## View Simulation Results ### Load data from ESO file Report data from EnergyPlus simulation are available in the ESO output file if it was requested in the input file simulated using 'Output:Variable' objects. To see a full list of variables available for reporting in a given simulation, make sure to include the object 'Output:VariableDictionary,IDF;' in your input file. This will cause EnergyPlus to generate a Report Data Dictionary (RDD) file listing reports that can be requested if desired. Once you have simulated an input file and generated an ESO file, you can load the ESO file into OpenStudio. The IDF file related to the simulation should be open so results can be related back to input geometry. Because the ESO file can be fairly slow to parse, OpenStudio can create a '*.eso.cache' file (set this option in Plugins->OpenStudio->Preferences) after loading the ESO file to expedite loading during subsequent sessions. The cached file will be refreshed when it is out of date compared to the ESO file. The file OpenStudio/examples/GeometryTest.idf is included with prerun EnergyPlus results for use in this tutorial. ### Select Data for Visualization Once the ESO file is loaded, you may select from a list of available run periods (sizing and weather file periods reported in the simulation) and populated variables. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Rendering Settings dialog box OpenStudio can display results related to surfaces (e.g. Surface Temperature) or Zones (e.g. Mean Air Temperature). When reporting surface variables, you can display results separately for the inside and outside surfaces. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) list of surface variables available (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) list of zone variables available OpenStudio cannot currently display data at the HVAC Timestep reporting frequency. You can display data either in absolute units from the ESO, or after normalizing by surface area for surface variables or zone floor area for zone level variables. Normalizing data is helpful for some variable types like lighting power, so that large zones do not appear to have very different properties than smaller zones. However, normalization does not make sense for other variables such as surface temperature. Both of the following images show the Sensible Cooling Rate at 4:16pm on June 21st. The top image is not normalized by zone, while the second one is. On the top image the large zone in the middle, "DORM ROOMS AND COMMON AREAS", had the second highest Sensible Cooling rate of the five zones at approximately 35,000W. The second image has been normalized to adjust for the size of the zone. You can now see that per square foot, the "DORM ROOMS AND COMMON AERAS" zone at 7.3 W/ft2 vs. approximately 10-12 W/ft2 for the three blue zones. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling Rate at 4:16pm on 6/21 (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Normalized Zone/Sys Sensible Cooling Rate at 4:16pm on 6/21 You can choose minimum and maximum values for the color scale used to visualize report variables. If you visualize report variables in absolute units, you can use the minimum and maximum values of each variable to automatically set the range. This option is not available for normalizing the report variable by surface or by floor area. In those cases, you must set the range manually. It may help to apply the normalization and then use the Data Tool to check values manually to set this range. The dialog box below was used to create the rendered view above. The minimum and maximum values were changed from (0 to 46,000) to (5 to 41). (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) ### View the Data Once you select the data and run period for visualization, press "Apply" or "OK" to save your settings. Select the "Render by Data Value" tool to visualize the data on your input file geometry. You can use the Shadow Settings dialog (accessed through Window->Shadows) to control the time for the visualization. This dialog enables you to choose the date and time to show results for. (Use standard time only, as this does not account for Daylight Saving.) No data are shown (all white surfaces) for a date and time without data for the selected run period; for example, if you look at a design day run period but at a time and date different than the selected design day. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Surface Ext Solar Incident at 8:36am on 5/12 (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Surface Ext Solar Incident at 1:15pm on 5/12 (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Daylighting Illum at Ref Point 1 at 3:08pm on 5/12 (Zone Variable) The color scale tool may be used to generate a color scale for reference. (see images above) The data tool may be used to show the data value for a given surface or Zone at the current time. (see images above) ### Animate the Data You can use the OpenStudio animation tools to configure an animation of the results as they change. You can develop SketchUp scenes, which include time and settings such as camera position. (Credit: David Goldwasser/NREL) Outside and Inside Surface Temperature at 2:00pm on 8/25 (Zone Variable) You can animate through the Animations Settings or the Scenes (both shown) ### Go Deeper The OpenStudio data visualization feature is a unique way to visualize results from EnergyPlus simulations. Time series plots of data are also very helpful for typical engineering uses. You can open the CSV output files you created from the ESO file by the ReadVarsESO program in a spreadsheet application. Learn more about viewing EnergyPlus results with Microsoft Excel. NREL has developed ZeroKit ResultsViewer to plot time series output of EnergyPlus and compare results from multiple simulations. While ResultsViewer has its own documentation, you can learn a little about it from within OpenStudio's documentation through the ResultsViewer Tutorial. Back to Top

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