idf import and setEPZoneThresholds issues

Hi,

I'm unsure about oppening a new discussion or add to an existing one (Revit import). Decided to add a new one, though they are related for my workflow.

i have an IDF file created with my own software. Trying to import using the IDF fails to import all definitions and as a result the simulation fails in HB. The specific items that are not imported relate to Shading Control on windows (Blinds or shades). Attached my original file (SingleOfficeTest). I used Mostapha's recent example (importIdf.gh) for the test. Deleting from the idf the shading control definitions let the simulation to work.

The second issue relates to the setEPZoneThresholds component. When you hook Cooling/Heating setpoint temperatures it fails to work complaining about 1. Solution exception:List

As usual: I'm missing something or there is a problem?

Thanks,

-A.

Attachments:

SingleOffice4Test.idf, 126 KB

Replies are closed for this discussion.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 8, 2015 at 6:51am

Hi Abrahamand and Mostapha,

I also get the solution exception when importing an idf file(see attached pic.).Is this bug fixed yet?

Thank you!

Attachments:

HoneyError.JPG, 233 KB

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on April 11, 2015 at 9:28am

Hi Nita.

It's hard to say from your screen capture. Can you upload the file?

-Mostapha

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 13, 2015 at 8:42am

Hi Mostapha,

thanks for the fast reply.Please find attached my .idf file.

cheers,

-Nita

Attachments:

O1.idf, 105 KB

Permalink Reply by Abraham Yezioro on April 13, 2015 at 9:15am

Hi Nita,

Good that you uploaded the file.

I took a look and noticed the error. HB is complaining about a specific wall (windowWall6). I opened the file in openstudio and see that there were also errors there (windows not being coplanar to walls, surface normals pointing inwards, triangulation of surfaces) that made me thing how this file was created (see picture from OS). OS fixed the planarity and i flipped the normals. Then saved the file and reinserted in GH. Now it works, as you can see.

I don't think it is a good example to work with, but of course you can go ahead.

Hope it helps,

-A.

Attachments:

O1_A.idf, 120 KB
O1.jpg, 333 KB
O1_A.gh, 78 KB

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 13, 2015 at 10:10am

Hi Abraham,

Thanks for the reply! :D The model was created in Rhino and exported somehow to E+.

Thanks a lot for editing the file.I was not aware of those issues.Will try it in GH right away.

Be good,

Nita

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 13, 2015 at 10:48am

Hi Abraham,

I opened the file and the surface is flat in Rhino. Originally the geometry was modeled with triangulars because of EnergyPlus, and the design of the facade is with 3D 'pyramids'(to evaluate somehow how geometry influences performance), no it not anymore.I don't know if the results of HB will be the same as in EP.

Thanks,

Nita

Permalink Reply by Abraham Yezioro on April 13, 2015 at 11:19am

Hi Nita,

Indeed it will be interesting to reconstruct the process, from the original model to IDF and back.

The question is, for this case, is it worthwhile?

-A.

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 14, 2015 at 3:39am

Hi Abraham,

I am not quite sure about the answer.Of course the conversion might be time consuming.The idea was to compare the results between HB and EP while keeping the geometry and/use input data that were already set in EnergyPlus.

1. The Rhino to E+ was very complex because of the geometry(I didn't work on that).

2. Assuming that I want to import while keeping the geometry(as it is on the .idf I sent to you), what would the workflow be?

Is it the problem at the .idf, or I have to go back to Rhino and remodel?

Thanks,

-N

Permalink Reply by Abraham Yezioro on April 14, 2015 at 6:21am

Hi Nita,

I still don't understand the idea. You want to compare te results of E+ as originally translated from Rhino to those obtained with HB using E+ after importing the idf? Weird, i have to say.

First of all it is the same simulation engine, so the only difference can be produced if HB doesn't import all the data in the idf. I think that right now, Mostapha/Chris correct me if i'm wrong, there are some entities/classes that are not imported (blinds and window shades for instance. Not sure what happen with schedules and other definitions). So the easy way is to send the imported idf to simulation and compare both idf files to see the differences.

As for the specific example i believe the export to E+ spoiled the geometry and flattened the facade faces. I checked that opening the file in open studio (or importing to HB). Another way to check, just to be sure OpenStudio is not making funny things, is manually: Look for the WallSurface class and see the coordinates of the walls. if they have the same X or Y values, for the supposedly inclined walls, then the export was wrong from the beginning.

If you look for some threads here you'll find that HB can deal with complex geometries,. So why to do this double work ...? So my suggestion in the previous message was to take the original geometry from Rhino and go through the process in HB.

Sounds complicated but it isn't so much.

Makes sense?

-A.

Permalink Reply by Nitë on April 17, 2015 at 1:38pm

Hi Abraham,

Thank you for you message.Sorry for the late reply, I am still struggling with octopus.

Yes you are completely right that the cleanest way would be it to work with HB directly.It is a group assignment and my friend works only in EP.

The input data has already been added and the idea is to do some other simulations in GH while keeping the geometry.So we don't go over the input data again.

And also learn the process for future projects.

Is there a site or pdf where it shows what imported and whats not?

Now after importing and flattening the geometry do I rely on the results?Will the angle extruded shape make difference in results?

Thanks again,

Nita

p.s.If you have any ideas about the wwr optimization with octopus i would love to hear them.(I also still haven't figured out what the problem with my model for energy simulations...I constantly get errors)

Now im 'studying' this discussion and definition( http://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/ladybug/forum/topics/parametric-...)it loooks far more complex than I though..and its taking ages..any input would be a great help.

Permalink Reply by Abraham Yezioro on April 18, 2015 at 11:00pm

Hi Nita,

For comparing your "original" idf with the one created with HB i suggest using the idf editor from E+. There you can see if the different classes were imported by HB (i know that shades are not, but i'm not sure about others). ANother option is to compare both files with something like WinMerge (free tool).

If your idf is not running i suggest to open a discussion for that attaching the relevant files.

As for Octopus, as i said, i'm not an "expert". But you need to connect to the G (genome) the sliders that change the alternative (window size, wall size, etc) and to O (objectives) the results that according to them the optimizationn will be calculated.

Things i don't know: how to make a maximization of one of the results and minimization of another (max lighting, for instance, min energy, etc). When you get that please share.

-A.

Permalink Reply by Mostapha Sadeghipour Roudsari on April 19, 2015 at 7:03am

Hi Abraham and Nite,

how to make a maximization of one of the results and minimization of another (max lighting, for instance, min energy, etc). When you get that please share.

A common practice is to multiply the one that needed to be maximized with -1 and then try to minimize both.

Abraham, You're a life-saver!