<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>We are pleased to announce the release of the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed 1.3.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following changes have been made compared to version 1.2:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* TRNSYS has been added as a client program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* The Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) for co-simulation import interface has been added.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* The example files have been updated for EnergyPlus 8.0. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB) is a freely available open-source software environment that allows expert users to couple different simulation programs for co-simulation, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and to couple simulation programs with actual hardware. For example, the BCVTB allows to simulate a building in EnergyPlus and the HVAC and control system in Modelica, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>while exchanging data between the software as they simulate. The BCVTB is based on the Ptolemy II software environment. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The BCVTB allows expert users of simulation to expand the capabilities of individual programs by linking them to other programs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Due to the different programs that may be involved in distributed simulation, familiarity with configuring programs is essential.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Programs that are linked to the BCVTB are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the EnergyPlus whole building energy simulation program,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the Modelica modeling and simulation environment Dymola,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the MATLAB and Simulink tools for scientific computing,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the Radiance ray-tracing software for lighting analysis,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the ESP-r integrated building energy modeling program,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the TRNSYS system simulation program, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* Functional Mock-up Units (FMU) for co-simulation,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the BACnet stack, which allows exchanging data with BACnet compliant Building Automation System (BAS),<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>* the analog/digital interface USB-1208LS from Measurement Computing Corporation that can be connected to a USB port. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition to using programs that are coupled to Ptolemy II, Ptolemy II's graphical modeling environment can also be used to define models for control systems, for physical devices, <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for communication systems or for post-processing and real-time visualization. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For free download and more information, please visit<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/bcvtb">http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/bcvtb</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>--------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thierry Stephane Nouidui, PhD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Simulation Research Group<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 Cyclotron Road, MS 90R3147<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Berkeley, CA 94720<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(510) 495-2337 voice<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>email: TSNouidui@lbl.gov<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>----------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>