Question-and-Answer Resource for the Building Energy Modeling Community
Get started with the Help page
Ask Your Question
1

Unable to determine fan air flow rate Error

asked 2024-03-07 11:54:06 -0500

Mostafa Meimand's avatar

updated 2024-03-08 07:19:59 -0500

Hello,

I've created an EnergyPlus model for my apartment and want to conduct some analysis on that. I get results when I set the setpoint to 23C, but when I change the setpoint to 25C, it gives me this error:

* Fatal * Unable to determine fan air flow rate.

I have used HVACTempleta:Zone: PTHP in my model. Does anyone know why I get this error?

You can find both files in this link.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Thanks, Mostafa

edit retag flag offensive close merge delete

Comments

1

I suggest opening an issue at https://github.com/NREL/EnergyPlus/is.... I'm not seeing any other users that have hit this issue, and since EnergyPlus isn't providing any suggestions in the error message about how to resolve it, it may be an unexpected error that an EnergyPlus developer needs to look into.

shorowit's avatar shorowit  ( 2024-03-08 14:19:25 -0500 )edit

Sure, I will do that!

Thanks

Mostafa Meimand's avatar Mostafa Meimand  ( 2024-03-13 07:16:24 -0500 )edit

Hi Mostafa, were you able to solve this? I'm getting the same error using different types of templates in my model.

MatteoMerli's avatar MatteoMerli  ( 2024-03-25 10:53:24 -0500 )edit
1

Hi Matt,

No, I couldn't solve the problem

Mostafa Meimand's avatar Mostafa Meimand  ( 2024-05-16 11:56:37 -0500 )edit

1 Answer

Sort by ยป oldest newest most voted
2

answered 2024-05-16 12:34:56 -0500

There is a clue in the warnings above the fatal error:

* Warning * Calculated design cooling load for zone=THERMAL ZONE 1 is zero. * ~~~ * Check Sizing:Zone and ZoneControl:Thermostat inputs. * Warning * Calculated design heating load for zone=THERMAL ZONE 1 is zero. * ~~~ * Check Sizing:Zone and ZoneControl:Thermostat inputs. * Warning * SizeUnitarySystem: ZoneHVAC:PackagedTerminalHeatPump = THERMAL ZONE 1 PTHP * Fatal * Unable to determine fan air flow rate.

The sizing results for the 23C file show no heating load, and a small cooling load (from the eio output):

! <Zone Sizing Information>, Zone Name, Load Type, Calc Des Load {W}, User Des Load {W}, Calc Des Air Flow Rate {m3/s}, User Des Air Flow Rate {m3/s}, Design Day Name, Date/Time of Peak, Temperature at Peak {C}, Humidity Ratio at Peak {kgWater/kgDryAir}, Floor Area {m2}, # Occupants, Calc Outdoor Air Flow Rate {m3/s}, Calc DOAS Heat Addition Rate {W}
 Zone Sizing Information, THERMAL ZONE 1, Cooling, 366.58315, 366.58315, 3.58480E-002, 3.58480E-002, TESTDESIGNDAY, 7/20 19:00:00, 33.37000, 1.05960E-002, 60.00000, 0.00000, 0.00000, 0.00000

With the 25C setpoint, there is no load, and there is zero outdoor air, so there is nothing to calculate a flow rate from. The PTHP flow rates are zero:

! <Component Sizing Information>, Component Type, Component Name, Input Field Description, Value
Component Sizing Information, ZoneHVAC:PackagedTerminalHeatPump, THERMAL ZONE 1 PTHP, Design Size Cooling Supply Air Flow Rate [m3/s], 0.00000
Component Sizing Information, ZoneHVAC:PackagedTerminalHeatPump, THERMAL ZONE 1 PTHP, Design Size Heating Supply Air Flow Rate [m3/s], 0.00000
edit flag offensive delete link more

Your Answer

Please start posting anonymously - your entry will be published after you log in or create a new account.

Add Answer

Training Workshops

Careers

Question Tools

1 follower

Stats

Asked: 2024-03-07 11:54:06 -0500

Seen: 173 times

Last updated: May 16