Object-oriented programming, equation-based submodels, and system reduction in SPANK (Simulation Problem Analysis Kernel)

Conference · Fri Jun 15 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:7065079

Sowell, E F ^[1]; Buhl, F; Nataf, J M ^[2]

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1. California State Univ., Fullerton, CA (USA). Dept. of Computer Science
2. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)

Collaborative efforts among building simulation researchers in Europe and the US have resulted in wide acceptance of certain features as necessary attributes of future simulation environments. As identified in the Energy Kernel System (EKS), the principal features are those of the object-oriented programming (OOP) paradigm, in which a hierarchy of submodels is readily defined and interconnected to form system models of widely varying purpose, solution methodology, and implementation description. The Simulation Problem Analysis Kernel (SPANK) is an early, prototypical implementation intended to exhibit at least some of the EKS features, including an OOP-like environment. Additionally, SPANK implements a solution process that is based on graph algorithms and achieves solution efficiency through a reduction in size of the iterative problem. This paper enlarges on earlier descriptions of SPANK, attempting to separate and clarify the modeling issues and the solution issues. To this end the nature of the SPANK environment is compared to established OOP environments. The SPANK equation-based objects are contrasted to the assignment-based (input/output oriented) models employed in most current simulation environments. The SPANK cut-set reduction methodology is compared to the more widely known sparse matrix technique. Finally the utility of the SPANK reduction algorithm is demonstrated on a number of example problems. 21 refs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 7065079
• Report Number(s): LBL-28272; CONF-890615--2; ON: DE90013872
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290100 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Analysis & Modeling
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
AC SYSTEMS
AIR FLOW
BUILDINGS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY MODELS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
HVAC SYSTEMS
KERNELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
O CODES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER SYSTEMS
PROGRAMMING
S CODES
SIMULATION
T CODES
TESTING
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
VALIDATION