The EnergyPlus calculation model used to simulate the air conditioning unit of the constant air flow system has been changed. Previous versions used a "template" type model available in the calculation engine, which presented configuration and combination restrictions with other systems in the same job. The change of model in version 2024.a eliminates these restrictions. Furthermore, the system definition interface has been divided into tabs to make it clearer.
A new production unit has been added to the water heating systems: the air to water heat pump. Several air to water heat pumps can be used in the same circuit in combination with boilers. When selecting a heat pump, the maximum flow temperature of the circuit is limited to 55°C.
In the air to water heat pump window, users must define the rated capacity and gross rated heating COP of the unit for a water temperature of 35ºC and an outside air temperature of 7ºC. These characteristics will vary throughout the simulation according to the operating conditions of the unit, in accordance with the performance curves included in the program.
Water heating systems containing the new air to water heat pump can be connected to the water distribution system terminal units (radiators, radiant floor and fan coils), to the main air conditioner and to the air conditioning unit (AHU) in the constant air flow system.
The mode of communication between Open BIM applications and the BIMserver.center collaborative work platform has changed. In previous versions, the applications used the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool to upload and download the files of the contributions associated with the project from the platform. This tool was downloaded from the BIMserver.center platform or installed together with the installation of the platform applications if users so desired.
From version 2024.a onwards, applications are now able to work directly with BIMserver.center without an intermediary. That is, without the need for the "BIMserver.center Sync" tool.
This modification will improve the performance and efficiency of Open BIM applications significantly. By removing this dependency, the applications have more autonomy and the waiting times for communication between BIMserver.center Sync and the program have been considerably reduced. The process of downloading contributions has also been optimised, as users no longer need to obtain the entire content of a project from BIMserver.center in order to work, but only the contributions to be read.
The way of authenticating a BIMserver.center user in the applications has also been modified. Now, this process is carried out within the BIMserver.center web platform. To do this, the application with which the user is working will run the user's default browser when the "Login" button is pressed. When the credentials are entered, or after opening the browser if the user is already connected to the platform, an authorisation page will be displayed. This page details the resources the application is requesting access to and two buttons for granting or denying this access.
The authorisation must be carried out for each application. Once access has been granted, it is saved for the next time the program is run and there is no need to perform this process again for that application.
As well as performance improvements, changes have been made to the user interface of the Open BIM applications regarding the connection to BIMserver.center.
To work in BIMserver.center with versions of Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a, users must continue to use the BIMserver.center Sync tool. This is still available for download from the platform and was included in the installation packages of the CYPE Open BIM applications prior to 2024.a.
From 15 February 2023, downloads of the StruBIM Cantilever Walls and StruBIM Embedded Walls applications (versions 2023.f onwards) from the BIMserver.center platform, can now be installed in Polish. Installation in Polish is also available for CYPETHERM EPlus for downloads from BIMserver.center on or after 21 March (versions 2023.f onwards).
The program's user manual has been updated in English, French and Spanish.
CYPETHERM EPlus version 2023.e includes the upgrade of the EnergyPlusTM calculation engine to version 22.2.
Since version 2022.a, the applications integrated within the Open BIM workflow via the BIMserver.center platform include a tool for managing project reference systems. This option is available from the configuration window that appears when linking or updating a BIMserver.center project via the "Geographic location and reference system" option. As of version 2023.d, the applications now allow users to run a graphical environment where they can visually define a reference system for their model. To do this, the "Geographic location and reference system" window now contains the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" option.
From the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" window, the origin and orientation of the reference system of the model can be indicated in the workspace with the "Define the reference system of the partial model" tool. Both the axes of the reference system of the model, which we have just entered and the axes of the reference system of the site can be viewed in the workspace. The latter appears with a "Site" tag.
To make it easier to define the reference system, the 3D models corresponding to the BIMserver.center project contributions selected during the linking process are displayed. The management of the visibility and object snaps of these models is carried out from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar of the window. The "Views" menu can also be found in the same options bar, from which different types of 2D and 3D views of the model can be generated. These tools can already be found in several CYPE applications. For more information on how they work, please refer to the User’s Manual for the 3D work environment tools available in CYPE applications.
Apart from 3D models, 2D drawings or plans can also be imported from CAD files (".dxf", ".dwg", ".dwf") or images (".jpeg", ".jpg", ".bmp", ".png", ".wmf", ".emf", ".pcx"). These files and object snaps are managed through the "DXF-DWG Template" and "Template object snaps" options accordingly.
Once the editing is complete, the coordinates and orientation of the reference system of the model with respect to the reference system of the site are moved to the corresponding fields in the "Geographic location and reference system" window.
The "Font size" option has been added to the general configuration menu of the applications. This tool allows users to increase or decrease the basic size of the font used in the user interface of the programs. Thanks to this implementation, the accessibility of the applications has been improved while also ensuring the correct visibility of the content on devices with different screen resolutions.
To enter a "Basic size" the "Set custom font size" option must be checked. The size users can enter is the application's basic font size. Any other font sizes that may exist in the program's interface will be automatically modified proportionally according to the change in the basic size.
It is important to note that, as this is a common parameter, its modification will affect all installed CYPE tools.
From 5 August 2022, in version 2023.b and subsequent versions, CYPETHERM EPlus and CYPETHERM Improvements can be installed in Chinese.
Curtain wall systems have been added as an option. To use it, a distinction is made in the external wall library between opaque walls, which are those currently in use, and the new glass walls, which are curtain walls.
Under the "Glass wall" option, users must enter the thermal properties of the glazed and opaque surface proportions (glazed ratio) of the curtain wall to be simulated, in a similar way to the definition carried out for windows.
The Consumption Report has been expanded with a new section that lists the HVAC and DHW units defined in the building and indicates the energy consumption and seasonal efficiency for each of them.
As of version 2022.d, in CYPETHERM programs with the EnergyPlus™ calculation engine, the thermal properties between the frame and glazing junction and between the frame and opaque panels or blind box can be defined (stated in standard EN ISO 10077-1:2020), in the definition of the opaque fraction for glazed openings and skylights.
The programs allow the users to define the length and linear thermal transmittance for the couplings in each type of opening, offering an assistant with common values to facilitate the definition.
