Previous versions
Below is a list of the most important news in previous versions of IDA ICE.
Highlights in IDA ICE 4.8
Redesigned Floor plan
The Floor plan view and other 2D geometrical views have been redesigned to improve performance and ease of use:
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Spectral properties of glass panes and shading materials
Spectral calculation is introduced for glazing and integrated sunshades. This means that the properties of the whole glazing/sunshade system are calculated for each wavelength interval. Spectral calculations give higher accuracy than non-spectral. For modern glazing and shading materials, non-spectral calculations can give significant errors (> 10%) and viable system combinations may be missed. Spectral data can be uploaded by manufacturers at any time and is automatically synchronized with user databases.
Overheating calculation
Overheating calculation is a new simulation type to automatically find the worst day for rooms that have no or limited mechanical cooling. The result is presented at the time of either maximal air temperature, operative temperature or PPD.
Parametric runs and optimization inside IDA ICE (beta)1
Using the simulation model to optimize for example window properties, supply air temperature or the size and slope of solar collectors is an obvious application. With IDA ICE 4.8 this is as easy as it sounds. The user can easily drag and drop input parameters and target output (cost function) from the model into the interface. In addition to optimization, Monte-Carlo and sensitivity analysis (Morris method) are supported.
Graphical scripting in the same style as regular advanced level IDA modelling is provided in order to easily create parameter relations that are suitable for parametric runs. The same technique can be used also to formulate complex objective and constraint functions.
Enthalpy wheel heat exchanger
An air handling unit with a new rotary heat exchanger model, based on prEN 16798-5-1, is introduced. It has three options with different types of coatings:
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New thermal bridge definitions
National standards are based on different conventions for defining thermal bridges and envelope area. IDA ICE 4.8 supports five different definitions of thermal bridges and envelope area, as defined in ISO 10211.
The selected envelope area definition is visualized in the 3D view when wall thickness is turned on.
Updates to Daylight2
The Daylight extension has been updated in IDA ICE 4.8. Here are a few examples:
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Usability and productivity improvements
IDA ICE 4.8 includes a large number of usability and productivity improvements, many of them suggested by our users. Here are a few examples:
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New types of integrated shading
Three new types of typical shading devices can now easily be selected for the detailed window model; Micro lamellas (shading dependent on two angles), Venetian blinds between panes and Screens between panes. Access to manufacturer data for shading materials has been enabled. The shading devices are visualized in the 3D view and their movement can be animated.
Improvements in 3D
The 3D view has been improved. Here are some examples:
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Split and merge zones (beta)
Zones can now easily be split into smaller zones, by inserting a slab at a specified height or by drawing a dividing wall. With these features a complicated building can be divided into floors and zones.
Zones can also be merged together into larger zones. This feature enables you to change the zoning of a building without having to redraw the zones. It is also a simple way to create complicated zone geometries.
Improved IFC import and export3
The IFC import has been improved in several ways. Now also exporting key results via IFC has been implemented.
The free IDA ICE Viewer can be used to check IFC files for import problems.
Phase Change Materials (beta)1
Layers in walls and floors can now be Phase Change Materials (PCM). Using such materials, radically improved heat storage capacity can be achieved.
New model for heat from occupants
Thermal comfort is calculated in IDA ICE according to ISO 7730. In IDA ICE 4.7.1 and earlier, the heat loss from a person that is too cold (PMV < 0) was larger than the specified metabolism. In IDA ICE 4.8, the clothing level is adjusted instead so that the PMV value becomes close to zero, which means that the total heat losses always become equal to the metabolism. This change only applies to the calculation of occupant heat. The calculation of PMV/PPD is not affected.
Application Programming Interface (beta)1
IDA ICE can now be controlled by an external program by direct calls from, e.g. Python, Matlab, Excel, C++, Java or similar. By using socket communication, also processes on remote machines can control an IDA ICE instance. A library of functions based on the Document Object Model standard has been implemented for interacting with the IDA Modeller data structures. Essentially any operation that can be performed manually can also be done remotely. Running simulations from a remote process requires a special licensing agreement.
1 Included in the Expert edition.
2 Included in the Expert edition and available as extension (Daylight) to the Standard edition.
3 Included in the Expert edition and available as extension (BIM Import) to the Standard edition.
Highlights in 4.7
Daylight1
Advanced daylight calculation by interfacing the Radiance™ lighting simulation tool. Easy calculation setup, execution and results visualization, all inside IDA ICE. Calculation of daylight factor and illuminance on selected zones or user defined measuring planes placed inside or outside of the building. Selection of sky models including CIE standard sky models and Perez climate based sky model. Results presentation with average, minimum, maximum and uniformity ratio and color coded field visualization including possibility to show percentage of area above or below a threshold value.
Parallelization2
IDA ICE now takes advantage of the fact that almost all new computers are equipped with multiple processor cores and are able to run several processes in parallel:
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Windows and shading devices
New features for windows and shading devices:
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Climate data
New features for climate data:
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New cooling load calculation
A new cooling load calculation algorithm with automatic detection of “the worst day of the year” has been implemented, using monthly extreme weather data from the ASHRAE Fundamentals 2013 database. For modern buildings with low transmission losses, room cooling loads may peak in February or March, not during the summer as could be expected. The new method will detect this automatically. It will also automatically save peak design days for each zone and air handling unit as well as for the primary cooling system.
Results
Results of multiple simulations are now saved with the project file, and the Results tab has been replaced with two new tabs; Summary and Details. The Summary tab includes summary tables for the zones, air handling units and the building. For cooling load calculations, a summary of individual peak cases is presented. The Details tab features new ways of presenting multiple diagrams together, and it uses snapping crosshairs for easy reading.
Simulate selected zones
Selected zones can automatically be cloned to a new model. This makes it quick and easy to study the behavior of these zones, without having to run the whole original building.
IDA ICE Portal
A portal is now shown at startup, featuring IDA ICE related news, information about upcoming events, links to video tutorials and the latest forum posts. It also includes contact information and a license summary.
Improved IFC import3
It is now possible to map IFC space types to zone templates, and to convert all IFC spaces to zones in one click. Import of IFC files, validated with the IDA ICE add-on for simplebim, has been improved:
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Merge zones (beta)
Zones can now easily be merged together into larger zones. This feature enables you to change the zoning of the building without having to redraw the zones. It is also a simple way to create complicated zone geometries.
New ESBO version
A redesigned version of ESBO (Early Stage Building Optimization) is released, including:
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VELUX EIC Visualizer Professional
The professional version of VELUX Energy and Indoor Climate (EIC) Visualizer is now included. The VELUX EIC Visualizer focuses on windows and solar shading and is used to evaluate the performance of single-family houses with respect to energy, ventilation and indoor climate. Read more >
More features in the Standard edition
Features previously only found in the Expert edition, or in the extensions Enhanced Windows Models4, and Slab Cooling and Heatings, are now included directly in the Standard edition:
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Debugging of advanced level systems2
When the advanced level is visible during simulation the slowest converging component is shown in red each time step. With this feature, problematic component models are more easily detected.
Fan-coil model
A new dedicated fan-coil model is available that has more appropriate parameters and that is numerically more efficient. By setting the fan-power to zero, this model can also be used as an “ideal unit” that connects to the hydronic system.
Compressed binary file format
The default option is now to save the entire IDA ICE project in one single binary file. This makes it easier to copy IDA ICE projects and to incorporate them in file handling systems.
Autosave
Your IDA ICE project is now automatically saved every 10 minutes, and before and after each simulation.
Control macros2
New features for control macros:
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Exhaust air heat pump
Exhaust air heat pump is now available at the standard level of IDA ICE. It is quick and easy to set up a heat pump with liquid-coupled exhaust air heat recovery and storage tank. Sizing of flow rate and heat pump is supported.Split5 and merge zones (beta)
Zones can now easily be split into smaller zones or merged together into larger zones. These features enables you to change the zoning of the building without having to redraw the zones. It is also a simple way to create complicated zone geometries. New liquid circuit between AHU and Plant
A new custom liquid circuit between the air handling unit and the plant simplifies the generation of arbitrarily system models.Top of page
Highlights in 4.6
New help center
The help system has been improved. Apart from an updated user guide, context sensitive help and process guides with tutorial movies, a completely new knowledge database/user forum has been added, which gives a new level of support to all types of users. A new Download & Info Center has been created with change logs, known bugs, validation reports, certificates and additional documentation.
New climate file download center and file formats
A new download center makes it easy to select the weather files that you need. More than 3000 worldwide ASHRAE IWEC2 weather files are now available.
Diagram functions
New features in the visualization kit:
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Glazing and shading from detailed window
Design glazing and shading properties in the detailed window model, calculate and save the key parameters, and they are available in the simple window model.
More options at the standard level
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Geometry
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IDA ICE Viewer
A free viewer makes it possible to open simulated project files, look at results and run 3D animations. Project files can be exported from IDA ICE to a protected format which is only possible to open in IDA ICE Viewer.
Shading calculation
External window shades, shading buildings and imported shading objects now include a transparency parameter so that semi-transparent shades can be defined.
New 3D animation
It is now possible to log and animate window integrated shading.
Improved 3D navigation
The navigation in the 3D view is now easier than ever with mouse wheel zooming and a function to zoom in on selected objects.
Hightlights in 4.5
Early Stage Building Optimization (ESBO)
ESBO is a new IDA ICE wizard that simplifies early stage building optimization. It allows you to experiment with variations in both building and systems with an absolute minimum of user input.
Renewable energy systems
New models for heat pumps, solar collectors, stratified storage tanks, boreholes, CHP, wind turbines, PV and other free energy sources make it easy to simulate innovative systems.
Complex zones and buildings
It is now possible to use arbitrary geometries for both zones and building bodies, including models with holes. The geometries are imported from SketchUp or other geometry tools. Objects may be moved in the 3D view.
New 3D look
A completely new 3D look, similar to SketchUp. Other improvements include shadows falling on the ground and the possibility to toggle zone wall thickness, x-ray view of external shades, imported objects and IFC models.
New 3D animations
A new type of arrow animations in 3D has been added, visualizing ventilation air flows, window energy balance and wind velocity vector. Selected variables can be displayed in a table in the 3D view during animations.
Façade windows and shading objects
Windows, openings and shading objects can now, directly from the 3D view, be inserted into a building body, which speeds up the workflow significantly. A new grid object enables efficient management of large groups of repeated objects such as windows.
Improved zone form
A new improved zone form with 3D view and summary tables has been developed. The new summary tables make it easy to view and edit all important zone level input data.
New custom controls
It is now possible at the standard level to customize your own controllers for all devices such as room units, blinds and lights. Supervisory controllers may also be defined at both the zone and building levels.
Multiple area definitions
Support for different types of floor area metrics. It's also possible to set the zone or building floor area explicitly to match exotic area calculation standards.
Improved zone loads
More flexible handling of zone loads. Support for multiple light objects. Domestic hot water may be specified as a function of time and on the zone level. Equipment can now emit water mist and an equipment utilization factor has been added.
Thermal bridges
New thermal bridge elements have been added. The new elements support inner corners and inner walls meeting external slabs.
Lots more…
Discrete-time (sampled) controllers; new input data report; externally updated resources – to manage group, project or company libraries, etc., etc.
Highlights in 4.2
Process Guide
The Process Guide helps to get started in new projects. Here the basic steps for constructing a model are listed, with direct links to the place in the user interface, to instructive movies and to help texts.
Expandable forms
Forms now expand automatically when resizing the application window. This will radically improve the use of screen real estate for users with big screens, especially regarding the appreciated input data tables.
Added tables
New input data tables added for setpoints, room units, energy meters and HVAC systems in the General tab. A new system for adding even more tables in the future has been developed.
3D visualization of surface data
For the Surfaces input data table, the columns Type, Construction and U-value are now shown in the 3D view, also separately for every subsurface. This makes it much easier to visually verify that constructions have been defined as intended.
Energy meters button added
A button to show usage of energy meters has been added, making it much quicker than before to find how meters have been used.
New zone sensor
A new zone sensor object for reading a zone's variables in AHU and Plant simplifies cycling of AHUs.
Hierarchical structure
The windows in the Window menu are shown in hierarchical structure. This makes it much easier to locate windows that have been covered on the screen, especially when several models are open.
Drag-and-drop of variables
Support for dragging (drag-and-drop) additional variables into cross-dependency (scatter) plots. This makes it easy to generate for example a plot of hourly energy use as a function of outdoor temperature.
Batch mode enhancements
It is now possible to run heating/cooling design and energy calculations in batch mode, as well to run scrips (without popup dialogs).
User defined lighting control
It is now possible to define your own control strategy for lighting.
Highlights in 4.1
Undo and Redo
Unlimited undo/redo has been added.
Support for SketchUp format
It is now possible to import shading objects using SketchUp models (.skp).
Enhanced IFC import
Improvements to the IFC import has been done, especially when positioning doors and windows in walls, improved external corners and support for multilevel spaces.
Enhanced diagrams
It is now possible to sort variables, to have multiple stacks and to draw values in stack bar diagrams. Tooltips and context menu works now with area diagrams and with bar chart diagrams. More options have been added for the axes.
Visualization of twist and tilt
It is now poissible to visualize the horizontal twisting and vertical tilting of window surfaces.
Listing of shading layers
The shading layer of detailed windows are shown in the list of windows.
Infiltration units
New alternative for infiltration units has been added: m3/(h.m3 ext. surf.)
Colorized code
NMF and Modelica source code is now colorize, which makes it easier to read.
Reset zones
Zones can be resetted to the current template.
Refresh 3D view
It is now possible to rebuild the building in the 3D view.
Memory limit added
It is now possible to manually set the memory limit utilized by IDA ICE.
Highlights in 4.0
3D environment
The new real-time 3D environment makes it possible to illustrate input and output parameters and to get animated results, including solar and shading graphics. It also adds an overview during all steps of a project and provides impressive presentation graphics. You can quickly edit properties by simply clicking, e.g. a wall or a window in the 3D-model.
Overview tables
New overview tables allow the user to get a complete overview of individual parameters of complex models. You can view and edit all important input data in tables and see, e.g., useful totals for floor areas, u-values, external wall areas, etc. These tables can also be transferred to and from Excel. Most parameters can be visualized in the 3D environment.
3D BIM import2
Support for import of 3D models in IFC (Industry Foundation Classes).
Cooling, heating and energy
A simple procedure for calculating and reporting cooling, heating, air demand and energy has been added.
Version Handling System2
The Version Handling System allows you to keep track of changes between model versions and also to automatically rerun all cases that depend on a change. It can be used to retain manual advanced level operations when a change has been made at the standard level.
Improved support for Air Handling Units and Local Units
A range of new pre-defined AHUs have been added, e.g. for night cooling and simultaneous feedback control of zone temperature and humidity. Zones may be served by multiple AHUs and custom built local units, e.g. fan-coils, local ACs and heat pumps.
Complex geometry
Support for more complex building and roof geometries. A separate Roof Editor makes it easy to define and modify roof constructions.
Demand-controlled ventilation
Improved demand-controlled ventilation strategy where a combination of carbon dioxide concentration and temperature can be used.
Custom control systems2
For VAV-systems, window shading and openable windows it is now easy to make custom-made control systems at the standard level. An extensive library of control function blocks is included.
Solar beams
An advanced algorithm for how solar beams are hitting and penetrating the building has been added. It also takes into account whether the beams passes several layers of internal windows.
New window model2
A new pane-by-pane window model according to ISO 15099 has been added. Available in the Enhanced Window Models extension.
Model searching and differencing2
Easy to search models and to list differences between models. Differences can also be captured as editable scripts, the application of which will convert one model to the other.
Diagrams and reports
Improved diagrams and reports. Supports larger plot-files. Signals can be dragged between diagrams for comparison. Reports are based on HTML with tables that will remain tables when moved to Excel.
Modelica language
Support for models written in the Modelica equation-based language.
Climate files
Easy to download and install climate files to the database. EPW files can be directly downloaded and installed from any public site.
1 Included in the Expert edition and available as extension (Daylight ) to the Standard edition.
2 Included in the Expert edition.
3 Included in the Expert edition and available as extension (BIM Import ) to the Standard edition.
4 It will not be possible to create internal openings and large horizontal openings in Standard edition. For this the Expert edition is required.
5 Available from IDA ICE 4.7.1