Automate ApacheSim Analysis

[SakuraOno]

Hi all,

I'm testing several different building characteristics and I'm running dynamic simulations with ApacheSim (because I need it's hourly outputs). However, due to the number of different characteristics that I need to test, I could actually end up having several thousands simulations to run.

I was wondering if there's any script inside IES or smarter batch simulations that we can utilize to automate the entire process? For example, if I want to test several different wall constructions, is there any way that I can set it up so IES will iterate through my list of different wall constructions and run a new simulation every time it changes the wall construction? (instead of me clicking through everything, changing the wall construction, then run the simulation again manually every time?)

Thanks!

[PCully]

Hi,

You could use the Batch facility in ApacheSim to do this, you'd have to set up the models first.

Phil

[SakuraOno]

HI Phil,

thanks for the reply. Yes, I did use Batch simulation, but still I had to manually change each parameter, is there any script writing capabilities within IES that I can make IES do this by itself?

thanks.

[PCully]

Not within VE no, you'd have to set them up manually and use the Batch facility to queue up the simulations.

You could consider a 3rd party tool for this but it could get quite expensive. Our QA team use Test Complete to automate testing, this records interactions with the software and creates scripts based on these which can be edited and re-run multiple times.

Phil

[SakuraOno]

Not within VE no, you'd have to set them up manually and use the Batch facility to queue up the simulations.

You could consider a 3rd party tool for this but it could get quite expensive. Our QA team use Test Complete to automate testing, this records interactions with the software and creates scripts based on these which can be edited and re-run multiple times.

Phil

Thank you Phil. By the way, is there any documentation comparing Energy Plus performance with IES? I'm asking because I feel that the inability to automate things in IES might force me to switch to another simulation software that allows automation. But I'd really rather not resort to this. I'm only interested in free running building simulations (not HVAC system whatsoever) so I'm keen to know how the performance of Energy Plus compared to IES for this type of building.

And specifically, I'm interested in HOURLY outputs (hourly dry bulb, dew-point temp, relative humidity, etc.....), does EnergyPlus gives you these kind of output, say hourly output for an entire year (all 8760 of it, which I happily consume on a regular basis)? apologies if this question is not directly related to IES, but people in this forum have been SO helpful here so I thought I'd give it a try here..... and I can't seem to find a straight answer about this......

[SakuraOno]

Not within VE no, you'd have to set them up manually and use the Batch facility to queue up the simulations.

You could consider a 3rd party tool for this but it could get quite expensive. Our QA team use Test Complete to automate testing, this records interactions with the software and creates scripts based on these which can be edited and re-run multiple times.

Phil

Thank you Phil. By the way, is there any documentation comparing Energy Plus performance with IES? I'm asking because I feel that the inability to automate things in IES might force me to switch to another simulation software that allows automation. But I'd really rather not resort to this. I'm only interested in free running building simulations (not HVAC system whatsoever) so I'm keen to know how the performance of Energy Plus compared to IES for this type of building.

And specifically, I'm interested in HOURLY outputs (hourly dry bulb, dew-point temp, relative humidity, etc.....), does EnergyPlus gives you these kind of output, say hourly output for an entire year (all 8760 of it, which I happily consume on a regular basis)? apologies if this question is not directly related to IES, but people in this forum have been SO helpful here so I thought I'd give it a try here..... and I can't seem to find a straight answer about this......

[PCully]

A straight answer to that question is hard to provide I'm afraid. I can't really comment on Energyplus and I'm sure if you asked them directly you'd get the same answer.

You can only really assess this yourself...

Does EnergyPlus allow automation in the manner you require?

Phil