Energyplus Output files: Incidence angle

rodolfo.martins · Posts: 6

Greetings,

I am interested in obtaining the incidence angle of the sun on a given surface, which should be available in an output Energyplus file, created after a DesignBuilder analysis. However, I cannot find this information. Can someone help in this matter?

Thanks!

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2619 Location: Stroud

I suggest looking in the EnergyPlus help file to identify the output report required for this. Then you can set up a small IDF in the DB EnergyPlus folder and reference it from the Simulation options dialog under the Advanced header. The results won't be displayed in DB but you can xESOView to view results.

Andy

rodolfo.martins · Posts: 6

Hello Andy!

Thank you very much for your reply!

However, I am experiencing problems with the procedure you suggested, namely, when generating the IDF file (see annex). (I ran DesignBuilder with administrator privileges and uncheck the readonly option from the IDF file that I crated)

The variable I want to obtain is "Surface Ext Solar Beam Cosine Of Incidence Angle []" which is indicated in eplosout.rdd file as a generated variable during the DesignBuilder analysis. The problem is that I cannot find its values in the eplosout.eso file (readed through xEsoView software) nor in the IDF file automatically generated by DesignBuilder calculations.

I would very much appreciate any suggestions/tips in this matter.

Thanks!

Rodolfo

Andy Tindale · Posts: 2619 Location: Stroud

It is important that the idf file you create is in the DesignBuilder EnergyPlus folder, otherwise DB won't find it. Storing the IDF file elsewhere is the usual reaosn for this problem.

Andy

rodolfo.martins · Posts: 6

Yes, Andy, it is in that folder and the path in DsB (Simulation->Options->Advanced->Include IDF Data->File name) is correct.

Thanks for your help anyway!

Best regards,

Rodolfo

rodolfo.martins · Posts: 6

The problem was solved by placing the name of the variables needed in the IDF file, as suggested in Energyplus forum:

"Output Variable Definition
Posted by Richard Raustad on 21 January 2010 09:33 PM
Q: How do I define output variables for my simulation?

A: In your input file place the following statement:

Output:VariableDictionary,IDF;

Then you can cut and paste from the rdd file directly into your idf file. You must first run your simulation to create the rdd file. Output variables found in the rdd file are specific to the simulation and are based on the objects used in your input file.

Output:Variable,*,System Node Temp,hourly; !- HVAC Average [C]

Or change to this to get only the information for a single node:
Output:Variable,"The Name of the Node",System Node Temp,hourly; !- HVAC Average [C]

Where "The Name of the Node" is the specific node name for one or more nodes"

Best regards,

Rodolfo

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