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How to get and install IDA ICE?

First tour of the IDA ICE GUI (Graphical user interface)

General tab

From here, the user will have access to all relevant input of the edited building model with the following main sections:

• Global data, including
  • Location and weather
  • Neighboured built environment
  • Model approximations (for parts not described in detail)
  • System parameters (that define the model or the type of model treatment in several places)
• HVAC systems, from where you can insert and edit
  • Air handling units
  • Systems for heat and cold generation, storage, and distribution
  • The electrical system
• Supervisory control, where you define central control signals that can be used in all places of the model
• Energy assessment data, including
  • Energy Meters
  • Energy Traders
  • Energy Contracts
  • Energy Rate Plans
• Input detail tables, from where you can have access to thematically sorted model inputs, which would otherwise have to be laboriously compiled from all over the model. You will find tables for
  • Zones = indoor spaces and its types, geometric data, setpoints, heating and cooling units, ventialtion terminals, internal masses and heat sources with time schedules
  • The building envelope and its walls, windows, openings and leaks
  • Geometries for building bodies, shading objects, imported CAD objects and geometries for different model influences
  • Measuring devices, either as actually installed or for post-processing purposes

Schematic tab

The schematic view of the model can at any time be generated, in order to have a complete human readable and transparent insight, all the way down to the mathematical equations that the solver solves during the simulation. Even though the model can be edited with even greater flexibility in this Schematic view (called the “Advanced Level"), you would alway prefer to do so in the other views (the Standard Level) whenever possible, as this is much cheaper and reduces the risk of errors.

In the schematic view, the model components are easily identifiable by their icons, and the relevant connections between them are clearly visible. For example, the zone models are connected to the walls and windows adjacent to them, as well as to parts of the building services equipment, such as supply and exhaust air terminals, which are connected to the components of the air handling unit, etc.

Opening the model components provides direct insight into the model equations:

Example of model equations for a sruface exposed to ambient

Note: The schematic view belongs to what is called the "Advanced Level". You will always have the possibility to create and view the model in the schematic view, but only the Expert edition allows you to also edit the model from this view.

Floor plan tab

Form the floor plan view, building geometry can easiest be inserted and edited. The building bodies and the zones (indoor spaces) can be created by drawing their outlines and entering their height. You can snap to CAD lines, and windows and doors can be dragged and dropped from a library onto the zone boundary lines.

3D tab

The 3D view is most convenient for getting the quickest overview and understanding over the building and its geometry. Objects like windows, shading overhangs, balconies or PV panels can directly be dragged and dropped to the building body surfaces. The geometry can be cut in all three main directions, and the cutting plane can be moved to the desired location. Object can be opened from this view, in order to give physical and other properties.

Shading animation in the 3D view

Animation tab

This second tab, which displays a 3D view of the model, is intended solely for result animation. Here, you can visualize 3D result fields for a specific static time point, or animate moving 3D results.

Annual daylight result animation

Simulation tab

The simulation tab is the place, where simulations can be started. It gives an overview over different simulation types and the settings for simulation, requested outputs, etc. can be set. 

Outline tab

In the outline tab, the data of the whole building is displayed in a different, tabular format. On the left-hand side, you find the hierarchical structure of the objects and their components. They are allocated in different groups. The contents of the object or collection selected on the left pane.

Summary tab

After a simulation, the summary tab shows a summery of the results of the simulation. The results are shown in tables. Some tables show results of zones, some others of the whole building and some are lists of the used energy meters.

More Information about the summary tab you find in the Video Tutorial Simulation Summary

Details tab

To analyze the results more detailed, there is the details tab. Here the results are graphically shown. Either in diagrams or in reports. The different variables, which were logged during a simulation, can be shown, hidden or compared with others. In the simulation tab (see above) the variables can be selected for logging (requested output).

The type of these diagram can individually be changed. 

Tabs for extensions

If there are installed some extensions then some additional tabs are visible. The following list gives an overview of the tabs and the related extension.

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