Single function to copy an HVAC system from on IDF to another IDF

Use Case:

To try out different HVAC systems in your building
Copy HVAC systems from the Example files into your building
Do a parametric analyssi with this.

copy_hvac(from_idf, to_idf)

The copy_hvac(from_idf, to_idf) function will need the following functions

hvac_remover(idf)
- removes the HVAC and returns an IDF that has no HVAC
hvac_extractor(idf)
- extracts the HVAC objects an IDF and returns just the HVAC and related objects
zone_hvac_remover(idf)
- cleanly removes the HVAC object from a zone
- It will remove the zone terminal unit and all it's links back to the splitter and mixer
- It is useful on it's own as it will let you make a conditioned zone into an unconditioned zone
- it can be put into a loop run on multiple units
zone_hvac_adder(idf)
- used when you have working HVAC with terminal units in the zones
- cleanly adds the HVAC object to a zone (looks at the other zones and creates similar unit)
- It will add the zone terminal unit and all it's links back to the splitter and mixer
- It is useful on it's own as it will let you make an unconditioned room into a conditioned room
- it can be put into a loop run on multiple units
thermostat_extractor(idf)
- needed to know which zones are contiioned and what the settings are.
hvac_inserter(to_idf, fromhvac)

How these can be used implement copy_hvac(from_idf, to_idf)

def copy_hvac(from_idf, to_idf):
    nohvac_idf = hvac_remover(to_idf)
    fromhvac = hvac_extractor(from_idf)
    from_thermostats = thermostat_extractor(from_idf)
    to_thermostats = thermostat_extractor(to_idf)

    # there may be a mismatch in the number of 
    # conditioned zones of from_idf and to_idf
    # compare the from_thermostats and to_thermostats to see the diff

    if to_idf_has_more_zones:
        for number of more zones:
            tohvac = zone_hvac_adder( .... )
    elif from_idf_has_less_zones
        for number of less zones:
            fromhvac = zone_hvac_adder( ... )
    else:
        pass

    return hvac_inserter(nohvac_idf, tohvac)

pyenergyplus / witheppy

Single function to copy an HVAC system from on IDF to another IDF #59