Conference Paper

Proceedings of eSim 2018: 10th Conference of IBPSA-Canada

Implementation of occupant models in EnergyPlus through an OpenStudio measure

Burak Gunay, William O’Brien

Abstract: This paper introduces a new method to implement the state-of-the-art occupant models in the building performance simulation (BPS) tool EnergyPlus. The custom scripting platform of OpenStudio – measures – was used to incorporate eight statistical models that predict occupants’ light switch, blinds, window, and plug-in equipment use behaviour in office spaces. A preliminary version of this measure (2017) was made publicly available. Aside from adding user selected occupant model scripts to an EnergyPlus model, the measure can undertake necessary changes to ensure that their inputs and outputs are compatible with each other. The results indicate that OpenStudio measure writing is a promising method to utilize occupant models from the literature in the BPS-based design process. In order to demonstrate some of the functionalities of the measure, a simulation-based case study was carried out by using the small office archetype model. It was observed that the default lighting, plug loads, and occupancy assumptions in ASHRAE 90.1-2016 exaggerate occupant-driven heat gains, and in turn underestimate space heating and overestimate space cooling loads in contrast to those predicted by the occupant models from the literature.
Keywords: Occupant models, EnergyPlus, OpenStudio measures, Implementation of occupant models
Pages: 463 - 472
Paper: