AECOsim Building Designer Help

Simulation dialog box Calculate tab

Contains controls used to setup and start a simulation. The Calculate tab can define which zones of a building to conduct an energy simulation for, the type of simulation, which weather data to use, and the length of the simulation.



Note: The Calculate tab is a subset of the Simulation.
Tip: Units Display – Units are displayed using the default system of units that was defined for the project, but can be changed to display using alternative units.
SettingDescription
Buildings The Buildings panel contains a list of all the project buildings, and is used to select individual buildings to include them in the simulation.
Zones The Zones panel contains a list of all the zones defined for the selected building or buildings, and is used to select individual zones to include them in the simulation.
  • Zones pop-up menu – Used to select or deselect zones. Right click anywhere in the Zones panel to activate the following menu:


    • Select all – Selects all the zones in the Zones panel.
    • Select none – Deselects any selected zones in the Zones panel.
Rooms The Rooms panel contains a list of all the rooms defined for the selected zone or zones, and is used to select individual rooms to include them in the simulation.
Name Used to enter a name for the simulation.
Warning: The simulation will not be able to be started unless it is named. The Start button is only activated when the simulation is named.
Description Used to enter a description for the simulation.
HVAC Used to select an HVAC system to simulate from the HVAC systems defined in the project building. The HVAC and equipment section of the input data dictionary (idd file) and input data file (idf file) are more complex than the description of building geometry, internal gains, etc. because of the interconnections of the various parts of an HVAC system. There are several portions to the HVAC simulation. All of these parts must be correctly specified in order to arrive at a valid simulation model.
Note: Enabling the Include HVAC option automatically disables the Simple room model option.
Standard Disabled when AECOsim Energy Simulator is integrated with AECOsim Building Designer. A full installation of AECOsim Energy Simulator is required for this setting to activate.
Simple room model Disabled when AECOsim Energy Simulator is integrated with AECOsim Building Designer. A full installation of AECOsim Energy Simulator is required for this setting to activate.
Create Baseline Buildings Disabled when AECOsim Energy Simulator is integrated with AECOsim Building Designer. A full installation of AECOsim Energy Simulator is required for this setting to activate.
Show results on completion When on (default), simulation results are displayed immediately after the simulation is completed.
Create budget building Disabled when AECOsim Energy Simulator is integrated with AECOsim Building Designer. A full installation of AECOsim Energy Simulator is required for this setting to activate.
Weather data Used to select the Weather data profile from those available on the drop-down list to use for the simulation. the weather data populates the design day dates for cooling and heating and the design temperatures. The available weather profiles are defined in the Weather Manager.
  • Heating design day: — Displays the heating design day or the coldest day of the year. The heating design day date is a read only piece of data, and is determined by the weather data profile.
    • Design temperature – Displays the design temperature for heating.
  • Cooling design day: — Displays the cooling design day or the hottest day of the year. The cooling design day date is a read only piece of data, and is determined by the weather data profile.
    • Peak temperature – Displays the peak temperature for cooling.
Run Period Contains controls used to define the duration of the simulation. A simulation can last one day or a full year.
  • Start Day — Used to define the simulation run period start date. You can enter the date directly using the suggested format or click the down arrow to open the pop up calendar.
  • End Day — Used to define the simulation run period end date. You can enter the date directly using the suggested format or click the down arrow to open the pop up calendar.
  • Full Year — Used to set the simulation run period to be an entire year. Clicking the Full Year button automatically sets both the start date (01 Jan) and the end date (31 Dec).
Cloud When on, simulations are executed on the cloud.
Start Enabled when the simulation is given a name. Clicking the Start button Starts the simulation, closes the Simulation dialog box, and opens the Simulation results dialog.