Revision history [back]

There is a mistake in the Energy+.idd file. This is the incorrect block in the v8.8.0 IDD:

SolarCollector:FlatPlate:PhotovoltaicThermal,
   \memo Models hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar collectors that convert incident solar
   \memo energy into both electricity and useful thermal energy by heating air or water.
A1 , \field Name
   \reference-class-name validOASysEquipmentTypes
   \reference validOASysEquipmentNames
A2 , \field Surface Name
   \required-field
   \type object-list
   \object-list AllShadingAndHTSurfNames
   \reference-class-name validBranchEquipmentTypes
   \reference validBranchEquipmentNames

The last two lines are causing the PVT Surface Name to appear in the Branch Component Name drop-down list. Those lines should be moved up before the A2 field line:

SolarCollector:FlatPlate:PhotovoltaicThermal,
   \memo Models hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar collectors that convert incident solar
   \memo energy into both electricity and useful thermal energy by heating air or water.
A1 , \field Name
   \reference-class-name validOASysEquipmentTypes
   \reference validOASysEquipmentNames
   \reference-class-name validBranchEquipmentTypes
   \reference validBranchEquipmentNames
A2 , \field Surface Name
   \required-field
   \type object-list
   \object-list AllShadingAndHTSurfNames

If you make this change in the EnergyPlus-V8-8-0\Energy+.idd file, then IDF Editor will no longer tag the collector names as invalid and the names will be in the drop-down list.

I am not sure if OpenStudio EnergyPlus measures read this same IDD file or a separate IDD that is part of the OpenStudio install, so you may need to make this change in two places. The pending fix is here in this pull request.