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<font size=3>Several crucial items were repaired in V8.0.0.008, the new
release.<br><br>
EnergyPlus Version 8.0 and OpenStudio Legacy Plug-in 1.0.10
Available<br><br>
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released <br>
an updated version of EnergyPlus simulation <br>
software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting, <br>
ventilating, and other building energy flows. <br>
Additionally, a new version of OpenStudio Legacy <br>
Plug-in for Trimble SketchUp is available, which <br>
makes it possible to perform EnergyPlus <br>
simulations using Sketchup's user-friendly 3-D drawing
interface.<br>
Visit
<a href="http://www.energyplus.gov/" eudora="autourl">
www.energyplus.gov</a> to learn more and <br>
download EnergyPlus and OpenStudio Plug-in now.<br><br>
Highlights of this release (V8.0.0.007)<br><br>
The highlights improved and new features are displayed by
category.<br><br>
General<br><br>
* Speed improvements and many bug fixes throughout.<br><br>
Datasets<br><br>
* Weather files (EPW) from TMY3 now have corrected illuminance data.<br>
* Updated life cycle costing price escalation data.<br><br>
Input<br><br>
* Added support for sub-hourly values and <br>
interpolation for schedules that are input using a file (Schedule:File
object).<br>
* Added two new fuel type input options <br>
(OtherFuel1 & OtherFuel2) to all components that <br>
specify the type of fuel, for general use when <br>
modeling alternative energy sources, such as wood or other
biofuels.<br><br>
Zone and Surface Models<br><br>
* Added option to choose timestep-integrated <br>
calculations for solar, shading, and daylighting <br>
for use with dynamic facade controls.<br><br>
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation<br><br>
* Expanded AirFlow Network support for hybrid <br>
modeling to include VAV air handlers.<br><br>
HVAC and Refrigeration<br><br>
* A new general-purpose plant heat exchanger <br>
model (HeatExchanger:FluidToFluid) was added for <br>
coupling and controlling all kinds of plant loops <br>
and modeling multiple secondary loops (replaces <br>
HeatExchanger:WatersideEconomizer, <br>
HeatExchanger:Hydronic, and HeatExchanger:Plate which have been
removed).<br>
* New multispeed AC Furnace for high-SEER with <br>
multistage gas or electric heating coil <br>
(AirLoopHVAC:UnitaryHeatPump:AirToAir:MultiSpeed).<br>
* New central chiller heater system for <br>
applications such as ground source heat pump systems.<br>
* New plant model object <br>
(PlantComponent:TemperatureSource) for a known <br>
temperature source of supply fluid, such as for <br>
river, well, or seawater once through cooling.<br>
* Improved electric chiller condenser heat <br>
recovery modeling to include autosizing, capacity <br>
limits, inlet temperature limit, outlet <br>
temperature control, and improved chiller models <br>
to account for higher rejection temperatures.<br>
* Added support for variable speed DX coils to be <br>
used with CoilSystem:Heating:DX and CoilSystem:Cooling:DX.<br>
* Improved the equation-fit, single-speed, <br>
water-to-air heat pump models to include new <br>
options for cycling or constant fluid flow operation.<br>
* The single-speed DX cooling coil model was <br>
improved to allow the option of defining <br>
performance curves for the sensible heat ratio <br>
(SHR) during operation to support 100% outdoor <br>
air systems and other low-SHR applications.<br>
* The zone exhaust fan model was improved to <br>
allow varying flow rates, controlling on a <br>
minimum temperature limit, selecting how <br>
availability managers behave and declaring what <br>
portion of makeup air is balanced.<br>
* Added calculation and reporting of standard <br>
ratings for HSPF and Net Heating Capacity for <br>
multi-speed air to air heat pump (Coil:Heating:DX:MultiSpeed).<br>
* Added HVACTemplate support for detailed outdoor air
specifications.<br>
* Improved low temperature radiant hydronic <br>
systems to include options for tubing circuit <br>
length sizing calculation and multiple tubing circuits.<br>
* Improved horizontal trench ground heat <br>
exchanger object with simpler interface to piping system
objects.<br><br>
Controls and User Functions<br><br>
* New Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) capability <br>
for EnergyPlus itself to be exported as an FMU for co-simulation.<br>
* Improved capabilities for random number <br>
operations in EnergyPlus Runtime Language programs for EMS.<br><br>
Output<br><br>
* Throughout the program the specific names used <br>
to describe output variables were completely <br>
overhauled to be clearer, to use consistent <br>
terminology, and to use the same names across similar components.<br>
* New XML style option for all tabular reports.<br>
* New LEED summary predefined tabular report.<br>
* New ZoneComponentLoadSummary predefined report <br>
that estimates the load components during a <br>
sizing period for each zone using a pulse/decay curve method.<br><br>
Utilities<br><br>
* IDF Editor Added FILL RIGHT function to copy <br>
values from left most column selected to those to <br>
the right of it similar to the fill right function in spreadsheets.<br>
* IDF Editor Added JUMP menu item to jump to <br>
other fields in other objects that use the same <br>
name as the currently selected field.<br>
* Weather Converter Design day idf/imf snippets <br>
for annual and monthly design conditions as <br>
contained in ASHRAE HOF 2009 were posted to the helpdesk.<br><br>
Documentation and Guides<br><br>
* Documentation has been updated for all documents.<br><br>
Platforms<br><br>
* Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8) 32 and 64 bit versions<br>
* Linux (Ubuntu 12.04 and compatible) 32 and 64 <br>
bit versions; RHEL 5.0 compatible available on request via helpdesk.<br>
* Mac (10.7 and 10.8) 64 bit versions<br>
* EnergyPlus V8.0 has been tested on all of these platforms<br>
* EnergyPlus does intensive computations, for <br>
high performance, computers should have a lot of <br>
memory and fast hard disk speeds.<br><br>
And many other enhancements and speed improvements throughout.<br><br>
Thanks!<br>
The EnergyPlus Team<br><br>
And further information:<br>
Is version 8.0 backward compatible? Can I run v7.2 file in v8.0?<br><br>
> There have been MASSIVE changes to output <br>
variable names (as mentioned above).<br>
> There have been changes in the following <br>
objects which require conversion. Either read and <br>
follow the Rules spreadsheet or use the <br>
IDFVersionUpdater utility. The “Rules” <br>
spreadsheet that contains information on exact <br>
object changes that you can do by hand. For <br>
8.0.0.007, the following objects require conversion (from V7.2):<br>
> ShadowCalculation<br>
> Coil:Heating:DX:Multispeed<br>
> EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable<br>
> EnergyManagementSystem:MeteredOutputVariable<br>
> HeatExchanger:WatersideEconomizer<br>
> HeatExchanger:Hydronic<br>
> HeatExchanger:Plate<br>
> AirflowNetwork:Distribution:Component:ConstantVolumeFan<br>
> ZoneHVAC:HighTemperatureRadiant<br>
> AirConditioner:VariableRefrigerantFlow<br>
> Boiler:HotWater<br>
> Chiller:Electric<br>
> Chiller:ConstantCOP<br>
> Chiller:EngineDriven<br>
> Chiller:CombustionTurbine<br>
> Chiller:Electric:EIR<br>
> Chiller:Electric:ReformulatedEIR<br>
> Chiller:Absorption<br>
> Chiller:Absorption:Indirect<br>
> And for the HeatExchanger changes - Branch, <br>
PlantEquipmentList and CondenserEquipmentList <br>
have to be changed to the new object name.<br><br>
Multiple Version Conversions<br><br>
The install includes the IDFVersionUpdater <br>
program and the necessary programs to convert <br>
from the previous version to the current version. <br>
For older versions, you will need to visit the <br>
helpdesk and download the multiple conversion set <br>
of programs. "Converting Older Files" <br>
<a href="http://energyplus.helpserve.com/Knowledgebase/List/Index/46/converting-older-version-files" eudora="autourl">
http://energyplus.helpserve.com/Knowledgebase/List/Index/46/converting-older-version-files</a>
<br>
- will contain the necessary readmes and zip/tar <br>
files of programs to convert IDFs from older EnergyPlus
versions.<br><br>
<br><br>
<br>
------------------------------------<br><br>
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