Creating residential HVAC and DHW templates

[Justin-DeBlois]

New Templates and root files for multi-function HP measure

Moving the residential framework closer to the commercial building prototypes' setup of one root file per prototype could be beneficial to ensure consistency and make modeling new measures easier.

For the combi-HP measure we had to model several different system types including ones that aren't in the current set of residential prototypes. We templatized the residential root files. I submitted a pull request with:

• Residential air-side HVAC, water-side HVAC, and DHW templates.
• New root files are also included (referred to as "combi" root files); one per vintage and per building type
• HVAC and DHW system types can be selected through parameters.
• The templates were developed by pulling the system types from the existing root files, moving them to templates and changing as little as possible.

While doing this I did my best to keep all inputs consistent with the old root files. However, there were areas where this wasn't possible. I also found errors. For example some internal gains schedules had the heating and cooling design days switched, which was affecting system sizing and has been fixed in the new root files.

DEER team and measure developers: If you agree these templates could be useful for other measures, please review and test the new files. I tested them but the changes are extensive.

Next steps in progress:

• The combi root files still have a separate file for each different vintage. These could be consolidated into one root file per building type and vintages parameters defined through the cohorts/codes files. (discussed by EnergyPlus SME group)
• Update to EnergyPlus V22.2. (discussed by EnergyPlus SME group)
• We identified and fixed some issues with system sizing. There could be more improvements to the sizing inputs and the system sizing study could be repeated to determine sizing factors.
• Share residential hardsizing instructions and install file. (discussed by EnergyPlus SME group)