[Equest-users] eQuest Default Schedules

Wed May 17 07:58:19 PDT 2017

In the simulation, schedule is always coupled with the entered peak value -
e.g. equipment schedule with the equipment power density (EPD),
infiltration schedule with the peak infiltration rate, etc. So I wouldn’t
discuss the schedule fraction in isolation from the entered peak. The table
below from 2013 ASHRAE Fundamentals chapter on the load calculations shows
nameplate power versus average power for typical computer equipment.
Clearly, if the modeled peak EPD is based on the nameplate power, the
modeled schedule fraction should be very significantly lower than if the
peak EPD is based on the average power.

There is no peak + schedule pair that is correct for all buildings, as
illustrated in the table below from the same chapter. Or, taking an
optimistic “glass half full” point of view, there must be a building out
there for which QUEST Wizard defaults (or any default peak and schedule
pair for that matter) is absolutely correct.

Multifamily is a good example of the uncertainty of what the appropriate
inputs should be. PNNL prototype model for high-rise apartment building is
modeled with 0.62 W/SF peak equipment loads, compared to 1.42 W/SF peak
multifamily loads in COMNET Appendix B. Both sources are meant to represent
“typical”, and use schedules that have similar Equivalent Full Load Hours
(EFLH).

I think it is a dangerous advice to use “…. design day schedules, with
values near 100% during occupied hours, to produce reasonable zone cooling
loads, if auto-sizing.” Using auto-sizing for Appendix G constant volume
(CV) Systems 1 – 4 in conjunction with the design day schedules has
dramatic impact on the baseline fan energy. And since 90.1 does not
prescribe plug loads, the inputs can be manipulated to get the performance
rating of modeler’s choosing for the given proposed design.

As for the infiltration, I think it is hard to justify the detailed
infiltration modeling (i.e. without using the schedules) on a typical LEED,
incentive program, or energy audit project, if infiltration rate is
impossible to pin down. Quoting from the same chapter in ASHRAE
Fundamentals, “…Infiltration also depends on wind direction and magnitude,
temperature differences, construction type and quality, and occupant use of
exterior doors and operable windows. As such, it is impossible to
accurately predict infiltration rates.”

*From:* Equest-users [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org] *On
Behalf Of *Porter, Frederick NOR via Equest-users
*Sent:* Tuesday, May 16, 2017 11:15 AM
*To:* Lapierre, Patrick <plapierre at bpa.ca>; Melissa Crowe <
MCrowe at engsolutions.com>
*Cc:* equest-users at onebuilding.org
*Subject:* Re: [Equest-users] eQuest Default Schedules

OK, BEM History Buffs,

To the extent these aren’t just guesswork, I think the electric end-use
schedules (ASHRAE, Wizard, etc.) generally used or referenced by modelers
evolved from “ELCAP” information:

“The End-Use Load and Consumer Assessment Program (ELCAP) was undertaken by
the Bonneville Power Administration from *1986 through 1989* in an effort
to obtain hourly and sub-hourly electricity demand information from a
variety of residential and commercial end-uses.”

EVERYTHING you want to know about this is available at
https://elcap.nwcouncil.org/Reports.aspx! It seems on other parts of that
website you can comb through raw data if you want.

There are some obvious flaws with schedules output by the Wizard for a
default eQ office building:

If ASHRAE 62.1 #/ksf or chair counts, etc. are used to set space occupancy,
it’s pretty clear that occupancy schedules should not be 90% during most
occupied hours for all spaces in most commercial/institutional buildings.
(The actual FTE is often only 50% of the sum of these design occupancies.)

I’d say similar things about interior lighting, though that depends more on
the type of building, and not to the same degree. I don’t recall right away
any great recent published load shapes for lighting; lots of effort has
been expended on plug loads.

I’m never quite sure about the differentiation between “Misc Eqp” and
“Office Eqp” (for the default office model, the Wizard only uses its “Misc”
schedule in any case) but it’s pretty clear that neither should be 4% or 6%
on weekends and holidays in most buildings. Unoccupied load magnitudes are
rarely this low, though if folks just take their gear with them now when
they leave, some “office” or classroom areas may approach that. But
“typical” measurements are closer to 30%, excluding servers. NBI has
sponsored and published some good recent work. And Joe Huang and colleagues
are trying to develop more realistic statistical distributions for all
these behavior-driven inputs.

Note that to the extent that more diversity is applied during normal,
occupied hours in the annual simulation using repeating schedules, it
becomes more important to use design day schedules, with values near 100%
during occupied hours, to produce reasonable zone cooling loads, if
“auto-sizing.”

The DHW “use” schedule (5% all nights, 1.5% WEH) seems to be trying to
capture the effects of circulating loop losses or real stragglers. There is
virtually no DHW use at those times. Standby losses should be captured
elsewhere in building models.

And infiltration “schedules?” We’re still using these? Better than nothing
I guess. The Wizard does try to account for entries if a zone has doors,
increasing infiltration even during “fan on” hours when it is normally
reduced. Better than some other default schedules.

Fred

*Fred Porter, BEMP, LEED© AP*

Principal Engineer

Sustainability Services

*NORESCO*

*From:* Equest-users [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
<equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org>] *On Behalf Of *Lapierre,
Patrick via Equest-users
*Sent:* Monday, May 15, 2017 7:15 AM
*To:* Melissa Crowe
*Cc:* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Subject:* [External] Re: [Equest-users] eQuest Default Schedules

I believe some of them are from ASHRAE 90.1-2007 User’s manual.

[image: Bouthillette Parizeau]
<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.bpa.ca_&d=DwMFAw&c=ilBQI1lupc9Y65XwNblLtw&r=3xdcdPfNRiIRbdcNOFLTvgBFEa2F6BAz_UMLqgqXn6k&m=YY7PwbjJGj1_OwpByXkpp7xY8B0Lph0o5YFl7CpT6nE&s=vWJlJlC034SwRB0BUlu-DSNGKmJf52uv_TLR6RHKvfI&e=>

*Patrick* *Lapierre**_ing. BEMP*

plapierre at bpa.ca | t: 5143833747x2807

*De :* Equest-users [mailto:equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org
<equest-users-bounces at lists.onebuilding.org>] *De la part de* Melissa Crowe
via Equest-users
*Envoyé :* 15 mai 2017 09:09
*À :* equest-users at lists.onebuilding.org
*Objet :* [Equest-users] eQuest Default Schedules

Good Morning

Anyone know a reference describing how eQuest default schedules (OCC,
LIGHT, EQUIP….)  for different building types were developed?

Thanks

Melissa Crowe

[image: Description: Description: Description: Description: Description:
cid:image003.jpg at 01CCFDCE.40462190]

*Melissa P. Crowe*, LEED AP
Project Engineer

Engineered Solutions, Inc.
6 Union St, Natick MA 01760
508.647.9200 x225 (P) l 508.652.1936 (F)
MCrowe at EngSolutions.com

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