VS:Energos Thirdparty Support
Energy Analysis is a plugin which uses data from objects in the Vectorworks document to calculate energy performance of a 3D building. It provides the user with a graphical and numerical feedback. It provides also a set of functions to give the ability to include third-party objects into energy calculations.
This document explains how to use the set of script functions to include third-party objects to the energy calculation.
The set of energy script functions are grouped in several categories.
Unit conversion support
Energy analysis module uses distinct units from documents units for calculation. This group of functions supports the conversion between the SI unit system and the local unit system. The local unit system is defined in an XML file (EnergyUnits.xml), located in default libraries. In the table below are shown the units used by the energy analysis module. Column “Unit type” shows the INTEGER representations of unit type used by script functions.
| Measure | SI | Imperial US | Unit type (INTEGER representation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Square millimeters [mm2] | Square inches [in2] | 6 |
| Area | Square meters [m2] | Square foot [ft2] | 7 |
| CO2 Emission (annually) | Kilograms per square meter per year [kg/(m2a)] |
Pounds per square foot per year [lb/(ft2a)] | 27 |
| Electric consumptions | Watt-hour per cubic meter [Wh/m3] | British thermal unit per hour per cubic foot [Btu/h/ft3] | 24 |
| Energy | Watt-hour [Wh] | British thermal unit [Btu] | 17 |
| Energy | Kilowatt-hour [kWh] | British thermal unit [Btu] | 18 |
| Energy (annually) | Kilowatt-hour per year [kWh/a] | British thermal unit per year [Btu/a] | 19 |
| Energy (daily) | Kilowatt-hour per day [kWh/d] | British thermal unit per day[Btu/d] | 20 |
| Energy flux | Watt per square meter [W/m2] | British thermal unit per hour per square foot [Btu/h ft2] | 23 |
| Flow rate | Cubic meter per hour [m3/h] | Cubic feet per minute [CFM] | 16 |
| Heat storage capacity of construction when its temperature varies 1 K | [Wh/m2 K] | [Btu/ft2 F] | 25 |
| Heating degree hours (Gt) | Kilo-Kelvin hours per year [kKh/a] | Kilo degree Fahrenheit per year [kFh/a] | 30 |
| Length | Millimeter [mm] | Inch [in] | 4 |
| Length | Meter [m] | Foot [m] | 5 |
| Percentage | Percent [%] Range: 0 - 100 |
Percent [%] Range: 0 - 100 |
2 |
| Percentage [normalized] | Percent normal [%] Range: 0 - 1 |
Percent normal [%] Range: 0 - 1 |
3 |
| Power | Watt [W] | British thermal units per hour [Btu/h] | 21 |
| Power | Kilowatt [kW] | British thermal units per hour [Btu/h] | 22 |
| Solar radiation (annually) | Kilowatt hour per square meter per year [kWh/m2/a] |
British thermal units per squared feet per year [Btu/ft2/a] | 12 |
| Solar radiation (monthly) | Kilowatt hour per square meter per month [kWh/m2/month] |
British thermal units per squared feet per month [Btu/ft2/month] | 11 |
| Temperature | Celsius [C] | Fahrenheit [F] | 10 |
| Temperature difference | Kelvin [K] | Fahrenheit [F] | 29 |
| Thermal conductivity | Watt per meter per Kelvin [W/m K] | British thermal unit per foot per hour per Fahrenheit degree [Btu/ft h F] |
15 |
| Thermal heat transfer coefficient (U - value) |
Watt per square meter per Kelvin [W/(m2K)] | British thermal unit per square foot per hour per Fahrenheit degree [Btu/h ft2 F] |
14 |
| Thermal resistance coefficient (R - value) |
Kelvin meter squared per watt [[m2K]/W] | Square foot degrees Fahrenheit hours per British thermal unit [[ft2 F h]/Btu] |
13 |
| Velocity | Meter per second [m/s] | Feet per second [fps] | 31 |
| Volume | Cubic millimeter [mm3] | Cubic inch [in3] | 8 |
| Volume | Cubic meter [m3] | Cubic foot [ft3] | 9 |
| Volume | Liter [l] | Gallon [gallon] | 28 |
| Volumetric heat capacity | Mega joule per cubic meter Kelvin [MJ/m3K] | British thermal unit per square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu/ft3 F] |
26 |
| Air permeability at 50 Pa, noted q50 or qa50 | Cubic meter per hour per squared meter [m3/(h·m2] |
Cubic feet per minute per square foot [CFM/ft2] | 27 |
It is strongly recommended to use energy analysis functions to convert values. All functions provided by energy analysis module use meters, square meter, cubic meters, etc.
The list of functions which converts is:
Objects support (for space, window/door, wall, slab and roof)
There are several objects which are included in energy analysis calculations. They are spaces, windows, doors, walls, slabs and roofs. All building elements use the functions described below to get/set/save energy data in objects and that happens with support from energy analysis plugin. Energy analysis plugin attaches energy data node to each object who is involved into energy calculation. All the functions which set data are mandatory. Otherwise the energy analysis module won’t handle the object properly or will exclude it from calculation.
Object components support (for wall, slab and roof only)
Wall, slab and roof object have components. The functions below manage the components.
User interface support
Objects which use energy data need user interface changes. Except the popups and edit fields some of the objcts have external system data and it is magaged via popups.
Space object does not have special controls.
Window/door preference dialog must have popups for frame, glazing and shading settings. They are provided by the energy analysis module. The only thing which should be done is to specify the popup as energy popup. Also event hander should use energy plugin to process the event.
Wall, roof and slab have boundary type popup.