[esp-r] Re: Strange results from TIM simulations and related issues...

[Jon Hand (clcv10)]

A recent question on simulating transparent insulation materials...
is sort of like other recent questions about bits of ESP-r that do
not get used all that often.

Esp-r provides quite a few facilities within the results analysis  
module for
exploring the physics that are occurring within rooms and within
TIM and other not-so-common design ideas.  It actually reports a
true energy balance - try getting that from most any other tool.

Indeed, you can explore in ESP-r in ways that are not at all possible
in other simulation tools - you can debug the program live, you can  
add in you own
reports and test out your own methods.

An experienced user is often able to use 'res' and the simulation
trace facilities to figure out what is happening within a model. But
communicating these sorts of skills via email and discussion lists
has not been particularly efficient in the past. Debugging complex
models often requires access to the models themselves rather
than brief descriptions of what went wrong.

The ESP-r community has fantastic resources to help users who
are pushing the boundaries of simulation. And some topics
are sort of 'on-the-edge'. Every once in a while people model
TIM, but there is no exemplar model available for easy reference
and there is no tutorial giving the steps needed to model such
a design because it is a niche topic.  The community can be
a source of new exemplar models - we love them and want to
include more good models in the distribution!

Perhaps it is time to consider a workshop on model debugging
for those who are 'at the edge' of the tool. A result of this might
be extensions to the trace facilities and/or additional checking
within ESP-r (as well as the participants gaining some useful
skills).

-ESRU