EnergyPlus 9.6.0

EnergyPlus 9.6.0

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released EnergyPlus version 9.6.0. There were many bug fixes and prominent new features this release. The full changelog for this release cycle is listed below. For more information about EnergyPlus, please visit www.energyplus.net.

Supported Platforms

• Windows 10: 32 and 64-bit versions
• Linux (Ubuntu 18.04 and 20.04) 64 bit versions
• Mac OSX 10.15 64 bit versions (with some preliminary testing on OSX 11 as well)

Changelog for EnergyPlus 9.6.0-f420c06a69

Consists of pull requests merged in this release - starting with SHA de239b2

New Features

• #8314 : Add option for the weather data interpolations for the first few sub-hour timesteps
• #8394 : Add Space Concept to EnergyPlus Zone Structure, Part 1
• #8454 : Airflow Network Default Behavior Enhancements
• #8466 : Waterside economizer coil new feature CoilSystem:Cooling:Water
• #8495 : Add a Specified Flow Element to AirflowNetwork
• #8520 : New Feature Runaround Heat Recovery Loop
• #8653 : Enhancement to the Simple Window Model
• #8686 : Update the DOE commercial prototype building models test files
• #8708 : GHE g-function calculation enhancements
• #8719 : Allow zone hvac to draw return air
• #8724 : Add support for Coil:Cooling:DX in ComponentCost:LineItem
• #8729 : Simulate CoilSystem:Cooling:DX using AirloopHVAC:UnitarySystem code base
• #8739 : Add ability to automatically detect groups of similar surfaces for efficient heat balance calculations
• #8745 : Add API Endpoint to Mute Console Output
• #8811 : Add currentSimTime to API
• #8858 : Add object-level output variables for ZoneInfiltration
• #8865 : Adding Multispeed Coil Speed Level Control Actuators
• #8891 : ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Simplified Procedure
• #8901 : Add capabilities to the WinCalcEngine
• #8913 : Allow Plugin Plugins in Runtime API Calls
• #8918 : Update EPLaunch Workflow to use API
• #8942 : update python plugin file to duplicate all EMS
• #8946 : Add the cubic spline interpolation option for PerformancePrecisionTradeoffs
• #9002 : Add Space Concept to EnergyPlus Zone Structure, Part 2
• #9024 : Change from 24 bit to 20 bit caching for PsyTsatFnPb when using PerformancePrecisionTradeoffs Mode06 or higher
• #9046 : Code compliant chiller performance curves
• #9064 : Improve Spaces example file and implement DesignSpecification:OutdoorAir:SpaceList everywhere
• #9065 : Representative surface heat balance calculations (follow up)
• #9070 : Enable Group Runs in EP-Launch 3 Workflow

Performance Enhancements

• #8674 : Storm window refactoring
• #8692 : Multi-dimensional array reordering and refactoring
• #8701 : Movable insulation logic refactoring
• #8739 : Add ability to automatically detect groups of similar surfaces for efficient heat balance calculations
• #8744 : Surf heat balance arrays refactoring
• #8786 : Solar and thermal absorptance calculation
• #8819 : Replace readItem in ProcessNumber to speed-up SolarShadingTest_ImportedShading
• #8820 : Surf heat balance arrays naming and initialization
• #8834 : Eliminate Other Usages of readItem
• #8873 : Update thermal histories refactoring
• #8949 : Profiling based refactoring in heat balance functions
• #8960 : PVWatts Speed Up
• #8963 : Avoid unnecessary allocations in GetZoneAirLoopEquipment routine every iteration
• #8992 : Update the cubic spline interpolation for PerformancePrecisionTradeoffs
• #8996 : Improve performance for file reading/writing
• #9028 : Eliminate excessive runtime associated with using ceiling diffuser algorithm in Kiva
• #9065 : Representative surface heat balance calculations (follow up)
• #9067 : Reduce daylighting allocations

Defects Repaired

• #8175 : Fix the Thermal Comfort CEN 15251 Running Mean Temperature Calculation
• #8677 : Fix uninit water mains
• #8681 : Fix issue #8680 crash with multiple windows with blinds in the same zone
• #8689 : Separate Infiltration from Natural Ventilation Flows for AirflowNetwork
• #8691 : Update VRF min/max outdoor unit inlet temp field description
• #8696 : Fix Alternate Configurations Build
• #8702 : Modify PurchAirWindowBlind test file to test multi shaded window in the same enclosure
• #8704 : Coil:Cooling:DX cleanup
• #8709 : Fix #8614 that hybrid unitary HVAC equipment cannot be found
• #8715 : Update the function of GetInternalGainDeviceIndex
• #8723 : VariableRefrigerantFlow Terminal Unit on air loop does not test node connections
• #8734 : Fix ObjexxFCL maxloc bug
• #8742 : Fix HVAC Sizing Summary Thermostat Setpoint Temperature at Peak Load when no peak heating load
• #8749 : Fix #8748 - Fix broken symlink for ParametricPreprocessor on Unix
• #8754 : Fix a typo in the resilience metric Engineering Reference
• #8762 : Fix opaque cloud cover
• #8767 : Fix operating flow rate when Source Side Design Volume Flow Rate is autosized for an air-source HeatPump:PlantLoop:EIR:* object
• #8771 : 8472 Missing a Step in the CTF Calculation
• #8781 : Use gross roof area for ave ceiling height
• #8787 : Fix custom natural gas meter issue in tariff
• #8791 : Support HVACTemplate objects in converter and trap unsupported objects in epJSON input
• #8794 : Fix Complex Fenestration Layer 3 Name
• #8796 : Use correct array index in IntraZoneNodeData
• #8801 : Fix the ground slab horizontal insulation thickness issue (Issues 7881 and 8800)
• #8807 : Fix issues related to reference crack conditions
• #8808 : Add warnings/errors for unreasonable DHW temperatures for WaterUse:Equipment
• #8809 : Adjustment to View Factor Fix for Surfaces that are Nearly Half of Zone Surface Area
• #8810 : Fix function call replacement
• #8813 : Fix PTHP hard crash when autosizing is requested but no sizing run was done
• #8821 : Add \reference ProgramNames to PythonPlugin:Instance
• #8823 : Fix #8722 - HVAC-Diagram.exe broken in v9.5 (Modernize CMake Fortran Settings)
• #8826 : Correction of Various Documentation Issues
• #8829 : Fix #8690 - Avoid a double free on Linux for FMU parser
• #8830 : Fix #8586 - Z format fails when requested with zero or one significant digits
• #8831 : Fix #8822 - new warning to explain why Standard62.1Summary may not be available in Output:Table:SummaryReports
• #8832 : Fix #8778 - FindPython in modern cmake and handle issue when LINK_WITH_PYTHON on windows with both Release/debug libraries
• #8833 : Fix #8599 - Incorrect psychrometric calculation causes error
• #8836 : Fix #8568 - IO reference guide missing Table of Contents on Windows + new workflow
• #8839 : Fix Sqlite.err writing to parent dir
• #8841 : Make EnergyPlus-generated RVI and MVI use non-quoted paths
• #8850 : On-Off Fan Showing Zero Fan Power During Cooling for Unitary Systems with Single Speed Cooling Coil
• #8855 : Revision to Sizing:Zone Error Message
• #8862 : ConvectionCoefficients Enums and Refactoring - Part 1
• #8868 : Fix struct name for NumTimesCalled
• #8870 : Correction to CO2 and Generic Contaminant Modeling with Refrigeration Door Mixing
• #8871 : Beam Solar Radiation Not Taking Solar Angle into Account for Some Models
• #8884 : Removal of Unused Availability Manager for AirLoopHVAC:OutdoorAirSystem
• #8887 : HVACTemplate:System:ConstantVolume fixes
• #8889 : Fix Daylighting Map Output Header and Remove Maximum Reference Points (of 2) Variable
• #8890 : Correct Input Logic for Autosized Cooling Only Variable Flow Low Temperature Radiant
• #8892 : Add check for maxNumRefPtInAnyZone before calculating daylighting interior illuminance
• #8905 : Correct Kiva accelerated date calculation to account for run period start date of May 1st
• #8906 : Add Kiva deep ground depth check and recalculation if needed
• #8923 : ElectricLoadCenter:Storage:Simple Zero Efficiency Fix
• #8932 : Consolidate HVAC radiant surface variables
• #8936 : Fix Sizing:System Heating Design Capacity Method FractionOfAutosizedHeatingCapacity
• #8937 : Fixed Crash in CondFD for Interzone Surfaces for Very Specific Condition
• #8944 : Remove duplicate code with surface reference air temperature
• #8951 : Fix AirTerminal:singleDuct:ConstantVolume:FourPipeBeam Minimum OA Reference
• #8952 : Fix #8847 - Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome web browser having problems in fully displaying HVAC schematics SVG files
• #8953 : Modify HVACTemplate:Zone:BaseboardHeat Rated Average Water Temperature
• #8959 : Account for rated capacity modifier in chiller IPLV calculations
• #8963 : Avoid unnecessary allocations in GetZoneAirLoopEquipment routine every iteration
• #8964 : Comfort View Factor Angle List Made Extensible
• #8979 : Modify approximate view factor calculation logic
• #8980 : Bugfix of Coil:Foo:WaterToAirHeatPump:EquationFit objects always use rated air mass flow rate in calculations
• #8982 : Fix weirdness in IDD For HeatPump:PlantLoop:EIR:XXX
• #8983 : Correction of Water Thermal Tank Underflow Problem
• #8991 : Address MSVS compile issue with recent commit.
• #8993 : SpecifiedFlowRate IDD Unit Fix, Possibly
• #8994 : Add GetInternalHeatGainsInput call into Kiva function for thermal comfort calculations
• #8997 : Correction of Defect in Transition Program and Recent Bug Fix
• #9003 : Crash when using ITE in an Uncontrolled Zone
• #9007 : Fix #8921 - SQL file report for Output:Table:Monthly ColumnName field missing closing curly brace
• #9011 : Correction of Low Temperature Hydronic Radiant System Tube Spacing Issues
• #9016 : Consolidate Surface Reporting
• #9017 : Correct Coil Sizing Summary report of Coil Total Capacity at Ideal Loads Peak
• #9019 : Fix various HVACTemplate issues
• #9023 : Fix #9022 - conversion should respect outDirPath
• #9025 : Water Thermal Tank Resulting in Negative Electric Consumption Fix
• #9026 : Fix of a Previously Accepted Fix in for Zone Cooling Design Supply Air Temperature Issue
• #9028 : Eliminate excessive runtime associated with using ceiling diffuser algorithm in Kiva
• #9034 : View Factor Discrepancy when Using Autosize for Ground View Factor for Window with Light Shelf
• #9043 : Add Celsius to Kelvin conversion to the radiation calculation for TDDs
• #9057 : Miscellaneous Documentation Fixes
• #9062 : Fix #9061 hvac template boiler fuel type check problem
• #9068 : Fix typo in code compliant equipment dataset
• #9071 : Some more docs updates
• #9076 : Fix HVACDiagram Error Messages
• #9077 : Use specified program root for API usage
• #9081 : EnergyPlus crash when CoilSystem:Cooling:DX or AirloopHVAC:UnitarySystem is used in OutdoorAirSystem
• #9086 : Hotfix #9085 - DaylightMaps output is broken in SQLite in 9.6.0-rc3

Under the Hood Restructuring

• #8480 : Upgrade to C++17 std::filesystem library
• #8663 : Reduce dynamic allocations
• #8697 : ZoneTempPredictorCorrector State Variable Cleanup using Local Reference Variables
• #8706 : Refactor existing extern int const to enum classes
• #8707 : Prototype simplified array1d
• #8726 : Restructure unitary system get input
• #8729 : Simulate CoilSystem:Cooling:DX using AirloopHVAC:UnitarySystem code base
• #8738 : epJSON helper functions to get field values
• #8741 : Remove unused objexx
• #8746 : int constexpr to enum class
• #8759 : AirflowNetwork Crack Refactor
• #8764 : Improved solve root formulation
• #8765 : Remove hack that limits simulate() when InitLoopEquip is true, Plant-Component
• #8784 : constexpr int to enum class continued
• #8798 : Remove Unused Var6 from PerformanceCurveObject
• #8799 : Change initLoopEquip into a function and move its calls to PlantManager.cc
• #8818 : Remove ObjexxFCL bit.hh
• #8819 : Replace readItem in ProcessNumber to speed-up SolarShadingTest_ImportedShading
• #8834 : Eliminate Other Usages of readItem
• #8848 : Setting stage for single oneTimeInit function call
• #8856 : constexpr int/int constexpr to enum class continued
• #8862 : ConvectionCoefficients Enums and Refactoring - Part 1
• #8864 : [Refactor] Enums - Psychrometrics.hh
• #8873 : Update thermal histories refactoring
• #8874 : Increase use of string view
• #8888 : Remove unused functions that were not implemented
• #8898 : Use Enums for SetupOutputVariable Arguments (Try 2)
• #8929 : ConvectionCoefficients Refactoring and Enums - Part 2
• #8939 : Implement oneTimeInit as a global function - intermediate step
• #8974 : Objexx Arrays to constexpr std::arrays in src/FluidProperties.*
• #9016 : Consolidate Surface Reporting
• #9037 : Update geojson to S3