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<p>Sorry for my non-communicativeness (word ?) the past week,
because I was in New York and just returned last night.</p>
<p>As mentioned by Jason last week, and then repeated here by Nick,
converting eQUEST or DOE-2.1E building models to EnergyPlus is
something that I have had experience, although most of it is by
now a decade old. From 2005-2008, I led a team of 7 at LBNL to
convert DOE-2.1E building models used by the California Energy
Commission for certifying Alternate Compliance Methods (ACMs) to
EnergyPlus (then Version 1.4). Since the team included the
remaining members of the DOE-2 Development Team at LBNL (now since
all retired), our strategy was to modify the DOE-2.1E program to
output an EnergyPlus IDF, which in my mind is the only robust way
to do this since any new program would have to recreate all the
functionality of doebdl and a good part of doesim, plus endless
checking to make sure that its parsing of the original DOE-2 input
file is consistent with DOE-2. Another unique feature of this
modified program, which I ended up calling doe2ep, is that it
creates a full EnergyPlus *.idf including not only the description
of the building as well as that of the HVAC system and plant. The
LOADS conversion was tedious but straight-forward, while the
SYSTEM and PLANT conversions were much more challenging, since it
required creating all the nodes, loops, and components in
EnergyPlus. This was done using HVAC Template Files (NOT the
current set, but a previous incomplete set that used EPMacro (same
as DOE-2 macros) and was abandoned in 2007. The end product was a
working version of doe2ep which translated 95% of the LOADS, 60%
of SYSTEMS (common HVAC system types, e.g., VAVS, PVAVS, PSZ,
etc.), and 25% of PLANT. For the 140+ building models in the
certification suite, doe2ep was able to run DOE-2.1E, convert to
IDF and run EnergyPlus, all in one shot. A brief summary of the
project was presented at IBPSA SimBuild in 2007 (see <a
href="www.whiteboxtechnologies.com/download_06_YJH_doe2ep.htm">here</a>
).</p>
<p>Since I left LBNL, I have used doe2ep sporadically, but have not
done any development work except to obtain IP rights to the source
code. The main difficulties in using doe2ep for translating
eQUEST/DOE-2.2 INP to EnergyPlus IDF are the following:</p>
1) Syntax differences between DOE-2.2 and DOE-2.1E inputs <br>
2) Syntax changes from EnergyPlus 1.4 and subsequent versions of
EnergyPlus<br>
<p>Although it is conceivable to change the base program from
DOE-2.1E to DOE-2.2, that is a major task not to be taken
lightly. What I have done so far is instead to write awk scripts
to change DOE-2.2 to DOE-2.1E, and then run doe2ep on the
converted 2.1E input file. There are several disadvantages to this
method, since it loses the new functionality of 2.2. For example,
DOE-2.2 allows for multiple lighting and equipment inputs within a
single space. When this happens, I have had to add the additional
inputs (provided they are accepted in EnergyPlus) using more awk
scripts.</p>
<p>On the output side, I have used the MultipleVersionUpdater
utility program to migrate from 1.4 to 8.1 (last time I've had to
do this) and, while the program is slow, it does seem to work. <br>
</p>
<img alt=""
src="cid:part2.A97DFAAD.D932E30B@whiteboxtechnologies.com"
height="227" width="500"><br>
<p>Since this process is clearly not a releasable software, my
response to people who've asked for help is to send me their
DOE-2.2 input file(s) to test, and I will let them know the amount
of time needed for a successful conversion. In most cases, the
hangups are in the first step (converting from 2.2 to 2.1E) or if
the eQUEST building model uses a System Type not covered in
doe2ep.</p>
<p>It's also occurred to me that the above process is inefficient,
and that a better solution would be to (1) convert doe2ep to
DOE-2.2, (2) expand the translation of HVAC systems, and (3)
update the Export to the current version of EnergyPlus. However,
doing this would require several months of work and I'm not
convinced of the level of interest or need. <br>
</p>
<p>For those who are interested, please go to this informal Doodle
poll and let me know your level of interest, so I can plan
accordingly:</p>
<p><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://doodle.com/poll/if2xk5x2znihadzh">http://doodle.com/poll/if2xk5x2znihadzh</a><br>
</p>
<p>Joe<br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="90">Joe Huang
White Box Technologies, Inc.
346 Rheem Blvd., Suite 205A
Moraga CA 94556
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:yjhuang@whiteboxtechnologies.com">yjhuang@whiteboxtechnologies.com</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://weather.whiteboxtechnologies.com">http://weather.whiteboxtechnologies.com</a> for simulation-ready weather data
(o) (925)388-0265
(c) (510)928-2683
"building energy simulations at your fingertips"
</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/10/2016 12:05 PM, Nick Caton
wrote:<br>
</div>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Hi Holly,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>This is kind of the inverse query,
but very recently I had an exchange over unmethours.com with
an individual trying to convert a project’s geometries from
e+ to doe 2.1e:
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://unmethours.com/question/20238/doe21e-geometric-input/">https://unmethours.com/question/20238/doe21e-geometric-input/</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Therein I touched on SIMEB. Among
other things, I understand SIMEB is one path to get from e+
to doe2 and vice versa, though you may need to re-specify
systems and zonal associations along the way. I have had a
single “rocky” experience converting a project from e+ to
doe2 (for the previous lowdown showdown challenge), but I’d
largely chalk those difficulties up to not reading the
manual. On that first try I was able to get spaces, zones,
and MOST geometries across correctly alongside “placeholder”
systems… some heavy QC & redevelopment would have been
necessary if I pushed further down that path. Would
personally be interested to explore the capabilities of
SIMEB further in the future… and I haven’t tried the inverse
conversion just yet (might make for an easier/smoother first
effort!).
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I also singled out Joe as the fellow
behind
<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.drawbdl.com/">http://www.drawbdl.com/</a>
. DrawBDL is a for-cost solution which is probably of
interest for your intended workflow, but you’ll need to
confirm with Joe or other DrawBDL endusers the present
extents of what it can presently convert and from which
versions of doe2. I’m not for example certain of how well
DrawBDL handles doe 2.2/2.3 geometries relative to 2.1E, or
how far beyond geometries DrawBDL extends.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If it turns out you do have a
“budget” for this conversion process, I understand over the
years Joe also has developed a number of unpublished scripts
which can automate some/lots of the process (depending on
the systems & components involved) and it may be
possible to contract him on a project-by-project basis to
get a larger fraction of the conversion effort done for
you. You’ll have to ask him nicely ;-).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>To address Jim’s suggestion: the
only commercially available interoperability path I recall
between eQUEST/doe2 and a gbXML schema is/was via GBS … not
sure where that stands today, as it has been some time since
this was of interest for my projects. Maybe someone from
Autodesk can comment?
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>~Nick</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><img id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:part5.8FB25C38.A92BA472@whiteboxtechnologies.com"
alt="mailbox:///C:/Users/Joe%20Huang/AppData/Roaming/Thunderbird/Profiles/6tp56871.default/Mail/Local%20Folders/Bulletin%20Boards.sbd/BLDG-SIM?number=573748177&header=quotebody&part=1.2&filename=image001.png"
height="9" width="722"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Nick Caton, P.E., BEMP</span></b><span></span></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" width="724">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="230">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> Senior Energy Engineer</span><span><br>
</span><span> Energy and Sustainability Services</span><span><br>
</span><span> Schneider Electric</span><span></span></p>
</td>
<td width="291">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>D </span><span>913.564.6361
</span><span><br>
</span><span>M </span><span>785.410.3317
</span><span><br>
</span><span>E </span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:nicholas.caton@schneider-electric.com"><span>nicholas.caton@schneider-electric.com</span></a><span><br>
</span><span>F </span><span>913.564.6380</span><span></span></p>
</td>
<td width="203">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>15200 Santa Fe Trail Drive<br>
Suite 204<br>
Lenexa, KS 66219<br>
United States</span><span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" width="724">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><img id="Picture_x0020_3"
src="cid:part7.2CFA95D8.FBEEB2D4@whiteboxtechnologies.com"
alt="cid:image001.png@01D189AB.58634A10"
height="49" width="722"></span><span></span></p>
</td>
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</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From:</span></b><span>
Bldg-sim [<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org">mailto:bldg-sim-bounces@lists.onebuilding.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brian Fountain via Bldg-sim<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, October 08, 2016 7:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Samuelson, Holly Wasilowski
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:hsamuelson@gsd.harvard.edu"><hsamuelson@gsd.harvard.edu></a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org">bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Bldg-sim] rebuilding eQuest model
in EnergyPlus</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>There is a tool from Quebec called
SimEB that is cross platform between DOE-2.1, DOE-2.2 and
EnergyPlus. Not sure if it will import an .inp but it may
be worth some investigation.</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>I believe the link is
</span><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.simeb.ca"><span>www.simeb.ca</span></a><span>
</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
</div>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From:
</span></b><span>Jim Dirkes via Bldg-sim</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Sent:
</span></b><span>Friday, October 7, 2016 4:40 PM</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>To:
</span></b><span>Samuelson, Holly Wasilowski</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Reply To:
</span></b><span>Jim Dirkes</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Cc:
</span></b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org"><span>bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</span></a><span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>Subject:
</span></b><span>Re: [Bldg-sim] rebuilding
eQuest model in EnergyPlus</span></p>
</div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div id="_originalContent">
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Holly,</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>If you can export gbXML from
eQuest, I know DesignBuilder can import that format as
well as a number of others ... but I've never done it,
so I don't know how much detail comes with it :(</span></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Fri, Oct 7, 2016 at 4:24 PM,
Samuelson, Holly Wasilowski via Bldg-sim <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org"
target="_blank">bldg-sim@lists.onebuilding.org</a>>
wrote:</p>
<blockquote>
<div>
<div>
<p><span>Dear Colleagues,</span></p>
<p><span>Do you have any time-saving advice or tips
for recreating an eQuest model in EnergyPlus?
(We would like to keep most of the geometry,
zoning, scheduling, and other inputs as similar
as possible, and then be able to take advantage
of some E+ functionality.)</span></p>
<p><span>Thank you in advance for any help!</span></p>
<p><span>Warmly, </span></p>
<p><span>Holly</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Holly W.
Samuelson, DDes | LEED
| Registered Architect</span><span></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Assistant
Professor Harvard Graduate School
of Design</span><span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
_______________________________________________<br>
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To unsubscribe from this mailing list send a blank
message to <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:BLDG-SIM-UNSUBSCRIBE@ONEBUILDING.ORG">
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</blockquote>
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<p
class="MsoNormal">James
V Dirkes II,
PE, BEMP, LEED
AP<br>
CEO/President<br>
The Building
Performance
Team Inc.<br>
1631 Acacia
Dr, GR, Mi
49504<br>
<br>
Direct:
616.450.8653<br>
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:jim@buildingperformanceteam.com" target="_blank">jim@buildingperformanceteam.com</a><br>
<br>
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://buildingperformanceteam.com" target="_blank">Website </a>l
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jim-dirkes/7/444/413" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> |
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://buildingperformanceteam.com/bpt-insights-blog/item/73-modeled-performance-isn-t-actual-performance"
target="_blank">
May 2016
ASHRAE Journal
article on
energy
modeling</a></p>
<p><span>…an
open mind is
not an end in
itself but
rather is like
an open mouth,
designed to
bite down on
something
solid and
nourishing</span><span>.</span><span></span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
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