VisualDOE 2.6 Tech Support

Easy Input
How to Build a VisualDOE Model
Capabilities
Energy Efficiency Measures
Design Alternatives
Operating Schedules
Help System and Defaults
Output Reports
Hourly Reports
Output Graphs
International Use
Overview of Program Modules

These pages remain for the support of current VisualDOE2.6 users.

VisualDOE 2.0, a second generation Windows application, was released in February 1996 and is being used worldwide by private architects and engineers, utilities, national laboratories, universities and others to evaluate energy costs for alternative building system designs. Version 2.5, released in November 1996, offers significant enhancements. The current release is Version 2.61.

1. Easy Input

VisualDOE is the fastest way to build complex DOE2 building models and the easiest DOE2-based simulation tool to learn. The program features easy-to-read schematic diagrams that allow you to define and modify your building quickly, through all design phases. Pictures of your building and HVAC system diagrams are produced as you create your model. Building geometry may be constructed of standard block shapes, and complex shapes are defined with a drawing tool. Simply double click on a system component and enter the specifications on an illustrated form. An on-line help system explains the information needed to perform the simulation. The program is also supported by a User’s Manual.

2. How to Build a VisualDOE Model

3. Capabilities

If you are already a DOE-2.1E user or if you would like to be one, you will appreciate the many capabilities of Visual DOE.

Work in either inch-pound or SI (metric) units
Add and edit custom pieces of equipment and performance curves
Create customized schedules and apply them to an occupancy type
Create complex building shapes and zoning arrangements and import geometric data from a CADD file
Create custom graphs of simulation results and paste them into your reports
Display an isometric image of your model and copy it into your reports
Model just about any central plant configuration including thermal energy storage and cogeneration
Model seasonal building shade
Model miscellaneous process loads

4. Energy Efficiency Measures

With VisualDOE 2.5 you can analyze savings of HVAC, central plant, and other building design options including (but not limited to):

Evaporative cooling/precooling
Thermal energy storage
Heat recovery
Economizers
Variable speed controls
High performance glazings
Exterior shading
Exterior Lights and other miscellaneous energy uses
Daylighting controls
Building shell insulation and mass
25 HVAC system types

5. Design Alternatives

Each project file contains information about the basecase design as well as information about up to 20 design alternatives. Design alternatives can be quickly created from the basecase or one of the other design alternatives. If you know the construction cost associated with each of the design alternatives, VisualDOE will calculate the life-cycle cost of each one. A single run, all runs, or a selected group of runs can be made in a single batch. Advanced users can edit the DOE-2 input files to include modeling features not supported by the graphic interface.

6. Operating Schedules

Scheduling building operation patterns is vastly simpler than using DOE-2 directly. You choose an occupancy type from the library and all the schedules and other information associated with that occupancy type are applied. The Schedule Maker program module can be used to create new schedules and combine these into occupancies.

7. Help System and Defaults

The program is supported by an on-line help system that explains how to use the program and gives details about information needed to perform a simulation. The help system is context sensitive, providing immediate information about the form displayed on the screen. Error checking is provided after you enter information in each field. If the information is outside an acceptable range or is of the wrong data type (date, numeric, alpha, etc.), a warning appears with information about how to correct the error. VisualDOE starts you with a set of reasonable defaults. These are generally consistent with the DOE-2 defaults, but sometimes depend on other data you have entered. The help system also contains explanatory information about the DOE-2 reports.

8. Output Reports

In addition to the reports generated by DOE-2, VisualDOE generates five additional reports that summarize information about your model(s) and present the results. Diagnostic information is provided to help you ensure that your results are reasonable. A Run|Diagnostics form presents average temperatures of each space, the hours that the space is cooler than the heating setpoint or warmer than the cooling setpoint. It also summarizes total and outside air volumes to each space. If a simulation fails, diagnostic information is written to a LOG file. Finally, there is the BDL report which has diagnostic errors, warnings and cautions from DOE-2. In addition to the on-line help system, the program is supported by a User's Manual.

9. Hourly Reports

VisualDOE can report hourly results for a wide range of variables such as space temperatures, electric end-use demand, air flow, and heating and cooling loads.

10. Output Graphs

Graphs may be created within VisualDOE and pasted into other applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. Examples of the graphs available include end-use consumption (for multiple design alternatives), monthly energy consumption, weather data and any hourly variables.

11. International Use

VisualDOE can be used effectively by the international community. You can use either inch-pound or SI (metric) units, eliminating time consuming conversions. The VisualDOE library can be modified to include special holidays, schedules, equipment templates and other information unique to a particular country or region of the world. Specifying equipment is simplified through the use of templates. Templates can be created and edited with the Equipment Editor program module. In many cases an entire piece of equipment such as a chiller, boiler or cooling tower can be specified by making a single choice in the templates list box.

12. Overview of Program Modules

VisualDOE 2.5 includes eight program modules: Graphic Editor, Plant Only runs, Schedule Maker, Constructions Builder, Fenestrations Editor, Climate Editor, Utility Rates Editor, and Equipment Editor. Following is a brief description of each of the program modules. You can click on any of the icons to see a screen snapshot and a description of the interface.

The Graphic Editor is the backbone of VisualDOE 2.55. The Graphic Editor can be used to create a basecase model and up to 20 design alternatives. The Graphic Editor uses the concept of blocks which you can stack one-on-top-of-the-other to create complex building shapes. You can choose from several standard zoning arrangements or create your own custom zoning for each block. As you create your model, plan and elevation views are drawn so what-you-see-is-what-you-get.

The Plant Only Runs module allows you to choose from a library of predefined load profiles and only simulate the performance of central plant alternatives.

The Climate Editor is used to add, delete or modify the climates in the library. Each climate has a weather file associated with it as well as elevation and other data.

The Schedule Maker is used to create patterns of building operation. With this tool you use graphic metaphors to describe how people come and go, how lights and equipment will be operated, what temperatures will be maintained and how outside air will be brought into the building. Day schedules can be created. These can be combined into annual schedules. Annual schedules can then be associated with an occupancy. Schedule maker also allows you to create non-standard (USA) holiday schedules.

The Constructions Builder enables you to edit and create wall, roof, and floor constructions. Once a construction is created and added to the library, it will be available in list boxes.

The Fenestrations Editor is used to review and extend the fenestration library. The Window 4.1 constructions can be added.

The Utility Rates Editor is used to create utility rates. The editor supports time-of-use rates, demand charges, monthly charges, block structures, kWh/kW ratios, multiple seasons and many other utility rate features. Once data has been entered and stored in the library, the newly created utility rate will appear in the appropriate list boxes.

The Equipment Editor is used to add new equipment templates to the library or to modify equipment templates already in the library. Choose an equipment type, e.g. chiller, and all the chiller templates in the library are displayed in a list box. Double click on one of the templates, and a form comes up where you can define the template properties. An especially powerful and advanced feature of the Equipment Editor is the ability to create part-load curves for specific pieces of equipment.