Different receptacle loads between alternatives using Trace 700

[lnbeauch]

I am using Trane Trace 700 to model three alternative mechanical systems. I have tried to keep all of the envelope, ventilation, lighting, and internal loads the same between the alternatives, to focus on the energy and economic effect of the different mechanical system choices. For this, the Rooms and Templates for Alternatives 2 and 3 are using the information entered in Alternative 1. After calculating, Alternatives 2 and 3 have receptacle loads that are identical to each other, and higher than the receptacle loads in Alternative 1. I have looked through the "entered values" reports, and cannot find any differences in the internal or miscellaneous loads between Alternative 1 and 2/3. Does anybody have any ideas about why the receptacle loads should be different between the alternatives if the same templates and room definitions were used?

 

[EnergyProfessional]

did you use the "use Alternative 1" option, or "create new rooms based on Alternative 1" option? If the second, you may have inadvertently changed something, or just a different schedule for the plug loads. The "entered values" report doesn't necessarily show everything.

Call Trace support, that is free with your subscription. If they can't help over the phone, you also can send them your archived "taf" file, they typically have 1 day turnaround for that.

 

[lnbeauch]

I did use the "Use Alternative 1" option, and when I go through the templates for all options, the miscellaneous loads are the same (load, meter, schedule, type) for all alternatives, so I don't understand where the different plug loads come from. I have contacted the support, thanks for your post and for the tip.

 

[lnbeauch]

I'm replying to my own thread, in case someone has a similar question, here is the solution (many thanks to the technical support person at CDS).

If any of the alternates include an energy recovery fan, the "parasitic load" to run this fan is added, in the energy summary reports, to the "Receptacles" category. After calculating, in "Detailed Reports", select "Equipment Energy Consumption". There will be data for each alternative. Any alternatives that include energy recovery will have a heading labeled "Energy Recovery Parasitics". In the summary reports, this amount is simply added to the "Receptacles" load. This explains (one way at least) how you can have different "Receptacles" loads for identical template and room definitions.

 

[EnergyProfessional]

Thanks for posting the solution. I'm sure I will run into the same problem at some point.