Other User Interface Elements¶

This section explains the use of the different parts of the TPD user interface, except the ribbon control.

Project Explorer Treeview¶

This lists the elements that make up the TPD file, in the same way as the TBD file treeview. Click on an element to edit it or navigate to it. Right click-on the folders to create new elements. Note that it is possible to create elements in other ways, e.g., airside systems can be added using the ribbon controls, or with the Systems Wizard (TPDx).

Results Table¶

Displays the results for the selected component, for the selected day, hour, and results period. Right click on a column and select Copy Year to copy the selected results series to the clipboard. The other right-click options can also be accessed via the Results tab of the ribbon control:

Results: Change which results series are visible.
Period: Used to change the time range for the currently-shown results. Depending on the type of result, values might be summed (e.g., for component load) or averaged (e.g., for air temperature) over the specified period.
Load Units: Used to toggle between, e.g., watts and kilowatts.
Precision: Used to change the number of decimal places displayed in the results.

Results Graph¶

Displays the same data as the results table, but in a graphical format. Right-clicking opens a menu which gives the option to change the results series which are displayed, and also to export the graph as an image.

Errors and Warnings¶

Displays messages describing issues which might affect the correct operation of your system. Click on a message to navigate to the component in question. There are three levels of message severity:

Error (Red octagon): You will not be able to simulate until this issue is resolved.
Warning (Yellow triangle): This input appears to be incorrect and you should not ignore this message unless it is something you have done intentionally.
Info (Blue circle): This input might be incorrect, and you should read and understand this message before proceeding.

Simulation Events¶

Displays messages describing issues which appeared during the simulation. Click on a message to navigate to the component, day, and hour in question. There are three levels of message severity:

Error (Red octagon): The simulation failed.
Warning (Yellow triangle): This result appears to be incorrect, or the simulation failed to reach a steady state but was able to proceed.
Info (Blue circle): This result might be incorrect, and you should read and understand this message before proceeding.

Psychrometric Chart¶

Displays a psychrometric chart for the currently-selected system, day and hour. The currently-selected component is displayed as a bold point or line, the other components as thin points or lines. Right-click to rotate or zoom, or to change the axis options.

Component Library¶

Displays all the components which can be drag-and-dropped into the schematic. Use the tabs to switch between plantroom components, air-side components, zone components, and fuel sources. The components are each explained in a different section of this guide.

Schematic¶

The window in which the currently-selected airside system or plantroom is viewed and edited. Click a component, duct, pipe, controller, or controller arc to select it, drag to move it. Double-click a component or controller to open the properties dialog. Use the mouse wheel or +- keys to adjust zoom level. To pan, use the arrow keys or hold down the middle mouse button and move the mouse.

Properties Window¶

Displays the properties of the currently-selected component, and allows them to be edited. The components are each explained in a different section of this guide. The tabs show each of the properties which can be changed by the use of profile modifiers. If a component within a group is selected, the properties will be shown twice; firstly for the currently-selected instance of the component, secondly for all instances of this component within the group, allowing universal changes to be made.

Simulate Dialog¶

Simulate

User selects which elements of the TPD file to simulate: The currently selected airside system, the currently selected plantroom (and all its airside systems), or the Energy Centre (all plantrooms and airside systems).

Dates
Preconditioning: Not needed unless any plant room components have thermal mass. As a rule of thumb, allow 15-30 days preconditioning for a hot water tank, 365 days for a ground-source component.
Start Day and End Day will normally be 1 and 365 unless the user wishes to, e.g., focus on the summertime operation of a particular system.

Sizing
Reset Sizes: For all sized components, capacity will be set to zero. Only select this if design conditions are to be included in the run.
Design Conditions: Required if components have not been sized yet.
Simulation: Required if the user wants results from the dynamic simulation period. Not required if the user just wants to size the equipment.

External Conditions

Normally taken from TSD data unless the user requires set conditions to e.g. fine-tune the operation of a particular system.

Options¶

Accessed via the Ribbon under File: Options.

Library

The file path currently being used for the component library is shown and can be changed.

Databases

The file paths currently being used for the manufacturer database (manufacturer import) and the g-function database (vertical boreholes) are shown and can be changed.

Tolerances

The tolerance for unmet hour simulation events can be changed. If zone temperatures deviate from the internal condition thermostat by a value greater than the tolerance specified here, it will be counted as an unmet hour.