Performance Curves

 

Curve:Linear

Curve:Quadratic

Curve:Cubic

Curve:Quartic

Curve:Exponent

Curve:Bicubic

Curve:Biquadratic

 

Used in:

 

  • Cooling coils
  • Heating coils
  • Boilers
  • Chillers
  • Water heaters

 

This group of objects primarily consists of polynomial curves that are used to characterize the performance of HVAC equipment. Several other non-polynomial curves are also included to characterize the performance of pumps and fans. All of the curves are input, stored, and evaluated entirely within the EnergyPlus Curve Manager module. The curves are usually derived from fits or regressions to data covering a limited range. Results for independent variable values outside this range are likely to be invalid, so curve input always contains a range of validity (maximum and minimum permitted values) for each independent variable and can optionally have limits on the curve output. No error or warning message is issued if an independent variable is outside the range. Instead, the Curve Manager uses the minimum value if an independent variable is less than the minimum, and the maximum if a variable exceeds the maximum. Similarly, no error or warning message is issued if the curve output is outside the range of the optional minimum and maximum curve output limits. Instead, the Curve Manager uses the minimum and maximum curve limits to cap the output of the performance curve.

 

The curve data follow a similar pattern and all have the same first 4 data items:

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Note

Specific information about the curve.

Source

Where the curve was derived from (usually either EnergyPlus, meaning it comes from the EnergyPlus curves database, which is largely derived from the DOE-2 database, or DesignBuilder meaning that the curve is provided by DesignBuilder Software)

Category

The category can be one of:

The rest of the data depends on the category as described below.

Linear

Input for the linear curve consists of a curve name, the two coefficients, and the maximum and minimum valid independent variable values. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the linear curve is:

y = C1 + C2 * x

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 x

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of X and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power

Quadratic

Input for a quadratic curve consists of the curve name, the three coefficients, and the maximum and minimum valid independent variable values. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the quadratic curve is:

y = C1 + C2 * x + C3 * x2

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 x

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Coefficient 3 x2

The quadratic coefficient (C3) in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of x and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power

Cubic

Input for a cubic curve consists of the curve name, the 4 coefficients, and the maximum and minimum valid independent variable values. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the cubic curve is:

y = C1 + C2 * x + C3 * x2 + C4 * x3

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 x

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Coefficient 3 x2

The quadratic coefficient (C3) in the equation.

Coefficient 4 x3

The quadratic coefficient (C4) in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of x and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power

Exponent

Input for a exponent curve consists of the curve name, the 3 coefficients, and the maximum and minimum valid independent variable values. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the exponent curve is:

y = C1 + C2 * xC3

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 constant

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Coefficient 3 constant

The exponent coefficient (C3) in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of x and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power

Biquadratic

This curve is a function of two independent variables. Input consists of the curve name, the six coefficients, and min and max values for each of the independent variables. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the biquadratic curve is:

z = C1 + C2 * x + C3 * x2 + C4* y + C5 * y2 + C6*xy

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 x

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Coefficient 3 x2

The quadratic coefficient (C3) in the equation.

Coefficient 4 y

The coefficient C4 in the equation.

Coefficient 5 y2

The coefficient C5 in the equation.

Coefficient 6 xy

The coefficient C6 in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum value of y

The minimum allowable value of y. Values of y less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of y

The maximum allowable value of y. Values of y greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of x and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Input unit type for y

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the y values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of y and Maximum Value of y. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power

Bicubic

This curve type is a function of two independent variables. Input consists of the curve name, the ten coefficients, and the minimum and maximum values for each of the independent variables. Optional inputs for curve minimum and maximum may be used to limit the output of the performance curve (e.g. limit extrapolation). The equation represented by the bicubic curve is:

z = C1 + C2 * x + C3* x2 + C4* y + C5 * y2 + C6*xy + C7* x3 + C8* y3 + C9 * x2y + C10 * xy2

Name

A user assigned unique name for a curve. When a curve is used, it is referenced by this name.

Coefficient 1 constant

The constant coefficient (C1) in the equation.

Coefficient 2 x

The linear coefficient (C2) in the equation.

Coefficient 3 x2

The quadratic coefficient (C3) in the equation.

Coefficient 4 y

The coefficient C4 in the equation.

Coefficient 5 y2

The coefficient C5 in the equation.

Coefficient 6 xy

The coefficient C6 in the equation.

Coefficient 7 x3

The coefficient C7 in the equation.

Coefficient 8 y3

The coefficient C8 in the equation.

Coefficient 9 x2y

The coefficient C9 in the equation.

Coefficient 10 xy2

The coefficient C10 in the equation.

Minimum value of x

The minimum allowable value of x. Values of x less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of x

The maximum allowable value of x. Values of x greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum value of y

The minimum allowable value of y. Values of y less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum value of y

The maximum allowable value of y. Values of y greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Minimum curve output

The minimum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values less than the minimum will be replaced by the minimum.

Maximum curve output

The maximum allowable value of the evaluated curve. Values greater than the maximum will be replaced by the maximum.

Input unit type for x

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the x values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of X and Maximum Value of x. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Input unit type for y

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the y values. It is used by editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Value of y and Maximum Value of y. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.

  1. Dimensionless
  2. Temperature
  3. VolumetricFlow
  4. MassFlow
  5. Distance
  6. Power

Output unit type

This field is used to indicate the kind of units that may be associated with the output values. It is used by IDF Editor to display the appropriate SI and IP units for the Minimum Curve Output and Maximum Curve Output. The unit conversion is not applied to the coefficients. The available options are shown below. If none of these options are appropriate, select Dimensionless which will have no unit conversion.



  1. Dimensionless
  2. Capacity
  3. Power