Example Input Files¶
The EnergyPlus install includes a sample of example input files. For the most part, the developers create these files to illustrate and test a specific feature in EnergyPlus. Then, we pass them along to you for illustrative purposes. The install contains two spreadsheet files related to the example files:
-
ExampleFiles.xls - lists all the files available -- whether through the install or through an external site.
-
ExampleFiles-ObjectLink.xls - illustrates the first 3 occurances in the example files of an object.
Following convention, each example file should have at the top a set of comments that tell what the purpose of the file is and the key features.
For example, the file titled "5ZoneAirCooled.idf" has:
! 5ZoneAirCooled.idf
! Basic file description: 1 story building divided into 4 exterior and one interior conditioned zones and return plenum.
!
! Highlights: Electric chiller with air cooled condenser; autosized preheating and precooling water coils in the
! outside air stream controlled to preheat and precool setpoints.
!
! Simulation Location/Run: CHICAGO_IL_USA TMY2-94846, 2 design days, 2 run periods,
! Run Control executes the run periods using the weather file
!
! Location: Chicago, IL
!
! Design Days: CHICAGO_IL_USA Annual Heating 99% Design Conditions DB, MaxDB = -17.3°C
! CHICAGO_IL_USA Annual Cooling 1% Design Conditions, MaxDB = 31.5°C MCWB = 23.0°C
!
! Run Period (Weather File): Winter 1/14, Summer 7/7, CHICAGO_IL_USA TMY2-94846
!
! Run Control: Zone and System sizing with weather file run control (no design days run)
!
! Building: Single floor rectangular building 100 ft x 50 ft. 5 zones - 4 exterior, 1 interior, zone height 8 feet.
! Exterior zone depth is 12 feet. There is a 2 foot high return plenum: the overall building height is
! 10 feet. There are windows on all 4 facades; the south and north facades have glass doors.
! The south facing glass is shaded by overhangs. The walls are woodshingle over plywood, R11 insulation,
! and gypboard. The roof is a gravel built up roof with R-3 mineral board insulation and plywood sheathing.
! The windows are of various single and double pane construction with 3mm and 6mm glass and either 6mm or
! 13mm argon or air gap. The window to wall ratio is approxomately 0.29.
! The south wall and door have overhangs.
!
! The building is oriented 30 degrees east of north.
!
! Floor Area: 463.6 m2 (5000 ft2)
! Number of Stories: 1
!
! Zone Description Details:
!
! (0,15.2,0) (30.5,15.2,0)
! _____ ________ ____
! |\ *** **************** /|
! | \ / |
! | \ (26.8,11.6,0) / |
! * \_____________________________/ *
! * |(3.7,11.6,0) | *
! * | | *
! * | | *
! * | (26.8,3.7,0)| *
! * |___________________________| *
! * / (3.7,3.7,0) \ *
! | / \ |
! | / \ |
! |/___******************___***________\|
! | Overhang | |
! |_______________________| | window/door = *
! |___|
!
! (0,0,0) (30.5,0,0)
!
! Internal gains description: lighting is 1.5 watts/ft2, office equip is 1.0 watts/ft2. There is 1 occupant
! per 100 ft2 of floor area. The infiltration is 0.25 air changes per hour.
!
! Interzone Surfaces: 6 interzone surfaces (see diagram)
! Internal Mass: None
! People: 50
! Lights: 7500 W
! Windows: 4 ea.: 1) Double pane clear, 3mm glass, 13mm air gap
! 2) Double pane clear, 3mm glass, 13mm argon gap
! 3) Double pane clear, 6mm glass, 6mm air gap
! 4) Double pane lowE, 6mm lowE glass outside, 6mm air gap, 6mm clear glass
!
! Doors: 2 ea.: Single pane grey, 3mm glass
!
! Detached Shading: None
! Daylight: None
! Natural Ventilation: None
! Compact Schedules: Yes
!
! HVAC: Standard VAV system with outside air, hot water reheat coils,
! central chilled water cooling coil. Central Plant is single hot water
! boiler, electric compression chiller with air cooled condenser.
! All equipment is autosized. HW and ChW coils are used in the outside air
! stream to precondition the outside air.
!
! Zonal Equipment: AirTerminal:SingleDuct:VAV:Reheat
! Central Air Handling Equipment: Yes
! System Equipment Autosize: Yes
! Purchased Cooling: None
! Purchased Heating: None
! Coils: Coil:Cooling:Water, Coil:Heating:Water
! Pumps: Pump:VariableSpeed
! Boilers: Boiler:HotWater
! Chillers: Chiller:Electric
!
! Results:
! Standard Reports: None
! Timestep or Hourly Variables: Hourly
! Time bins Report: None
! HTML Report: None
! Environmental Emissions: None
! Utility Tariffs: None
In addition to the idf files, usually an .rvi and perhaps a .mvi of the same file set is included. As discussed previously, the .rvi is used with the ReadVarsESO post-processing program and the .eso file to create a .csv file which can be read easily into ExcelTM. Like the .rvi, the .mvi file can be used with the .mtr file to create a similar version for "metered" outputs.