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AutoCAD add-on that enables shading design and energy gain calculations within AutoCAD's model space model environment, using time simulation with advanced high precision solar positioning algorithm. |
Applications
Solar package is an irreplaceable tool for professionals who deal with solar energy gains like Architects, Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers for a vast range of applications ranging from:
- Preliminary study of the site's shading from surrounding buildings and the horizon.
- Optimizing the orientation of a solar panel unit or array.
- Design a glazing's shader to function at specific requirements throughout the year.
- Calculate the daily solar energy gains for a glazing or the all the building's glazings as a group.
- Compare gains between up to 5 cases of glazing sets (one or more surfaces with possibly different orientation and shading) results of Shading Performance Analysis silumation, using a customizable spreadsheet graph, at any time/day of the simulation.
Command Overview
This add-on adds a new drop down menu on AutoCAD's menu bar enabling the following commands:
- Simulate the shade cast by 3D objects using an interactive time clock for any given time.
- Perform a shading qualitative analysis of a shader's design using annual-time simulation and export tabulated values for numerical values of energy gains or normalized values.
- Draw the solar path for a full 12 month period on disc, orthogonal coordinates or 3D spherical grid.
- Draw the shade trail of a point for a given day of the year.
- Draw the shade of point on plan or on oriented cross section for a specified time of the year.
- Export information of the site's energy potential for any given day.
Software advancements
Solar add-on is designed to function with the capabilities:
- Ability to define your working site using graphical map, embedded city database or user defined values
- Advanced high precision solar positioning algorithm.
- Able to work on projects at any site on the globe.
- Take account of the site's horizon shading mask if required.
- Adjustable precision calculations that extend up to 1 minute simulation intervals.
- User controlled model complexity using simple AutoCAD 3D entities.
- Measurable results at all times within AutoCAD's 3D model space environment.
- Ability to work on 3D and 2D drawing projects.
- Able to export tabulated numerical results as Office Spreadsheets.
- Ongoing development.
How to get Solar
The Solar package is currently undergoing the final adjustments before releasing as a beta version.
If you are interested to participate on beta testing, please contact us by e-mail HERE.
