Spawn: coupling Modelica Buildings Library and EnergyPlus to enable new energy system and control applications

Wetter, Michael; Benne, Kyle; Tummescheit, Hubertus; Winther, Christian

doi:10.1080/19401493.2023.2266414

Title: Spawn: coupling Modelica Buildings Library and EnergyPlus to enable new energy system and control applications

Journal Article · Wed Oct 11 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Journal of Building Performance Simulation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2023.2266414· OSTI ID:2008995

^[1];

^[2];

^[3]; Winther, Christian ^[4]

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
Modelon AB, Hartford, CT, USA
Modelon AB, Lund, Sweden

Spawn is DOE's next-generation tool chain for whole building energy control simulation. Spawn couples traditional imperative load-based envelope modelling with new equation-based modelling of HVAC and controls. Spawn uses EnergyPlus for the former and the Modelica Buildings Library for the latter. Because it leverages the Modelica Buildings Library, Spawn can evaluate advanced energy systems at the building and district scale, including new architectures and controls for heat pump systems with storage, and the coupling of such systems to electrical distribution networks. Spawn's Modelica integration likewise enables it to simulate realistic control sequences and therefore to bridge energy simulation and control implementation workflows. From EnergyPlus, Spawn inherits efficient envelope simulation and the ability to use existing envelope model authoring tools. This paper describes the architecture and implementation of Spawn, which automatically couples Modelica and EnergyPlus for run-time data exchange. This paper closes with examples that illustrate Spawn's modelling and simulation processes.

View Journal Article

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231; AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 2008995

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2205106

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5500-87984; 7

Journal Information:: Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Journal Name: Journal of Building Performance Simulation Vol. 17 Journal Issue: 2; ISSN 1940-1493

Publisher:: Informa UK LimitedCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

References (40)

Modelica BuildingSystems − eine Modellbibliothek zur Simulation komplexer energietechnischer Gebäudesysteme Nytsch-Geusen, Christoph; Huber, Jörg; Ljubijankic, Manuel Bauphysik, Vol. 35, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/bapi.201310045	journal	February 2013
Optimization Library for Interactive Multi-Criteria Optimization Tasks Pfeiffer, Andreas 9th International MODELICA Conference, Munich, Germany, Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp12076669	conference	November 2012
Co-simulation of building energy and control systems with the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed Wetter, Michael Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 4, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2010.518631	journal	September 2011
Iea Ebc Annex 60 Modelica Library – An International Collaboration to Develop A Free Open-Source Model Library for Buildings And Community Energy Systems Wetter, Michael; Fuchs, Marcus; Grozman, Pavel Building Simulation Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2015.2414	conference	December 2015
Modelling of Heat Pumps with Calibrated Parameters Based on Manufacturer Data Cimmino, Massimo; Wetter, Michael The 12th International Modelica Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, May 15-17, 2017, Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp17132219	conference	July 2017
OpenBuildingControl: Digitizing the control delivery from building energy modeling to specification, implementation and formal verification Wetter, Michael; Ehrlich, Paul; Gautier, Antoine Energy, Vol. 238 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121501	journal	January 2022
Integration of Modelica models into an existing simulation software using FMI for Co-Simulation Pazold, Matthias; Burhenne, Sebastian; Radon, Jan Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp12076949	conference	November 2012
Energy saving potential of a two-pipe system for simultaneous heating and cooling of office buildings Maccarini, Alessandro; Wetter, Michael; Afshari, Alireza Energy and Buildings, Vol. 134 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2016.10.051	journal	January 2017
Industrial application of optimization with Modelica and Optimica using intelligent Python scripting Dietl, Karin; Gallardo Yances, Stephanie; Johnsson, Anna Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp14096777	conference	March 2014
Standardized Integration of Real-Time and Non-Real-Time Systems: The Distributed Co-Simulation Protocol Krammer, Martin; Schuch, Klaus; Kater, Christian Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp1915787	conference	February 2019
Status of the TransiEnt Library: Transient Simulation of Complex Integrated Energy Systems Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp21181187	conference	September 2021
H-Infinity Loop-Shaped Model Predictive Control With HVAC Application Bortoff, Scott A.; Schwerdtner, Paul; Danielson, Claus IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, Vol. 30, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1109/TCST.2022.3141937	journal	September 2022
The OpenModelica Integrated Environment for Modeling, Simulation, and Model-Based Development Fritzson, Peter; Pop, Adrian; Abdelhak, Karim Modeling, Identification and Control: A Norwegian Research Bulletin, Vol. 41, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.4173/mic.2020.4.1	journal	January 2020
eFMI: An open standard for physical models in embedded software Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp2118157	conference	September 2021
EnergyPlus: creating a new-generation building energy simulation program Crawley, Drury B.; Lawrie, Linda K.; Winkelmann, Frederick C. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 33, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7788(00)00114-6	journal	April 2001
Modelica-enabled Rapid Prototyping Via Trnsys Elsheikh, Atiyah; Widl, Edmund; Palensky, Peter Building Simulation Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.26868/25222708.2013.1414	conference	August 2013
The reservoir network: A new network topology for district heating and cooling Sommer, Tobias; Sulzer, Matthias; Wetter, Michael Energy, Vol. 199 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.117418	journal	May 2020
Modelica Buildings library Wetter, Michael; Zuo, Wangda; Nouidui, Thierry S. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 7, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2013.765506	journal	March 2013
OpenIPSL: Open-Instance Power System Library — Update 1.5 to “iTesla Power Systems Library (iPSL): A Modelica library for phasor time-domain simulations” Baudette, Maxime; Castro, Marcelo; Rabuzin, Tin SoftwareX, Vol. 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.softx.2018.01.002	journal	January 2018
Reinforcement learning building control approach harnessing imitation learning Dey, Sourav; Marzullo, Thibault; Zhang, Xiangyu Energy and AI, Vol. 14 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyai.2023.100255	journal	October 2023
Implementation and verification of the IDEAS building energy simulation library Jorissen, F.; Reynders, G.; Baetens, R. Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 11, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2018.1428361	journal	February 2018
IBPSA Project 1: BIM/GIS and Modelica framework for building and community energy system design and operation – ongoing developments, lessons learned and challenges Wetter, M.; van Treeck, C.; Helsen, L. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Vol. 323 https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/323/1/012114	journal	August 2019
Functional mock-up unit for co-simulation import in EnergyPlus Nouidui, Thierry; Wetter, Michael; Zuo, Wangda Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 7, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2013.808265	journal	June 2013
Functional Mockup Interface 2.0: The Standard for Tool independent Exchange of Simulation Models Blockwitz, Torsten; Otter, Martin; Akesson, Johan 9th International MODELICA Conference, Munich, Germany, Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp12076173	conference	November 2012
Using coupled energy, airflow and indoor air quality software (TRNSYS/CONTAM) to evaluate building ventilation strategies Dols, W. Stuart; Emmerich, Steven J.; Polidoro, Brian J. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, Vol. 37, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624415619464	journal	December 2015
Estimating ASHRAE Guideline 36 energy savings for multi-zone variable air volume systems using Spawn of EnergyPlus Zhang, Kun; Blum, David; Cheng, Hwakong Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 15, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.2021286	journal	January 2022
Development and Verification of Control Sequences for Single-Zone Variable Air Volume System Based on ASHRAEGuideline 36 Zhang, Kun; Blum, David H.; Grahovac, Milica Proceedings of the American Modelica Conference 2020, Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ECP2016981	conference	November 2020
Control Description Language Wetter, Michael; Grahovac, Milica; Hu, Jianjun The American Modelica Conference 2018, October 9-10, Somberg Conference Center, Cambridge MA, USA, Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp1815417	conference	February 2019
Practical factors of envelope model setup and their effects on the performance of model predictive control for building heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems Blum, D. H.; Arendt, K.; Rivalin, L. Applied Energy, Vol. 236 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.093	journal	February 2019
Building optimization testing framework (BOPTEST) for simulation-based benchmarking of control strategies in buildings Blum, David; Arroyo, Javier; Huang, Sen Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 14, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401493.2021.1986574	journal	September 2021
LBNL Fault Detection and Diagnostics Datasets Granderson, Jessica; Lin, Guanjing; Chen, Yimin DOE Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory https://doi.org/10.25984/1881324	dataset	January 2022
Modeling and optimization with Optimica and JModelica.org—Languages and tools for solving large-scale dynamic optimization problems Åkesson, J.; Årzén, K. -E.; Gäfvert, M. Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 34, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2009.11.011	journal	November 2010
Demonstration of the new ESP-r and TRNSYS co-simulator for modelling solar buildings Beausoleil-Morrison, Ian; Kummert, Michaël; Macdonald, Francesca Energy Procedia, Vol. 30 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2012.11.060	journal	January 2012
Resilient cooling through geothermal district energy system Gautier, Antoine; Wetter, Michael; Sulzer, Matthias Applied Energy, Vol. 325 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119880	journal	November 2022
Generic Modelica Framework for MultiBody Contacts and Discrete Element Method Elmqvist, Hilding; Goteman, Axel; Roxling, Vilhelm Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp15118427	conference	September 2015
Micro-grid Design and Cost Optimization using Modelica MacRae, Natesa; Batteh, John; Velut, Stéphane Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp2016918	conference	November 2020
Assessing electrical bottlenecks at feeder level for residential net zero-energy buildings by integrated system simulation Baetens, R.; De Coninck, R.; Van Roy, J. Applied Energy, Vol. 96 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.12.098	journal	August 2012
Modelica-enabled rapid prototyping of cyber-physical energy systems via the functional mockup interface Elsheikh, Atiyah; Awais, Muhammed Usman; Widl, Edmund 2013 Workshop on Modeling and Simulation of Cyber-Physical Energy Systems (MSCPES) https://doi.org/10.1109/MSCPES.2013.6623315	conference	May 2013
Modelica-based modelling and simulation to support research and development in building energy and control systems Wetter, Michael Journal of Building Performance Simulation, Vol. 2, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/19401490902818259	journal	May 2009
Development and validation of a full-time-scale semi-analytical model for the short- and long-term simulation of vertical geothermal bore fields Laferrière, Alex; Cimmino, Massimo; Picard, Damien Geothermics, Vol. 86 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2019.101788	journal	July 2020

Similar Records

Lifting the Garage Door on Spawn, An Open-Source BEM-Controls Engine

Conference · Mon Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · OSTI ID:2008995

Wetter, Michael; Benne, Kyle; Gautier, Antoine; +6 more

Estimating ASHRAE Guideline 36 energy savings for multi-zone variable air volume systems using Spawn of EnergyPlus

Journal Article · Fri Jan 28 00:00:00 EST 2022 · Journal of Building Performance Simulation · OSTI ID:2008995

Zhang, Kun; Blum, David; Cheng, Hwakong; +3 more

Coupling indoor airflow, HVAC, control and building envelope heat transfer in the Modelica Buildings library

Journal Article · Mon Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Building Performance Simulation · OSTI ID:2008995

Zuo, Wangda; Wetter, Michael; Tian, Wei; +3 more

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
building energy simulation
co-simulation
controls
EnergyPlus
Modelica
modular modelling

Title: Spawn: coupling Modelica Buildings Library and EnergyPlus to enable new energy system and control applications

Citation Formats

References (40)

Similar Records

Related Subjects