You can use a heating calculation program, such as SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop, to determine the:
- Number of radiators to insert
- Radiator part type to use
- Size of each radiator required to heat specified spaces in an AutoCAD MEP toolset drawing
This procedure uses the data file (.dat) in BDH format to define the set of available radiator parts used in both the calculation program and in AutoCAD MEP toolset. You can download BDH files from a radiator manufacturer.
To place radiators in an AutoCAD MEP toolset drawing using a heating calculation program, you create data files that are exchanged between the heating calculation program and AutoCAD MEP toolset.
Use the following workflow to place radiators in an AutoCAD MEP toolset drawing using SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop.
- In AutoCAD MEP toolset, create a gbXML (Green Building XML) file for the spaces in the drawing to place radiators. See Exporting Drawing Information for Analysis.
- In SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop, import the gbXML file.
- In SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop, import the BDH file that describes available radiator types and sizes.
- In SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop, calculate the type, size, and number of radiators required to heat each space in the AutoCAD MEP toolset drawing.
- In SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop, export an XML file that contains the calculated radiator data.
- In AutoCAD MEP toolset, import the BDH file to create the required radiator part types and sizes. See Creating Custom Radiator Parts.
Note: You only should import the BDH file if you intend to modify the radiators after they are placed in the drawing.
- In AutoCAD MEP toolset, import the XML file created by SOLAR COMPUTER Desktop to place the radiators in the drawing.