IDA ICE is mainly designed for HVAC designers and sustainable design engineers who are not simulation method experts. There is an advanced level in the software that allows simulation experts to build their own air handling units, plants, and control systems. Advanced users may also add new equation based models.
HVAC designers, sustainable design engineers, simulation experts, researchers, students.
IDA ICE can import all common 2D and 3D CAD files. It supports IFC BIM models generated by tools such as ArchiCAD, Revit, MagiCAD, and many others. Geometry can be imported from SketchUp or other geometry tools. Climate files, including EPW files, can easily be downloaded and installed.
Localized reports include tables, charts, and plots. 3D visualizations (both stills and animations) show geometry, solar shadings, color coded input data as well as results. Arrow animations in 3D visualize ventilation air flows, window energy balance, and wind driven flows. Reports are designed to fit with LEED submittal forms and other resource documents on LEED Online, and it is also possible to export to MS Excel and Word.
A single zone IDA ICE model with default primary and secondary systems comprises a total of approximately 2000 time dependent variables, any of which may be plotted, such as: zone heat balance (including specific contributions from sun, occupants, equipment, lights, ventilation, heating and cooling devices, surface transmissions, air leakage, cold bridges, and control signals). Solar influx is evaluated through windows (also internal) with full 3D accounting for local shading devices. Air CO2 and moisture levels are captured along with air and surface temperatures. Also available are comfort indices, PPD and PMV, unmet load hours, daylight, total energy cost based on time-dependent prices, and primary energy and CO2 emission.
IDA ICE can be used for complete energy and design studies, involving the envelope, systems, plant and control systems. Every underlying equation can be browsed, and every variable can be logged by the critical user. The general equation based methods used in IDA ICE, in combination with its flexible architecture, makes it easy to develop the software continuously to adapt it to local requirements and languages, and to expand it with new modeling capabilities.