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<font size=3>EnergyPlus Version 8.0 and OpenStudio Legacy Plug-in 1.0.10
Available<br><br>
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released an updated version of
EnergyPlus simulation software for modeling heating, cooling, lighting,
ventilating, and other building energy flows. Additionally, a new
version of OpenStudio Legacy Plug-in for Trimble SketchUp is available,
which makes it possible to perform EnergyPlus 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 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 interpolation for schedules
that are input using a file (Schedule:File object).<br>
* Added two new fuel type input options (OtherFuel1 & OtherFuel2) to
all components that specify the type of fuel, for general use when
modeling alternative energy sources, such as wood or other
biofuels.<br><br>
Zone and Surface Models<br><br>
* Added option to choose timestep-integrated calculations for solar,
shading, and daylighting for use with dynamic facade controls.<br><br>
Natural and Mechanical Ventilation<br><br>
* Expanded AirFlow Network support for hybrid modeling to include VAV air
handlers.<br><br>
HVAC and Refrigeration<br><br>
* A new general-purpose plant heat exchanger model
(HeatExchanger:FluidToFluid) was added for coupling and controlling all
kinds of plant loops and modeling multiple secondary loops (replaces
HeatExchanger:WatersideEconomizer, HeatExchanger:Hydronic, and
HeatExchanger:Plate which have been removed).<br>
* New multispeed AC Furnace for high-SEER with multistage gas or electric
heating coil (AirLoopHVAC:UnitaryHeatPump:AirToAir:MultiSpeed).<br>
* New central chiller heater system for applications such as ground
source heat pump systems.<br>
* New plant model object (PlantComponent:TemperatureSource) for a known
temperature source of supply fluid, such as for river, well, or seawater
once through cooling.<br>
* Improved electric chiller condenser heat recovery modeling to include
autosizing, capacity limits, inlet temperature limit, outlet temperature
control, and improved chiller models to account for higher rejection
temperatures.<br>
* Added support for variable speed DX coils to be used with
CoilSystem:Heating:DX and CoilSystem:Cooling:DX.<br>
* Improved the equation-fit, single-speed, water-to-air heat pump models
to include new options for cycling or constant fluid flow operation.<br>
* The single-speed DX cooling coil model was improved to allow the option
of defining performance curves for the sensible heat ratio (SHR) during
operation to support 100% outdoor air systems and other low-SHR
applications.<br>
* The zone exhaust fan model was improved to allow varying flow rates,
controlling on a minimum temperature limit, selecting how availability
managers behave and declaring what portion of makeup air is
balanced.<br>
* Added calculation and reporting of standard ratings for HSPF and Net
Heating Capacity for 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 systems to include options
for tubing circuit length sizing calculation and multiple tubing
circuits.<br>
* Improved horizontal trench ground heat exchanger object with simpler
interface to piping system objects.<br><br>
Controls and User Functions<br><br>
* New Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) capability for EnergyPlus itself to
be exported as an FMU for co-simulation.<br>
* Improved capabilities for random number operations in EnergyPlus
Runtime Language programs for EMS.<br><br>
Output<br><br>
* Throughout the program the specific names used to describe output
variables were completely overhauled to be clearer, to use consistent
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 that estimates the load
components during a sizing period for each zone using a pulse/decay curve
method.<br><br>
Utilities<br><br>
* IDF Editor Added FILL RIGHT function to copy values from left most
column selected to those to the right of it similar to the fill right
function in spreadsheets.<br>
* IDF Editor Added JUMP menu item to jump to other fields in other
objects that use the same name as the currently selected field.<br>
* Weather Converter Design day idf/imf snippets for annual and monthly
design conditions as 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 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 high performance, computers
should have a lot of 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 variable names (as
mentioned above).<br>
> There have been changes in the following objects which require
conversion. Either read and follow the Rules spreadsheet or use the
IDFVersionUpdater utility. The “Rules” spreadsheet that contains
information on exact object changes that you can do by hand. For
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, PlantEquipmentList and
CondenserEquipmentList have to be changed to the new object
name.<br><br>
Multiple Version Conversions<br><br>
The install includes the IDFVersionUpdater program and the necessary
programs to convert from the previous version to the current version. For
older versions, you will need to visit the helpdesk and download the
multiple conversion set of programs. "Converting Older Files"
<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>
- will contain the necessary readmes and zip/tar files of programs to
convert IDFs from older EnergyPlus versions.<br>
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