Results reporting

The ESP-r simulator generates bespoke direct access binary files for each of its solution domains. There are several user defined levels of zone performance metrics (from a few high level entities to support for full zone and surface energy balances or temperatures at all nodes).

Depending on the size of the model, the duration of the assessment and the time frame, zone results files may range from a few MB to 40GB. This file is accessed via the res module which is designed for both interactive and scripted use. Users can follow a causal chain of enquiry as patterns are noticed. The types of performance data that can be captured are:

  • Temperatures at zone air, surfaces, nodes within surfaces and within plant components as well as flow components.
  • Energy balances at the zone air point as well as the inside and outside face of each surface.
  • Convection at the inside and outside face of each surface.
  • Control states as well as at sensors and actuators in the zone, flow and systems components.
  • Heat injection or extraction at all flux actuation points
  • Humidity or enthalpy at nodes within flow networks and within system components.
  • Thermal comfort either for an average position or at sensor bodies.
  • Voltage, power factor etc. at various components within an electrical network.

    • Zone data is recorded at each simulation timestep, flow data is typical at the same frequency as the zone but plant and electrical data could be a multiple of the zone timestep.

  • Zone data ranges from 1 hour to 1 minute
  • System data from 1 hour to ~1 second
  • Mass flow is from 1 hour to 1 minute
  • Electrical power from 1 hour to ~1 second
  • CFD data from 1 hour to 1 minute

    • The save level specified during the simulation sets the extent of what is saved. There is also an option to dump information into a MySQL database from within the simulation engine. Within the recorded set of performance metrics res provides lists of topics and reporting formats as will be seen below. The scope of reporting can be set by the user in terms of the duration, the zones or surface included. The data can also be written to file e.g. CSV with user defined tag:data separators.

    Reporting forms

    The ESP-r res module includes tables, graphs and timestep column data.

    Pre-defined tables

    ESP-r includes a number of pre-defined tables. These have evolved over time to support the needs of design teams and researchers. Below are some examples:

    Res menus Res enquire about
  • Zone energy balance (gains and losses usually reported to a fraction of a Watt.
    • Zone energy balance
  • Zone energy demands over time as well as how often heating and cooling are required is another common report.
    • Zone energy demands
  • Statistics plus hours above (or below) a value. In addition to standard statistics any performance variable can be tested whether it is greater than or less than a specific value.
    • Stats with hours above see full size

    Graphs

    Performance metrics included in tables can also be graphed in several forms. Here are some examples:

    Res menus Res menus Res menus
  • Time vs variable graphs can include up to three axis. What is included and the period can be adapted as required and labels can be added.
    • Time vs variables see full size
  • variable vs days vs hours surface plots
    • Casual gains 3D plot see full size
  • network air flow plots
    • Casual gains 3D plot see full size
  • Binned data tables or graphs ...
    • Frequencies see full size
  • CFD velocities, directions and temperatures can be plotted for slices within the CFD domain (see below) or in 3D views.
    • CFD 2D plot see full size

    Software agents

    If the user toggles the reporting from the in-built display to export to a file e.g. CSV files the column data can be used in spreadsheets.

    If the res module is run in scripting mode it can be driven to generate a sequence of reports in standard formats which can then be subjected to post-processing. This has been used in large scale parametric studies. Often other software agents e.g. bash scripts are used to drive ESp-r modules to carry out the necessary tasks.

  • CFD data is recorded at each cell and each timestep and can be exported in a form which can be displayed by Paraview .
    • Paraview display see full size
    Paraview display see full size

    Provenance of performance data

    Each table includes a header noting the library it was extracted from, the time period and frequency as well as titles which are auto generated. Usually units are included. Where the report includes specific surfaces these are usually labeled via a zone:surface scheme.


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    ©Copyright 2017 Energy Systems Research Unit, Glasgow, Scotland. License: GPL V2. Last edited by JWH, 21 Feb 2017