Climate Data

Overview

The dynamic simulation calculates the heat network over the selected period – typically a full year – with hourly climate data. For the network simulation, the outdoor temperature (weather-controlled heating curves, boundary condition of the ground models) and the other meteorological quantities of the climate file are particularly relevant. Climate data is either selected from the supplied climate database or included as a custom weather file.

Access

Simulation button in the main toolbar, then the Climate & Location page in the list on the left.

Climate Data Source

At the top of the page, in the Climate Data area, you select the data source:

Option	Meaning
Climate database	Selection of a data set from the supplied climate database via the Map and Table tabs.
Custom file:	Inclusion of a custom weather file via the file-path dialog.

Climate Database

• Map tab: selection of the climate location directly on an interactive map. Use the Data set type: dropdown to filter the displayed data sets; the data set type of the current climate file is preselected, and with All data sets you show all locations. The database contains, among others, German test reference years (TRY).
• Table tab: tabular list of all climate files with a Text filter: for searching by location name.

Custom Files

Supported file formats:

Format	Extension	Description
Climate data container	.c6b	Binary container format with annual data set and location metadata
EnergyPlus Weather	.epw	Internationally widespread text format
WAC	.wac	Weather-data text format
DAT	.dat	Weather-data text format

Generating Climate Data from the DWD

Via the menu Tools > Climate Generator … you launch the external DWD weather-data tool. It downloads freely available station data from the German Weather Service (DWD) and generates climate files from it, which you then include as a custom file. If the path to the tool is not yet configured, the settings dialog opens automatically, where you specify the program path.

Climate Data View and Location Parameters

On the right, the Description of the Climate Data area shows the metadata of the selected file as well as annual charts for temperature, relative humidity, shortwave and longwave radiation and wind.

In the Edit Location area, the location parameters taken from the climate file can be adjusted:

Parameter	Range	Unit	Default
Latitude [+90..-90]:	−90 to +90	°	from climate file
Longitude [-180..180]:	−180 to +180	°	from climate file
Time zone:	UTC −12 to +12	h	from climate file
Albedo [0..1]:	0 to 1	–	Dropdown with typical values according to VDI 3789-2, e.g. 0.2 (dry leveled soil), 0.15 (paving), 0.33 (red tiles)

Relevance for the Network Simulation

• Heating curves: Weather-controlled supply-temperature controls of the energy plant are translated into an annual schedule on export. The basis is the outdoor temperature of the selected climate file – a change of the climate file therefore directly changes the supply temperatures in the network.
• Ground: For pipes and ground heat sources with a coupled ground model, the climate file serves as the boundary condition at the ground surface; it is transferred into the generated ground models on export.

Notes

• All climate files contain annual data sets at hourly resolution; the simulation period is set independently in the simulation settings.
• The albedo affects the solar radiation reflected by the ground and is primarily relevant for coupled building models.

Related Topics

• Simulation Settings and Start
• Ground Model
• Model Representation and Result Quantities