How do I export output variables who's names are located in the .rdd files in the current projects "run/4-EnergyPlus-0" folder?

energyplus
output-variable
retag add tags

I would prefer to have them in excel format. I have no knowledge of R software, SQLite software. It seems like the variables listed in the .rdd file are not available in the openstudio "Possible output variables" tab and I'm not sure of a way to directly call these variables without some prior knowledge of SQLite or R.

I would like to access many of the variables. For example, one variable I would like to export is "Boiler Inlet Temperautre". In the .rdd file, it looks like "Output:Variable,*,Boiler Inlet Temperature,hourly; !- HVAC Average [C]"

At this URL in the second image of section requesting-output-variables, it mentions adding an output variable using a BCL coded object. I have done this and added the variables which I would like to look at in a .csv format. These variables are then located in a .eso(?) file named eplusout.eso. Is there a developed method to take these variables which are located in this file and export them to a excel file?

Thanks, Ryan

baumga34

asked 2015-01-12 11:38:55 -0500

4.4k

__AmirRoth__

updated 2017-05-04 08:58:13 -0500

edit flag offensive 0 remove flag close merge delete

Comments

add a comment see more comments

2 Answers

Sort by

oldest

newest

most voted

The ReadVarsESO program distributed with EnergyPlus does this:

http://bigladdersoftware.com/epx/docs...

Dan

12k

macumber

answered 2015-01-12 15:27:27 -0500

edit flag offensive 0 remove flag delete link

Comments

Thanks Dan! I tried using this program and the csv file contained four different values for the days 1/21 and 7/21. Have you ever experienced something like this before?

Ryan

baumga34 (2015-01-12 16:02:36 -0500) edit

EnergyPlus runs the winter and summer design days first before running the annual simulation. So that is why you are getting multiple reports for 1/21. If you want EnergyPlus to run the design days but only report out values for the annual simulation you can set "Run Simulation for Sizing Periods" to false in the SimulationControl object:

http://bigladdersoftware.com/epx/docs...

macumber (2015-01-12 23:54:18 -0500) edit

Sounds like you have more than one flavor of summer design day (and winter) in the project. You should probably choose the one that's relevant to your design criteria and delete the others.

MJWitte (2015-01-16 17:22:57 -0500) edit

How to use ReadVarsESO located in OS directory. It is an EXE but I can't see any GUI opening. Are these command line based programs? Thanks @macumber

rkbest (2015-07-13 13:22:59 -0500) edit

You have to run this from a command prompt. You can open a command prompt by typing cmd into the Windows start menu. Once you have the command prompt you can change directories to the directory with your ESO file using the cd command. Once you are in the right directory, type the full path to the ReadVarsESO.exe program, e.g. C:\EnergyPlusV8-3-0\PostProcess\ReadVarsESO.exe.

macumber (2015-07-14 00:28:02 -0500) edit

add a comment see more comments

To create the idf file name.csv file that contains the OutputVariables I use these steps in OpenStudio:

Select built in variable(s) from the Output Variable tab OR copy the variable name verbatim from the eplusout.rdd file to the Add Output Variable measure
Run the OSM or OSP file and then run the resulting out.idf through EnergyPlus which will create the out.csv file containing the variables.