Lecture 3: Output—Reports, Variables, and Meters

Material prepared by GARD Analytics, Inc. and University of Illinoisat Urbana-Champaign under contract to the National Renewable Energy

Laboratory. All material Copyright 2002-2003 U.S.D.O.E. - All rights reserved

2

Importance of this Lecture to the Simulation of Buildings

Running a simulation program results in the production of output data

Understanding the output data and its format can help avoid mistakes and save time

3

Purpose of this Lecture

Gain an understanding of:

Different output files of EnergyPlus

Which output will be the most useful and how to get it

Define accumulation “meters” to save time in processing and analyzing results

4

Keywords Covered in this Lecture

Report

Report Variable

Report Meter

5

Output Data Format

Same philosophy as for input; somewhat human readable output files

EnergyPlus can perform some output processing to help limit output size

User definable variable level reporting

6

Output Reporting Flexibility

User can select any variables available for output

User can specify output at time step, hourly, daily, monthly, or environment intervals

User can schedule each output variable

User can select various meters by resource and end-use

7

Types of Output

Report Variables

Report Meters

Default Reports

Optional Reports

8

Output Files

Eplusout.<ext> Filename.<ext>

eio Initialization Output – environments, constructions, global settings

eso Standard Output – numeric data

csv csv spreadsheet of eso data

err Errors Output – always review this!

rdd Report Data Dictionary – list of validreport variables for a particular run

9

Output Files (cont’d)

dxf dxf drawing of building surfaces

mtr Meter output – numeric data

Meter.csv csv spreadsheet of meter data

mtd Meter details – lists which reportvariables are on which meters

cif Comis input file

zsz Zone sizing report

ssz System sizing report

Created using CVBbRh.idf

10

Output Files (cont’d)

bnd Branch and node details

dbg Debug output

trn Trnsys output

sln Vertices of surface

For more details see Output Details and Examples

11

Report Commands

Report Variable, EAST ZONE, Mean Air Temperature, Timestep;

Report Variable, *, Mean Air Temperature, Daily, Report Schedule;

Report, Variable Dictionary;

Report, Construction;

Report, Surfaces, DXF;

Report, Surfaces, Details;

MAT only for EAST ZONE every timestep

MAT for all zones, daily average, only when “Report Schedule” equals 1

List all available variables *.rdd

List material and construction properties *.eio

Produce drawing of surfaces *.dxf

List all surfaces with area, tilt, construction, etc.

12

Report Commands (cont’d)

Report Variable,,Outdoor Dry Bulb,monthly;

Report Variable,Zone 1,Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling

Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,Zone 1,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating

Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,,Heating Coil Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,,DX Coil Sensible Cooling Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,,DX Coil Latent Cooling Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,,DX Coil Total Cooling Energy,monthly;

Report Variable,,DX Cooling Coil Electric Consumption,monthly;

Report Variable,,Fan Electric Consumption,monthly;

Report Variable,,Zone/Sys Air Temp,monthly;

Report,Variable dictionary;

Report,surfaces,dxf;

Report,surfaces,details;

Report,construction;

13

Output Data Dictionary (ESO File)

Data Dictionary - Beginning of Output Data File

1,5,Environment

Title[],Latitude[degrees],Longitude[degrees],Time

Zone[],Elevation[m]

2,6,Day of Simulation[],Month[],Day of Month[],DST

Indicator[1=yes

0=no],Hour[],StartMinute[],EndMinute[],DayType

3,3,Cumulative Day of Simulation[],Month[],Day of

Month[],DST Indicator[1=yes 0=no],DayType ! When

Daily Report Variables Requested

246,2,ZN001:FLR001,Surface Inside Temperature[C]

!TimeStep

302,2,ZN002:FLR001,Surface Inside Temperature[C]

!TimeStep

. . .

End of Data Dictionary

14

Output Data (ESO File)

Output Data – After the Data Dictionary

1,CHANUTE AFB ILLINOIS SUMMER, 40.30, -88.13, -6.00,

229.51

2, 1, 7,21, 0, 1, 0.00,10.00,Monday

246,33.3319029536235

302,31.7565160760406

. . .

15

ESO vs. CSV

ESO “Raw” data in comma separated format

“Stream of conscience” report—variables print as they are determined

Less convenient for viewing variables

CSV Organized data in comma separated format

Each row contains data in columns for a particular time step

More convenient for viewing variables

Requires an .rvi file and must run post-processing program

EP-Launch handles this automatically

16

CSV File Sample

Date/Time Environment:Outdoor

Dry Bulb [C](Monthly)

ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Sensible

Heating Energy[J](Monthly)

ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Sensible

Cooling Energy[J](Monthly)

ZONE ONE:Zone/Sys Air

Temp[C](Monthly)

July 25.58495468 0.00E+00 19028775.23 24.4112152

January -17.77778 253868837.1 0.00E+00 20.28659003

January -4.63546707 4144370093 0.00E+00 20.43495965

February -2.23312872 3151142586 0.00E+00 20.46221742

March 1.603242608 2545318797 0.00E+00 20.54348182

April 8.370677083 1431785319 324853.0522 21.20071107

May 15.30398185 639305402.1 51404202.22 22.43806808

June 21.09550347 164326207.4 145308752.2 23.40095162

July 23.49973118 65628804.19 244539864.1 23.81873695

August 21.75707325 96943677.86 103740404 23.32673507

September 18.11458333 346023544.8 45088296.07 22.40959675

October 11.73642473 1065565115 714539.5928 21.18788477

November 4.232118056 2260965068 0.00E+00 20.49516327

December -2.566599462 3853388966 0.00E+00 20.46126771

17

CSV File Sample (cont’d)

Part of the CSV file created when the CVBbRh.idf file is run in EnergyPlus:

Date/Time

RESISTIVE

ZONE:Mean

Air

Temperatur

e[C](Hourly:

REPORTSC

H)

EAST

ZONE:Mean

Air

Temperatur

e[C](Hourly:

REPORTSC

H)

NORTH

ZONE:Mean

Air

Temperatur

e[C](Hourly:

REPORTSC

H)

RESISTIVE

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Cooling

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

EAST

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Cooling

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

NORTH

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Cooling

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

RESISTIVE

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Heating

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

EAST

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Heating

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

NORTH

ZONE:Zone

/Sys

Sensible

Heating

Energy[J](H

ourly:REPO

RTSCH)

ZONE1BAS

EBOARD:B

aseboard

Heating

Rate[W](Ho

urly:REPOR

TSCH)

ZONE2BAS

EBOARD:B

aseboard

Heating

Rate[W](Ho

urly:REPOR

TSCH)

ZONE3BAS

EBOARD:B

aseboard

Heating

Rate[W](Ho

urly:REPOR

TSCH)

DETAILED

COOLING

COIL:Total

Water

Cooling Coil

Rate[W](Ho

urly:REPOR

TSCH)

07/21 01:00:0032.35558 31.84687 32.54195 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 02:00:0031.81557 31.36997 31.94508 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 03:00:0031.31389 30.93895 31.42794 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 04:00:0030.84865 30.52358 30.96918 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 05:00:0030.42387 30.11834 30.52752 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 06:00:0030.03226 29.72461 30.09109 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 07:00:0029.80721 29.84088 29.9142 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 08:00:0024.12819 24.20936 24.22478 7969336 1.02E+07 1.20E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 4065.72 2024.82 2997.335 19442.14

07/21 09:00:0024.00079 23.99989 23.99957 1.45E+07 1.33E+07 1.83E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 2190.512 1066.101 1132.316 18783.6

07/21 10:00:00 24.0007 24.0003 23.99982 1.51E+07 1.39E+07 1.89E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1987.641 869.9992 944.2528 18799.07

07/21 11:00:0023.99996 24.00012 24.00022 1.61E+07 1.48E+07 1.96E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1708.771 635.6866 732.0659 18802.23

07/21 12:00:0024.00028 24.00011 24.00003 1.72E+07 1.56E+07 2.04E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1389.911 390.1691 516.0278 18803.26

07/21 13:00:0023.99991 23.99997 24.00001 1.81E+07 1.62E+07 2.07E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 1196.966 270.4863 460.9324 18783.9

07/21 14:00:0023.99956 24.01824 24.0001 1.92E+07 1.71E+07 2.17E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 879.5861 35.07354 196.6353 18781.08

07/21 15:00:0023.99998 24.1879 24.0387 1.99E+07 1.73E+07 2.23E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 656.8229 0.00E+00 14.17869 18849.89

07/21 16:00:0024.00017 24.35251 24.24059 2.03E+07 1.75E+07 2.26E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 516.8994 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 18973.62

07/21 17:00:0024.00003 24.33324 24.34564 2.03E+07 1.75E+07 2.29E+07 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 523.1177 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 19013.39

07/21 18:00:0038.04053 35.66377 35.93962 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 19:00:0036.46327 34.70622 35.23245 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 20:00:0035.54667 33.74085 34.69495 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 21:00:0035.21486 33.5262 34.64345 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 22:00:0034.56882 33.18677 34.26335 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 23:00:0033.78711 32.78502 33.74649 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

07/21 24:00:0033.00431 32.36126 33.17585 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00 0.00E+00

18

RVI File

RVI: Report Variable Input

List of variables to take from ESO file and report to CSV file

Example:eplusout.eso

eplusout.csv

Outdoor Dry Bulb

Zone/Sys Air Temp

Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling Energy

Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Energy

FangerPMV

PierceTSENS

KsuTSV

0

Input file name for post-processor

Output file name for post-processor

Report Variables (see IDF or RDD file) to be taken from ESO file and reported in CSV file

End of file marker

19

Report Data Dictionary (RDD Files)

Var Type,Var Report Type,Variable Name [Units]

Zone,Average,Outdoor Dry Bulb [C]

Zone,Average,Outdoor Barometric Pressure [Pa]

Zone,Average,Mean Air Temperature[C]

HVAC,Sum,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Energy[J]

HVAC,Average,Zone/Sys Sensible Heating Rate[W]

Lists applicable output variables for a given input file

Must activate with “report, variable dictionary;” command

20

Meters

Accumulate multiple outputs of same form

Appropriate variables are grouped onto “meters” for reporting purposes

May ease analysis of output

Values are put onto the eplusout.mtr file

Meter component details in eplusout.mtd file

Meter names applicable for the simulation are shown on the Report Data Dictionary file

Meter names are of two forms: <FuelType>:<MeterType>

<EndUseType>:<FuelType>:<MeterType>

21

Meters – Resource Types

Electricity

Gas

Gasoline

Diesel

Coal

FuelOil#1

FuelOil#2

Propane

Water

Steam

PurchasedCooling

PurchasedHeating

EnergyTransfer (coil & equipment loads)

22

Meters – End Use Types

GeneralLights

TaskLights

ExteriorLights

ZoneSource

ExteriorEquipment

Fans

Pumps

Heating

Cooling

HeatRejection

Humidifier

HeatRecovery

DHW

Cogeneration

Miscellaneous

23

Meters – Meter Types

Facility (Master Meters)

Submeters:

Zone (lights, plug loads, etc.)

Building (all zones combined plus exterior)

System (air handlers, terminal units)

Plant (chillers, boilers, DHW, etc.)

24

Meters – Meter Types

Zone Air loop

Plant Loop

Gas:HVAC

Elec:Plant Gas:Plant

Lights:Zone

Elec:HVACElec:Zone

Building System

25

Input for Meters

Report Meter, Electricity:*, Hourly;

Report Meter, Electricity: Facility, monthly;

Report Meter, Cooling: Electricity, monthly;

All electric meters, for all end uses and all levels

Master electric meter

Cooling equipment

26

Input for Meters (cont’d)

Report Meter,Fans:Electricity,monthly;

Report Meter,Cooling:Electricity,monthly;

Report Meter,Heating:Electricity,monthly;

Report Meter,Electricity:HVAC,monthly;

Report Meter,Electricity:Facility,monthly;

Report Meter,Heating:Gas,monthly;

Report Meter,Gas:HVAC,monthly;

Report Meter,Gas:Facility,monthly;

27

Meter Details File

Lists exactly what is included in each meter

*.mtd output file

For Meter=Electricity:Plant [J], contents are:

LITTLE CHILLER:Chiller Electric Consumption [J]

BIG CHILLER:Chiller Electric Consumption [J]

CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]

COND CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]

HW CIRC PUMP:Pump Electric Consumption [J]

BIG TOWER:Tower Fan Electric Consumption [J]

28

Output Files Summary

Simple ASCII files

Simple input format (self-contained)

User-defined output can be interpreted by many programs

Spreadsheets

Databases

Custom Programs

29

Summary

ESO (EnergyPlus Standard Output) file provides user with “raw” output data from EnergyPlus run

CSV file is a version of the ESO file that is in a format more readily usable in a spreadsheet program

Meters and meter output are convenient ways of grouping data for output analysis