Loop Diagrams and Canvas

Loop diagrams are configured and viewed on the HVAC Diagramming Canvas, which is a part of four workspaces in the Systems tab  and five workspaces in the Template tab.

 

Note:  Zone HVAC Groups are configured on the Zone HVAC Group Canvas. 

 

The HVAC diagramming canvas is divided into two parts by a vertical dashed line down the center.  The left side is the loop Supply Side and right side is the Loop Demand Side, which are labeled at the bottom of the canvas. 

 

 

Diagramming Controls

The user has a number of diagramming controls on the top left of the diagramming canvas within a tool bar and five other buttons that are located just below the tool bar

 

Diagramming Toolbar

The toolbar contains six (6) features, which can be added or removed as shown on the image above.  The toolbar can also be relocated by moving horizontally or it can be undocked and repositioned elsewhere on the HVAC diagramming canvas.

 

Component Shape Connector

Allows the user to draw a connection between the ports of two component shapes, via the connector, which establishes the relationship between the two components and the loop flow.  The component shape connector is shown as a solid blue line.

 

Controls Shape Connector

Allows the user to draw a connection between a controller and  a component shape, which establishes the relationship between the controller and the component shape as well as starting to shape the control scheme. The control shape connector is shown as a dashed red line on the HVAC diagramming canvas.

 

Pointer Tool

Allows the user to select component shapes and/or connectors.  Selecting a single component will highlight the component and trigger the properties to be displayed in the Select Component Information area.  The user can also select multiple components by either selecting the component shapes individually while holding down the CTRL button to build the set of multiple components or they can be selected by drawing a fence on the diagramming canvas, which will select all the components (component shapes and connectors) the fence touches.

 

Tip: To select any component shapes or connectors the pointer tool must be highlighted, so it is a good idea to quickly check that it is highlighted versus other features, such as the connector tool

 

Pan Tool

Allows the user to move the entire canvas to reposition the view without adjusting the scale.  In addition to selecting the "hand icon" to activate pan the user will need to "right click" with the mouse, and hold the button down as they use the pan command to move the diagramming canvas to the desired view position.

 

Flip Horizontal

Becomes active when the user selects a component shape or a set of component shapes.  As the feature name describes it allows the user to flip the view of the component shape horizontally.  

 

Flip Vertical

Becomes active when the user selects a component shape or a set of component shapes.  As the feature name describes it allows the user to flip the view of the component shape vertically.  

 

Diagramming Buttons

Just below the diagramming toolbar (default location) are (5) diagramming buttons that provide the user powerful viewing, exporting, evaluating and zooming features.

 

Hide/Show Controls

The default representation of the button is "Hide Controls", which means that the controllers, sensors and controls connectors are shown on the HVAC diagramming canvas.  When the user selects the button the text representation changes to "Show Controls", the button has a blue outline glow and the controls component shapes and connectors are hidden from the view.  The example below for an air loop for an HVAC system design shows both "view states".

 

Controls Component Shapes and Controls Connectors are being displayed

 

Controls Component Shapes and Controls Connectors are hidden.

 

Add to Templates (Diagram Workspace)

Allows the user to capture the loop diagram design currently displayed on the screen to create a new system template for that loop type.  In addition, the user can save a copy of the current diagram.  If no changes have been made to the diagram and the user selects the button the user is presented with the option "A template with the current design already exists.  Do you want to save another copy?".  If "Yes" is selected a copy of the current diagram will be saved to the source library with a new default name.

 

Both of these features  eliminate the need for the user to go to the Templates workspace for the loop type to make the changes, they have the capability within this workspace.  

 

Note: this button appears in the Diagram Workspace for Zone HVAC Groups, Air Loops and Water Loops.

Save Diagram to File (Diagram Workspace)

Allows the user to capture the loop diagram layout visually and save it.  The Simergy diagramming environment utilizes Nevron, so the file types that can be saved with this feature include:

Note: this button appears in the Diagram Workspace for Zone HVAC Groups, Air Loops and Water Loops.

 

Validate

Initiates the evaluation of the loop diagram that is currently being viewed compared to the validation rule set(s).  When completed the "results" of the validation check can be viewed on the Validation tab of the table directly below the HVAC Diagramming canvas.

Note: Validation can be run in both the Systems Diagram workspaces and the System Templates workspaces.  

 

Tip: It can be very useful to run validation checks at the Zone HVAC Group and  Loop Level for Templates rather than waiting to do a validation check at the overall system level.  This way potential errors can be identified earlier and there can be less interrogation required at the loop level to determine where the error is.

 

Zoom to Fit

Resets the view of the HVAC diagramming canvas to the extents of the overall Loop or Zone HVAC Group diagram.

Note: a useful feature to quickly get back to a manageable view for the diagram.

 

 

Additional Features

When the extents of the loop diagram are larger then the screen view of the canvas, Scroll Bars will appear allowing horizontal and vertical movement on the canvas.

Active Zoom

To  dynamically zoom in and out in the 3d view, position  the cursor inside the 3d view and then use the mouse wheel to dynamically zoom.  Moving the mouse wheel TOWARDS the user ZOOMS OUT and moving the mouse wheel AWAY from the user ZOOMS IN.

 

 

 

 

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