Examples of EnergyPlus HVAC

Simulation Features
Michael Rosenberg, J ian Zhang, Yunzhi Huang
Building Energy Simulation Forum
November 16, 2011
EnergyPlus Example HVAC Simulation Features
1. Built in Energy Management System
2 Zone Air Mi ing 2. Zone Air Mixing
3. Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
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1. Energy Management System in EnergyPlus
Standard control in EnergyPlus
Models typical operational strategies such as: Models typical operational strategies such as:
Thermostatic control, flow control, daily and
seasonal schedules,
Outdoor temperature reset, economizer control,
Equipment load staging, and daylighting control.
T i ll d fi d t l ith l Typically predefined control sequences with only
schedules and set points accessible to the user.
Interactions between components are limited and
are usually hard-coded in the simulation program.
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Energy Management System in EnergyPlus
Energy management systemcontrol Energy management system control
EMS in EnergyPlus is a powerful tool to simulate
complex HVAC system controls
E l t th t f t l ibl ith th di it l Emulates the types of controls possible with the digital
energy management systems used in real buildings
EMS enables control interactions between components
Accesses sensor data initiates control actions
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Energy Management System in EnergyPlus
EMS
Sensors (to GET)
Temperatures
Flow
Status (on/off) Status (on/off)
Metered data
Actuators (to SET)
Availability on/off Availability- on/off
Schedules
Setpoints (temp, humidity)
Fl Flow
Programs E+ Runtime Language (Erl)
Keywords (RUN, SET, IF, ELSEIF, ENDIF)
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Operators (+, -, /, ) & Built-in functions (math,
psychrometric,)
Example of EMS in CBP Project
DOEs Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) Program
PNNL teamed with one of Americas largest retailers to explore energy design
measures by retrofitting one of their existing stores measures by retrofitting one of their existing stores
Retrofit project goal: cutting site energy use by 30%
Pre/post-renovation metering data available to calibrate simulation
Detailed simulation is required: EnergyPlus 4.0
Location
Virginia
Building type
Retail
Built
1987
6
Area
~100,000 ft
2
No. of stories
1 level
Building HVAC System and Thermal Zoning
Builtup air handling unit (AHU)
Chilled water cooling
Central system duct furnace
Operates like a single zone VAV system with inputs from main sales floor (Control Zone).
Other areas and zones (Slave Zones) are also served by zone heaters
OA
VFD
Controlsignalfrommain
salesfloorconditions
RA
Main office
RTU1
Salon
RTU2
Sales floor (Control Zone)
Storage, offices, and other (Slave Zones)
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Supply Air Flow and Temperature Control
Heating setpoint 70 F
Cooling setpoint 75 F
Fan speed
control control
Temperature
control control
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Modeling with EnergyPlus Standard Controls
Control Control Control
Zone
Slave
Z 1
Control
Zone
Control
Z Zone 1
Slave
Zone 2
Zone
Control
Zone
Design schematic
Model in E+ with standard
control
Zone 2 Zone

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Modeling with EnergyPlus Standard Controls
E+ objects and settings Problems
AirLoopHVAC:OutdoorAirSystem
Slave zones
System
level
p y
become control
zones
Supply fan stays
Coil:Cooling:Water
Fan:VariableVolume Max 100% Min 30%
Coil:Heating:Gas
at minimum(30%)
at heating mode
Cannot realize
Hypothetical central heating coil with zero W capacity
SetpointManager:Warmest
Strategy: MaximumTemperature
AirTerminal:SingleDuct:VAV:Reheat
Heating: 34% at
1st stage, 66% at
2nd stage
Zone level
AirTerminal:SingleDuct:VAV:Reheat
Scheduled Minimum Flow Fraction at 30%
Gas reheat. Duct furnaces capacity is proportionally
split to terminal reheat coils based on design flow
Reverse damper action
Cannot
synchronize
heating and VAV
damper positions
Zone level
Reverse damper action
ThermostatSetpoint:DualSetpoint
Deadband 70F - 75F for Control Zone
D db d70F 90F f Sl Z Deadband 70F - 90F for Slave Zones
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Simulated Controls with EMS
Control
Zone
Control
Zone
Slave
Zone 1
Slave
Slave
Zone 1
Slave
Design system Simulated controls in
EnergyPlus with EMS
Slave
Zone 2
Slave
Zone 2
EnergyPlus with EMS
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EMS Program Applied
IF Control Zone reheat coil
input, Q SET
Q > = 50% capacity
2
nd
stageheatingmode
Slave Zone reheat coil availability = YES
Slave and Control Zone min damper = 66%
0< Q < 50% Capacity
1
st
stageheatingmode
Slave Zone reheat coil availability = YES
Slave and Control Zone min damper = 34%
Q = 0
Ventilation or cooling mode
Slave Zone reheat coil availability = NO
Slave and Control Zone min damper = 30%
Slave Zone damper opening fraction = Ventilationorcoolingmode Slave Zone damper opening fraction =
Control Zone damper opening fraction
Sensor / Actuator
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Sensor / Actuator
Hourly Results of Winter and Summer Days
H ti d C li d Heating mode Cooling mode
Reheating coil availability and
VAV damper positions are
synchronized synchronized
Reheat coils input rate is not
available as actuator. EMS available as actuator. EMS
limitation
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Other Examples of Use of EMS
Turn on a relief fan when economizer is in use
Simulate pressure control
If OA > Min Ventilation Energize relief fan
Reduce cooling temperature setpoint if space humidity
exceeds threshold
If RH >60%C li t i t 75 72 d F If RH > 60% Cooling setpoint 75 72 deg. F
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2. Zone Air Mixing in Energy Plus
ZoneMixing
Simplified treatment of air exchange between zones Simplified treatment of air exchange between zones
User defined air transfer
Transfers energy from one zone to another (sensible and latent heat
transfer) transfer)
Input parameters
Source zone
Receiving zone
Airflow rate flow per zone, flow/person, flow/area, ACH
Schedule
Delta temperature availability
Outdoor air temperature availability
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Example of Zone Air Mixing in AEDG
Advanced Energy Design Guides
Guidance and recommendations by building Guidance and recommendations by building
type and climate
Identifies pathways to 30% and 50% energy
savings g
Collaboration of professional organizations
and DOE
Backed by technical support documents
(TSDs)
http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/
technical_reports/PNNL-19809.pdf
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Zone Air Mixing AEDG Quick Service Restaurant
Transfer air from dining room used as MU air for kitchen exhaust
Location
Various
Building type
Restaurant
Built
New Construction
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Area
~25,000ft
2
No. of stories
1 level
Zone Air Mixing AEDG Quick Service Restaurant
Transfer air from dining room used as MU air for kitchen exhaust
RTU 1
OA2 =3,120 OA1 =2,080
Bathroom
Exhaust
RTU 2 RTU-1
BX =400
RTU-2
0
0
KX =4,800
BX 400
TRA =1,680
RA1
SA2 RA2
SA1
Kitchen Dining Area
ZoneMixing,
Kitchen_Exhaust_Fan_Mixing, !- Name
Kitchen, !- Zone Name
Hours_of_kitchen_operation, !- Schedule Name
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_ _ _ p
Flow/Zone, !- Design Flow Rate Calculation Method
1,680, !- Design Flow Rate {ft3/min}
Dining, !- Source Zone Name
0.0; !- Delta Temperature {deltaF}
Zone Air Mixing AEDG Quick Service Restaurant
ZoneMixing Not the perfect solution
Only energy balance is affected air balance is left to the users discretion
Kitchen Need to account for actual kitchen exhaust energy increased SP Kitchen Need to account for actual kitchen exhaust energy increased SP
Dining - Not an issue since equivalent air flow to transfer is relieved through RTU-1.
Unless ERV is also included in dining zone, then dummy exhaust added.
RTU-1
Bathroom
Exhaust
RTU-2
RTU-1
Bathroom
Exhaust
RTU-2
Dummy
Exhaust
SP =0
SP2 =SP1 x 4,800
3,120
OA2 =3,120 OA1 =2,080
OA2 =3,120
OA1 =2,080
0
0
KX =4,800
BX =400
TRA =1,680
RA1
SA 2 RA2
SA1
0
0
KX=3,120
BX =400
TRA =1,680
RA1
SA2 RA2 SA1
TX =1,680
Kitchen Dining Area
Kitchen Dining Area
Actual Design Simulated Design
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Actual Design Simulated Design
3. DOAS in EnergyPlus
DOAS
Two parallel HVAC systems serving a single zone
Decouples OA ventilation load fromspace loads Decouples OA ventilation load from space loads
Better control of space temperature and humidity
Better control over quantity of OA
Single OA supply and exhaust enhance energy recovery S ge O suppy a d e aus e a ce e e gy eco e y
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DOAS in EnergyPlus
Like many simulation programs E+ limit is one HVAC system per zone
Only one air loop serving a zone
Air loop can be DOAS serving multiple zones with zonal equipment Air loop can be DOAS serving multiple zones with zonal equipment
providing space conditioning (ex. fan coils, heat pumps or radiant panels)
Air loop can be space conditioning system serving multiple zones with
zonal DOAS
EnergyPlus Air Loop
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Example of DOAS in AEDG Medium Office
Location
Various
Building type
Medium Office
Built
New Construction
22
Area
~54,000ft
2
No. of stories
3 story
Example of DOAS in AEDG Medium Office
Fan Coil Units Combined with Multi-zone DOAS
DOAS
DOASWithEnergyRecovery
DOAS control SA
OA OA
DOAS control SA
temperature based on OA
reset schedule
Fan coil control thermostat
setpoint
EA
Conditioned OA Conditioned OA
setpoint
ConditionedOA ConditionedOA
RA
RA
F C il
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FanCoil
FanCoil
Example of DOAS in AEDG MediumOffice
DOAS Temperature Control
SetpointManager:OutdoorAirReset
DOAS Supply Air Reset
Schedule
SetpointManager:OutdoorAirReset,
DOAS SAT setpoint, !- Name
Temperature, !- Control Variable
60, !- Setpoint at Outdoor Low Temp
50, !- Outdoor Low Temp
57
58
59
60
61
m
p

D
e
g
.

F
.

Schedule
, p
55, !- Setpoint at Outdoor High Temp
60, !- Outdoor High Temp
DOAS Supply Outlet Node; !- Setpoint Node or NodeList Name
54
55
56
57
0 20 40 60 80 100
S
A

T
e
m
OA Temp, Deg. F.
Fan Coil Control
ThermostatSetpoint:DualSetpoint,
Core_bottomDualSPSched, !- Name
60
70
80
90
Heating Setpoint Cooling Setpoint
HTGSETP_SCH, !- Heat Setpoint Temp Sched Name
CLGSETP_SCH; !- Cool Setpoint TempSched Name
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23
Weekday
24
y
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