit objects (e.g. a zone).

 Switch to palette to insert more objects

👉  Insert a new zone. How to do this is explained in more detail in Section 4.

👉  Import CAD files as background drawing.

👉  Access the IFC menu (Expert edition only) to import or map IFC objects.

👉  Protect objects to prevent them from being accidentally moved or deleted

👉  Set and remove a view filter to exclude object types from being shown

👉  Change the vertical level in the building from where the floor plan is being shown

3D tab

 Go to the 3D tab

 Use the left mouse button to rotate the building, the right mouse button to zoom and the middle mouse button to pan. When clicking on the F-key, a new focus (for rotation and zoom) is set at the cursor's place.

 Cut the building in positive x-direction

 Move the cutting plane

 Animate calculation results

 Activate shadow animation

 Start animation

Note: This is a shadow animation only. Result variables can also be animated. However, we do not have any results to show, since we did not simulate yet.

Simulation tab

 Go to the Simulation tab

 Start a heating load calculation

 Press the link for Summary (Standard edition only)

Note: You can start 4 different types of simulations: Heating load calculation, cooling load calculation, energy calculation or customized calculation. These will be explained in more detail in Sections 13 through 15.

Note: For the Standard edition, the result report is automatically opened to display the heating load result and the Summary link must be manually opened. For the Expert edition, the Summary tab is automatically opened.

Summary tab

After the simulation, view the Summary tab. An overview of key results from the simulation is given here, e.g. the heating required for each room, for each air handling unit, heat delivered by the plant as well as the power required from the utility to deliver this.

 Visualize the result column for Room unit heat in the 3D model.

 Open the Details tab

Note: The complete results from each type of simulation are stored. The radio buttons (upper left) are used to navigate between results from different simulations. (So far, we have made just the heating load simulation).

Details tab

View the Details tab.

 Key time series are displayed

 You can check extra boxes to select other time series diagrams

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