Digital Alchemy

Jan 2023

News

Simergy 5 -- Release to Web
o Unique Features
     o Building Model Creator™
     o Building Systems Creator™
     o Intelligent Defaults from Libraries, and Templates
     o Model Validation Framework
     o High quality BIM to BEM workflow
     o Industry leading simulation results visualization

o Key Enhancements
     o Improved simulation performance (up to 8x)
     o   More flexible model creation
...      o   Object tables – review data for all instances of a chosen object type
     o   Improved handling of imported models

o Cross-Workspace improvements
     o Review tables of multi-object Property collections for:
        o Spatial containers = Project, Site, Building, Building stories, Spaces, and Zones
        o Building Systems = HVAC equipment in Zones, Water loops, Air Loops, etc.
     o Expanded model validation rule sets (building and systems models)

o Building Model
     o   Modeling with Building Story multipliers (master and clone stories)
        o Which significantly reduces simulation times for buildings with repeating stories
     o Improved freeform geometry creation/editing (Stories and Spaces)
        o 2-click/3-click plan shape or trace creation/editing of geometry
        o Add or subtract any number of shapes to create the geometric shape
     o Sloped roofs for freeform buildings
     o Eliminated the artificial “Roof Story” (roofs are now assemblies in the story below)
     o Curtain walls as a new glazing configuration
     o Improved Space boundary generation (faster and using less data)
     o Improved Material Layer Set Editor

o Building Systems
     o New HVAC Sizing Overview workspace
     o Support for creating demand-side components in series or in parallel
     o Support for creating heat recovery chillers & water heaters (2 water loops on the supply side)
     o Improved support for radiant surfaces/assemblies
     o Expanded cross-loop connection options
     o Expanded templates for Service Hot Water loops
     o Equipment Performance Curve diagramming

o Simulation
     o Dramatically reduced simulation times (up to 8x faster, depending on the model )
     o Download of OpenStudio Energy Efficiency Measures from the DOE server
     o Improved Radiance daylighting simulation

o Help/Documentation/Examples/Training/Website Related
   o Updated Online Training courses with expanded instructions and reference models
   o (Both US and SI unit versions)
   o Expanded case studies on website
   o Expanded Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Pages
Contributions to EnergyPlus 22-2 completed
Contributions to OpenStudio 3.5 completed

Apr 2023

News

Simergy 5 SR1, SR2, SR3 released
improvements include

     o Creating/editing CHP generators
     o Performing Daylighting simulations
     o Creating/editing Skylight arrays
     o Creating/editing Gable roofs
     o Selecting thermal zone with thermostat for HVAC equipment
     o Editing Systems in Building Systems Creator (TM)
     o Creating/editing Material Layer Sets
     o Creating/editing building story groups (master & clones)
     o Placement of Site power demand & generation eqmt. on roof
     o Copying building stories
...      o User selection of Climate Zone (CZ) for custom weather files
     o User selection/placement/layer visibility with DWG/DXF drawings
     o Use of drawing aids: 'Ortho' and various 'Snap Types'
     o Deleting building stories
     o Switching between workspaces (DWG reload performance)
     o User Undo and Redo of changes to the building models
     o Recent Projects' images/links in the StartUp canvas
     o Startup & File Menu workflows
        o Recent Projects images/links in startup canvas
        o Close Project workflow
     o Cross Workspace workflows
        o Undo/Redo workflows
        o Model cleanup after delete of objects/groups/systems
     o Project/Design Alternative workflows
        o Project Name and default filename
        o Project team definition
     o Building Site workflows
        o Create/edit of Site power generation objects
        o Create/edit of Site power demand objects
     o Building Model workflows
        o Create/edit of buildings, sections, zones, and stories
        o Copy/clone building story
        o Building story multiplier (master/clone stories)
        o Manually editing Zone Groups (there are 6 types)
        o Changing Constructions template > update building model
        o Create/edit of 'Material Layers Sets' in MLS Editor
        o Create/edit of glazing and solar shading
        o Custom Interiors
        o Daylighting, Skylighting, Natural Ventilation
        o DWG 'Model Over' UI and layer selection save/restore
        o Creating skylight arrays
        o Create/edit of roofs
        o Separate create/edit slab openings & skylights
        o Plan view ruler improvements
     o Building Systems workflows
        o Configuring Systems templates
        o Diagramming of custom systems
     o Simulation workflows
        o Generating space boundaries for simulation
        o Simulation warnings - summary report
     o Results Visualization 'New from Template' workflow
     o Import/Export workflows
        o SaveAs/Open models in SimXML format
     o Simergy License workflows
        o License expiration & renewal

News & Events