EnergyPlus 9.3.0

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released EnergyPlus version 9.3.0. 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.

MAJOR CHANGES

This version of EnergyPlus contains three new features that are of extreme significance:

• The ability to leverage the GPU for shading calculations, with the potential for major runtime improvement.
• A new Python Plugin/EMS system where the user can write Python scripts instead of using the Erl language.
• An EnergyPlus API that exposes functional, runtime, and data exchange capabilities. An issue was found with linking to the API right before release, that could cause issues on Mac and maybe Windows, which will be addressed in a follow-up bug-fix release of 9.3.0 as soon as possible. Also, API documentation will be generated and posted on the EnergyPlus documentation page and possibly elsewhere soon.

These are brand new features, with new dependencies, and a world of new capabilities. We encourage our users to try these out and report back issues. A more thorough overview is provided in the installed README, and full documentation is found in the InputOutputReference and EngineeringReference documents included with the installers.

Platforms

• Windows 7, 8 & 10: 32 and 64-bit versions
• Linux (Ubuntu 18.04 and compatible) 64 bit versions
• Mac OSX 10.13 64 bit versions

Changelog for EnergyPlus 9.3.0-baff08990c

Consists of pull requests merged in this release - starting with SHA 921312f

New Features

• #6971 : NFP for Error Enhancement
• #7302 : Allow GPU-based shading calculations
• #7489 : Extend EIR WWHP to Air-source
• #7534 : Implement Carroll method for Interior Radiant Heat Exchange
• #7535 : NFP for HAMT Enhancements Part 1
• #7562 : Add Three Alternative Models for Clear Sky Emissivity Calculation
• #7567 : Sizing speed up related to reducing the number of warmup days for design days
• #7574 : A new algorithm for polygon clipping in solar calculations for rectangular surfaces
• #7603 : Input file conversion utility IDF->epJSON and reverse
• #7605 : Allow ZoneHVAC:TerminalUnit:VariableRefrigerantFlow to be connected to AirloopHVAC and AirLoopHVAC:OutdoorAirSystem:EquipmentList
• #7623 : #7545 - Support QtIFW installers on Linux
• #7643 : New Schedule for Minimum Airflow for VAV Boxes
• #7707 : Condenser hot gas reheat model for DX Cooling Coil
• #7761 : Add Performance Overrides and Reporting
• #7776 : C API, Python API, and Python Plugins
• #7792 : DX Cooling Coil Refactor
• #7816 : Add new example file for VAV Box Minimum Air Flow turndown schedule use
• #7822 : Fixes and Documentation for Performance Overrides and Reporting
• #7834 : Scheduling min air flow for vav boxes follow up

Performance Enhancements

• #7302 : Allow GPU-based shading calculations
• #7534 : Implement Carroll method for Interior Radiant Heat Exchange
• #7567 : Sizing speed up related to reducing the number of warmup days for design days
• #7574 : A new algorithm for polygon clipping in solar calculations for rectangular surfaces
• #7761 : Add Performance Overrides and Reporting

Defects Repaired

• #7397 : Fix #7136 - Clarify which peak the outputs of the coil sizing details are referring to
• #7436 : Addressed Coil:Heating:DX:MultiSpeed & Coil:Heating:WaterToAirHeatPump:EquationFit values missing from ComponentSizes when hard-sized
• #7448 : Remove AirTerminal:SingleDuct:Uncontrolled
• #7459 : Add "with escalation" tables to life cycle cost report
• #7495 : Corrected MultiSpeed DX Cooling Coil sizing variable names and capacity reporting issues
• #7523 : Standardize fuel types, remove input synonyms and other input cleanup
• #7528 : AirloopHVAC:UnitarySystem used with other zone equipment does not meet the load when the zone thermostat is in the deadband
• #7532 : Update v8-9-0 transition - fix old key choice synonyms that fail in v8-9-0
• #7542 : Fix Divide by Zero in CentralHeatPump
• #7548 : Update humidity ratio calculation in PsyTwbFnTdbWPb() function
• #7571 : Coil leaving air humidity ratio in Coil Sizing Summary shows wrong unit (temperature)
• #7572 : Update Water Mains Correlation Temperature Calculation to be Consistent with Reference and E+
• #7577 : SizingPeriod:DesignDay Enthalpy at Maximum Dry-Bulb is not applied correctly - off by x1000
• #7580 : Update transition rule for TableMultiVariableLookup Normalization Reference from 9.1.0 to 9.2.0
• #7582 : Bug fixing in ElectricEquipment:ITE:AirCooled calculations
• #7584 : Modify End Use by Subcategory tables in SQL so they can be queried
• #7587 : Fix bug in Output:Table:Annual when using Maximum/MinimumDuringHoursShown
• #7607 : Addition of Missing Information in IDD Description of Cooling Panels
• #7615 : #7589 - Add silent install capability to QtIFW installers
• #7620 : Fix epJSON parsing and simulation
• #7624 : Addressed broken No Load Supply Air Flow Rate sizing methods in Unitary System
• #7626 : Corrected CapFTemp curve index used in multi-speed DX coils for capacity sizing
• #7627 : Correct desuperheater reclaimed heat calculation and fix its delivery to tank source side
• #7630 : Fix table min/max normalization
• #7635 : Addresses Set DOAS Set point temp to default if fields are blank
• #7636 : Call DXCoils::DisableLatentDegradation after getting cooling coil index
• #7641 : Bisection algorithm not working #7604
• #7647 : Add tolerance for high humidity OA control
• #7659 : Add warning to IDF Editor when \min-fields is greater than number of fields
• #7666 : Documentation Fixes - 2019b
• #7672 : Fix custom meter error with zone mechanical ventilation and airloop variables
• #7696 : Zone Air Terminal VAV Damper Position variable is always zero for VAV Rheat with VS Fan air terminal
• #7701 : Variable Refrigerant Flow model COP results inaccurate when performance curve minimum does not match min PLR
• #7702 : Addressed CoolingTower:VariableSpeed control problems
• #7708 : Require WindowMaterial:ComplexShade Emissivity to be >0
• #7714 : Fix HeatPump:PlantLoop:EIR:Heating/Cooling PLR Curve Name
• #7717 : #7711 - Fix crash when using both WaterHeat:HeatPump:PumpedCondenser and WaterHeater:HeatPump:WrappedCondenser
• #7719 : Addresses ZoneHVAC:TerminalUnit:VariableRefrigerantFlow with blowthrough fan getinput issue
• #7721 : Add missing references for support of FanSystemModel in various HVAC/ZoneHVAC components
• #7723 : Fix #7648 - VRF model EIR heat recovery term uses capacity instead of EIR
• #7724 : 7640 remove a wrong error message
• #7730 : Fix Report Variables CSV Ordering
• #7731 : Correction of Zero Solar Load in the Zone Component Load Summary Report
• #7732 : Added warning message when AirloopHVAC:UnitarySystem all flow rates are zero and the unit has a fan
• #7737 : Documentation Fixes - 2018b
• #7738 : #6313 - Make FaultModel:Fouling:Coil work
• #7741 : Fix Floating Point Precision Errors Caused by Unit Systems on Output:Table:SummaryReports AirLoopComponentLoadSummary Table
• #7743 : Add outputs of eio and warning for PerformancePrecisionTradeoffs
• #7745 : Add Metering for HeatPump:PlantLoop:* Objects
• #7757 : Fix Fluid Cooler Hard Crash
• #7774 : Set up correct outlet node index in some OA components
• #7780 : Add ShowRecurringWarningErrorAtEnd in Missing Locations
• #7781 : Addresses FanCoilUnit Mass Flow Rate Min Available value init
• #7783 : Correct broken RH control in UnitarySystem
• #7784 : Provide an error message with availability schedule index = 0
• #7787 : Use common sizing routines for sizing DX Coil SHR
• #7789 : Remove Gas fuel type for Coil:Heating:Fuel and Other IDD cleanup
• #7794 : Fix incorrect "other" row ABUPS end-used by subcategory table
• #7797 : Correction of Moisture Load Outputs
• #7798 : Remove duplicate input in AirflowNetwork:Distribution:Node
• #7807 : Fix JSON exception in malformed IDF
• #7823 : #7771 - AirLoopHVAC:UnitarySystem crashes in getting input when 'Minimum Supply Air Temperature' is 'Autosize'
• #7826 : Make documentation a separate CMake project
• #7827 : Fixes for ZoneHVAC:HybridUnitaryHVAC
• #7829 : Fix climatic data summary table output
• #7830 : Fix PerfCurve Normalization Dependency in HybridEvapCoolingModel
• #7839 : Fix window surface heat emission and radiation to air outputs
• #7845 : Set up correct size of ExternalNode from OutdoorAir:Node using local enviroments
• #7852 : Fix Uninitialized Variable Causing Unittests to Fail In Debug Mode
• #7854 : Fix Generator:MicroCHP allocation problem
• #7856 : Correction of Condenser Load Dispatch Error for Two Speed Evaporative Fluid Coolers
• #7857 : Correction of Various Errors in the Tips and Tricks Documentation
• #7863 : Fix documentation related to Kiva and GPU shading
• #7867 : Fix air boundary: interior window, FullInteriorExterior beam solar, and zone grouping
• #7875 : Fix JSON Outputs bug
• #7876 : Update Sky Radiation and Temperature Engineering Ref Docs

Under the Hood Restructuring

• #7479 : Simplify the moist air specific heat capacity psychrometric function
• #7539 : PlantComponent:TemperatureSource Plant Comp Refactor
• #7541 : Water Thermal Tanks Plant Component Refactor
• #7551 : WaterUse Plant Component Refactor
• #7554 : Ice Thermal Storage Plant Comp Refactor
• #7555 : SwimmingPool Plant Comp Refactor
• #7559 : Combustion Turbine Generator Plant Comp Refactor
• #7564 : IC Electric Generator Plant Comp Refactor
• #7566 : MicroTurbine Generator Plant Comp Refactor
• #7568 : MicroCHP Gen Plant Comp Refactor
• #7573 : Fuel Cell Generator Plant Comp Refactor
• #7598 : Evaporative Fluid Coolers Plant Comp Refactor
• #7634 : Solar Collector Plant Comp Refactor
• #7637 : Chiller Plant Component Refactor
• #7638 : PlantCentralGSHP Plant Component Refactor
• #7639 : Absorption Chiller Plant Component Refactor
• #7642 : Indirect Absorption Chiller Plant Component Refactor
• #7645 : Pond GHE Plant Component Refactor
• #7649 : User Defined Plant Component Refactor
• #7652 : Photovoltaic Thermal Collector Plant Component Refactor
• #7662 : Refrigeration Components Plant Component Refactor
• #7667 : Plant Fluid HX Plant Component Refactor
• #7668 : Begin removing objexx gio
• #7669 : ZoneHVAC VRF Plant Component Refactor
• #7677 : Remove objexx gio part 2
• #7679 : Chiller Electric EIR Plant Component Refactor
• #7683 : Chiller Electric Reformulated EIR Plant Component Refactor
• #7684 : Cleanup some lingering issues in PlantLoopEquip
• #7685 : Plant component refactor of Absorption ChillerHeater
• #7694 : Exhaust Absorber refactor
• #7703 : Collapse PlantLoopEquip nested IF block
• #7716 : Remove objexx gio 3
• #7727 : Remove objexx gio 4
• #7734 : Make HeatPump:* Output Variable Names Consistent
• #7747 : Cleanup plant solver and manager
• #7772 : Redefine Trim* and Round* functions in terms of {fmt}
• #7776 : C API, Python API, and Python Plugins
• #7785 : Coil refactor baseline - add new unitarysystem testfiles plus one bugfix
• #7792 : DX Cooling Coil Refactor
• #7804 : Update ssz zsz mtr files to fmt
• #7813 : Reduce use of Array1S objects
• #7825 : Make EnergyPlus suitable as a cmake subproject
• #7840 : Eliminating Reference variables
• #7841 : Reduce Array1A and Array1 usage