CONTAM 3D Exporter

The CONTAM 3D Exporter is a Windows program used to convert CONTAM models drawn to scale, using the pseudo-geometry method of ContamW, to three-dimensional models for performing coupled simulations between CONTAM and both EnergyPlus and TRNSYS. It includes the ContamFMU.dll and will package it into a Functional Mockup Unit (FMU) for co-simulation between CONTAM and EnergyPlus as detailed in the CONTAM User Guide. Coupled CONTAM and TRNSYS simulations also require Type98 and ContamX that are both available on the IAQ and Ventilation Software page. CONTAM 3D Exporter can also be used to generate three-dimensional input files for use in performing external CFD analysis with CFD0 software also available on this NIST Multizone Modeling website.

Latest Release, Previous Releases, Examples

Latest Release

Version 3.4.0.2

IMPORTANT: ContamFMU.dll INCLUDED with this release does not work with EnergyPlus versions 9.5 and beyond.

Updated February 25, 2022
64-bit: [Contam3DExport-3.4.0.2-setup.exe] (approximately 56 MB)
Requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.7.2

Issues corrected in this version:

• The previous fix of Issue #3 in Version 3.4.0.1 incorrectly added ADJACENT_NODEs with COUPLing flows to the REGIME section of the B18 files. This could cause the program to fail for projects in which zones had more than 6 adjacent zones. Adjacent nodes within the REGIME section are meant for zones having multiple air nodes within them, not coupling flows between separate zones.

Previous Releases

Version 3.4.0.1

IMPORTANT: ContamFMU.dll INCLUDED with this release does not work with EnergyPlus versions 9.5 and beyond.

Updated October 15, 2021
No longer available - replaced by 3.4.0.2

Issues corrected in this version:

• Issue #3: Version 3.4.0.0 was not creating the COUPLing of MIXing flows in the B18 file and associated Adjacent surface properties.
  This issue was not present in versions prior to 3.4.0.0.

Version 3.4.0.0
64-bit: [Contam3DExport-3.4.0.0-setup.exe] (approximately 56 MB)

ContamFMU

• ContamFMU.dll is installed alongside of CONTAM 3D Exporter on Windows.
• libContamFMU.so is available for Linux:
  64-bit [ContamFMU-3.4.0-Linux.tar.gz] (approximately 45 KB)
  NOTE: Be sure to rename libContamFMU.so to ContamFMU.so when packaging it into a Functional Mockup Unit (FMU file) for co-simulation.

Version 3.2
64-bit: [Contam3DExport_SetupProject.msi] (approximately - 62.4 MB)
32-bit: [Contam3DExportx86_SetupProject.msi] (approximately - 51 MB)

Requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.5

ExampleS

These example implement co-simulation between EnergyPlus and CONTAM. 

• This case is based on the Medium Office Building DOE prototype model.
  MediumOffice_contam3400_ep9.1.zip
• This is an analytical test case based on BESTEST MZ320 as presented in the following journal article:
  Dols, W. S., S. J. Emmerich and B. J. Polidoro (2016). Coupling the Multizone Airflow and Contaminant Transport Software CONTAM with EnergyPlus using Co-simulation. Building Simulation 9: 469-479.
  There are two versions of the same case: one using a ZoneHVAC:IdealLoadsAirSystem and the other using a ZoneHVAC:WindowAirConditioner to maintain the thermostatic set point.
  MZ320-EPlus-91-CONTAM-34-fmu.zip
• PNNL Single-family buildings
  pnnl-sf-ep91-cx3400.zip
  Fully coupled models for annual simulations of multiple configurations (construction and HVAC systems).
  These models do not implement contaminants, but they can be readily modified to do so.  
  See the readme.md file for details on how to run co-simulations with these example files.