EnergyPlus 9.5.0

EnergyPlus 9.5.0

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released EnergyPlus version 9.5.0. 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.

New Key Capability

EnergyPlus 9.5.0 is now thread safe. A massive effort went into refactoring 17,000 variables to accomplish this feat, as seen in the refactoring section of these release notes. This will unlock new applications and workflows around EnergyPlus.

Documentation Note

Our build machines have decided to not include the Table of Contents in the InputOutputReference.pdf document on Windows packages. We'll obviously get that fixed, but for now, the full document is posted here in this release along with the installer assets.

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 (although basic testing shows it seems to work on 10.14)

Changelog for EnergyPlus 9.5.0-de239b2e5f

Consists of pull requests merged in this release - starting with SHA 998c4b7

New Features

• #8302 : Add Output Variables to Ideal Air loads
• #8327 : Expand access for ancillary power inputs and total electricity rate/energy to all coil types in UnitarySystem
• #8370 : Construction:AirBoundary - remove solar and radiant method fields
• #8405 : Improve PMV Calculations to consider cooling credit for elevated air velocity
• #8413 : Additional fuel types for Generator:*Turbine objects
• #8417 : CondFD Surface Actuators
• #8426 : Add support for including IDD \group in the schema
• #8460 : NFP-Zone Air Mass Flow Balance Improvement
• #8464 : Change EquationFit coils to reference curves
• #8474 : Dual units option for tabular output report
• #8477 : Add EMS Actuator for View Factor to Ground
• #8499 : ElectricLoadCenter:Storage:LiIonNMCBattery
• #8518 : ASTM C1340 Convection Coefficient Algorithm for Radiant Barriers
• #8529 : New Outdoor Air Details report
• #8530 : Separate design and control variables
• #8549 : Allow HPWH and Zonal ERVs to be modeled with AFNs
• #8575 : Li-ion battery code and docs updates
• #8596 : Outdoor Air Details Report - part 2

Performance Enhancements

• #8257 : Surface Window data struct & heat balance routines refactoring
• #8347 : Heat balance surface data structure refactoring
• #8370 : Construction:AirBoundary - remove solar and radiant method fields
• #8540 : TDD surface reordering and bug fixing
• #8591 : Refactoring of interpolation functions for blinds Prof and Slat Angle

Defects Repaired

• #7932 : Fix plant heat storage tracking
• #8320 : Fix Inlet and Outlet Node idf errors with AirLoopHVAC:UnitarySystem objects cause are not caught, resulting in faulty data members.
• #8321 : Run documentation tests on GitHub Actions and fix submodule error
• #8322 : Fix Unitary System with Heating Coil Temperature Setpoint Node Name Field Non-Blank
• #8323 : Unitary system now reports warning when cycling supply fan schedule is used with setpoint control type
• #8324 : Fix file not found output message
• #8326 : ZoneHVAC:HybridUnitaryHVAC ERR object type output
• #8330 : Fix file name in path returned by getAbsolutePath when a directory is not provided
• #8346 : Correct Availability Manager operation in VRF model
• #8348 : Fix #8317 - Warn in Output:Table:Monthly when invalid 'Variable or Meter Name' field
• #8358 : Fix tdd calculations in CalcInteriorSolarDistribution
• #8364 : Fix #8357 - tweak GitHub actions
• #8366 : Fix 9-3-0 to 9-4-0 transition for objects that accept report variable or meter name
• #8378 : Fix when Compiling with non-standard CMake Configurations
• #8386 : Fix #8268 - Do not report HVAC Sizing Simulation Passes X in the SQL file when not requested
• #8390 : Outside range warning and error when using linear interpolation with Schedule:Day:Interval
• #8391 : Fix #8312 - EnergyPlus Build Warnings on gcc >= 9
• #8397 : Fix #8392 - Duplicate name error needs more context
• #8398 : Fix #8328 - Fan Power is 0 when Fan:OnOff is used in a ZoneHVAC:TerminalUnit:VariableRefrigerantFlow
• #8399 : Fix #6435 - WaterUse:Storage Design Inflow Rate not respected
• #8400 : Fix #5248 - Incorrect math in water coil warning messages
• #8401 : Fix #6050 - Return Fan:VariableVolume Fan Power Minimum Flow Fraction should not impose air loop flow
• #8407 : Fix #8406 - Fix the failing 'documentation' github actions workflow
• #8410 : #8376 - EnergyPlus with option --expandobjects set fails when working directory is not on the same device as the output directory (on Unix)
• #8415 : Fixes #8372 - Incorrect transition of RoomAir:Node:AirflowNetwork:HVACEquipment from v9.2 to v9.3
• #8416 : Add check for capacity limit of zero for ZoneHVAC:IdealLoadsAirSystem
• #8422 : Fix Hybrid Unitary Operating Settings Initialization
• #8423 : ZoneCompTurnFansOff/On Availability Signal not working for VRFTU Fan
• #8427 : Malformed "format" Strings Cause Fatal
• #8434 : Change the name of the AirflowNetwork group
• #8456 : Fix the utilitycost:variable name list error reported in Issue 8455
• #8463 : LowTempRadiantSystem - Fix minor bug
• #8498 : Fixes Zone Air Mass Balance report variables reporting issues
• #8501 : Pass correct mass flow rate to calculate flow fraction for DX coil performance curves
• #8511 : #8492 #8513 - Add a FuelCellElectricGenerator Unit Test and do not zero out Constant Skin Loss Rate in Generator:FuelCell:PowerModule
• #8519 : Ideal loads air system ems override enthalpy update correction
• #8522 : Fix build error on gcc10, which has Default to -fno-common
• #8525 : Fix #8524 - CPack packages missing the vast majority of files
• #8540 : TDD surface reordering and bug fixing
• #8544 : Fix #8542 - Escape HTML characters.
• #8556 : Absorption chillerheater plant loop fixes
• #8558 : Coil:Cooling:DX updates
• #8561 : PMV follow up
• #8565 : #8564 #8563 - GetLowTempRadiantSystem fails when you have more a LowTempRadVarFlow AND at least one other type + Idd issue
• #8569 : Cleaning up LowTemperatureRadiantSystems
• #8571 : UnitarySystem used as single zone vav will crash with blank no load air flow method
• #8572 : Fix Thermal Comfort zone temperature and humidity lag
• #8573 : Fix #8484 - Flush all files when Running via API before finish
• #8574 : Fix #8483 - pyenergyplus: system exit called when energyplus can't run
• #8576 : Various DX coil fixes
• #8577 : Addresses zone air mass flow balance enforcing problem when there is "balanced" exhaust flow
• #8582 : HotFix #8581: make AirLoopHVAC:DedicatedOutdoorAirSystem's airloophvac_name extension case-insentive
• #8592 : Pass correct mass flow rate to calculate flow function multiplier for MS DX heating coil
• #8594 : Exclude air boundaries and non-used constructions in conduction finite difference
• #8596 : Outdoor Air Details Report - part 2
• #8607 : Address VS DX cooling coil outlet air condition calculation problem when PLR is zero
• #8612 : Set default value for OpaqueSkyCover when missing
• #8620 : Fix idf transition issues in EMS Actuator
• #8624 : Fix issue 6998 Fuel Cell Zero Cp causing div-by-zero and repeated root solver errors
• #8631 : Add Py_SetProgramName to make sure sys.argv[0] is set
• #8637 : Global HeatingCoils, DualDuct, DataPhotovoltaics & Fix #8635
• #8645 : Fix heating energy calculation and reporting errors for gas fired and exhaust fired absorption chillerheater models
• #8661 : Fix epJSON minfields and extensible input processing
• #8665 : WaterToAirHeatPump statics fix
• #8667 : Add an explicit "EnergyPlus" namespace to a state argument
• #8671 : Fix #8670 - Example IDF File not valid per IDD: UnitaryHybridAC_DedicatedOutsideAir.idf

Under the Hood Restructuring

• #8248 : Finish removing Objexx gio
• #8257 : Surface Window data struct & heat balance routines refactoring
• #8267 : Global WaterToAir
• #8275 : Update PVWatts using SAM Simulation Core library
• #8318 : Global Cleanup
• #8331 : Global DataGlobals: Part 1
• #8334 : Global DataConstruction, VariableSpeedCoils, and VentilatedSlab
• #8338 : Global UserDefined
• #8342 : Global DataGlobals: Part 2
• #8343 : Global TranspiredCollector through SurfaceGroundHeatExchanger
• #8347 : Heat balance surface data structure refactoring
• #8349 : Global SteamCoils and Others
• #8350 : Global DataGlobals: Part 3
• #8351 : Global SurfaceGeometry
• #8355 : Move to c++17 while keeping old boost
• #8360 : Global DataWater
• #8368 : Global DataTiming
• #8374 : Global UtilityRoutines
• #8375 : Global DataGlobals: Part 3
• #8379 : Remove round trim cleanup formatting
• #8382 : Remove EP_UNUSED and use C++17's [[maybe_unused]]
• #8383 : Global DataAirSystems
• #8384 : Global DataBranchAirLoopPlant
• #8385 : Global DataBranchNodeConnections
• #8387 : Global DataBSDFWindow
• #8388 : Global sim manager sim air
• #8393 : Global Daylighting
• #8402 : Global DataEnvironment
• #8403 : Refactoring of CalcInteriorSolarDistributions and reduce condition checkings
• #8409 : Change consts to enums
• #8414 : Global state refactor continued
• #8425 : Cmake modernize
• #8429 : Global SystemReports and OutputProcessor
• #8432 : Global OutputReportTabular
• #8435 : Convert window shading flag to enum class
• #8437 : Global SimAirServingZones
• #8442 : Refactor internal source inputs
• #8457 : Global DataPlant plus a few other PlantComponents
• #8470 : Global state MixedAir, DataZone*
• #8491 : GHE Updates
• #8493 : Global PlantPipingSystemsMgr
• #8507 : Global MicroCHPElectricGen
• #8534 : Global DataHeatBalance
• #8559 : Global DataSurfaces
• #8578 : Global Furnaces+LowTempRadiantSystems+ScheduleManager
• #8583 : Global EvaporativeCoolers
• #8584 : Global DataSizing
• #8585 : Global EcoRoofManager, RoomAirModelManager, InternalHeatGains, HVACDXHeatPumpSystem, and HVACUnitaryBypassVAV
• #8587 : Global data heat bal fan sys
• #8588 : Global DataSystemVariables+FaultsManager
• #8605 : Global HeatBalanceManager+HeatBalanceSurfaceManager+SimAirServingZones
• #8606 : Global DataLoopNode & HeatBalanceHAMTManager
• #8615 : Global HVACController, RootFinder, and others
• #8617 : Global FanCoilUnits, EcoRoofManager, & SolarReflectionManager
• #8619 : Global Daylighting Manager, External Interface, Erl Processor
• #8622 : Global DataHeatBalSurface, InternalHeatGains, and SolarReflectionManager
• #8623 : Global DataShadowCombinations, ElectricPowerServiceManager, ReportCoilSelections
• #8625 : Global-Elements
• #8627 : Global HVACManager, HVACMultiSpeedHeatPump, and HVACDXHeatPumpSystem
• #8629 : Global OutputReportTabular, OutputReportTabularAnnual, DXFEarClipping, PVWatts
• #8630 : Deglobalizes a bunch of files.
• #8632 : Global-SimAirServingZone, HighTemperatureRadiantSystems, HeatRecovery
• #8636 : Globals hvac globals
• #8637 : Global HeatingCoils, DualDuct, DataPhotovoltaics & Fix #8635
• #8641 : Global-Psychrometric
• #8642 : Deglobalizing EnergyPlus
• #8646 : Remove Statics from ErrorsFound, some "W" files.
• #8648 : Globals cleanup
• #8649 : Grounding EnergyPlus (removing the static), Cont'd
• #8650 : Deglobalizing & removing the static DesiccantDehumidifiers, HeatBalanceIntRadExchange, and HVACDXSystem
• #8651 : Remove More Statics
• #8652 : Continued Grounding of EnergyPlus
• #8655 : Remove statics, WaterCoils, WaterToAirHeatPump, TranspiredCollector, UFADManager, UnitHeater
• #8656 : Continued Grounding of EnergyPlus
• #8657 : Continued Grounding of EnergyPlus Round 4
• #8658 : Ground psychrometrics
• #8659 : Continued Grounding of EnergyPlus
• #8660 : Statics Cleanup
• #8662 : Grounding SolarShading, Deglobalizing ICEngineElectricGenerator
• #8668 : Final grounding and deglobalizing