To answer your second question, yes an OpenStudio model can be updated to a newer version but is not backwards compatible. Unless you have a specific reason to keep your model in 1.9.1, I suggest updating it to the latest major release.
To answer your first question, staging plant equipment is possible through the GUI. However, a small bug is currently preventing any selection in the PlantLoop Load Distribution Scheme other than "Optimal" from being translated to EnergyPlus (see this question).
Until that bug is fixed, an EnergyPlus measure is needed to change this field during a simulation. Below is an (untested) EP measure you could try that will change all plant loops.
# see the URL below for information on how to write OpenStudio measures
# http://nrel.github.io/OpenStudio-user-documentation/reference/measure_writing_guide/
# start the measure
class SetPlantLoopLoadDistributionScheme < OpenStudio::Ruleset::WorkspaceUserScript
# human readable name
def name
return "Set Plant Loop Load Distribution Scheme"
end
# human readable description
def description
return "TODO"
end
# human readable description of modeling approach
def modeler_description
return "TODO"
end
# define the arguments that the user will input
def arguments(workspace)
args = OpenStudio::Ruleset::OSArgumentVector.new
# none
return args
end
# define what happens when the measure is run
def run(workspace, runner, user_arguments)
super(workspace, runner, user_arguments)
# use the built-in error checking
if !runner.validateUserArguments(arguments(workspace), user_arguments)
return false
end
# assign the user inputs to variables
# check the user_name for reasonableness
# get all thermal zones in the starting model
# reporting initial condition of model
# add a new zone to the model with the new name
# http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energyplus/pdfs/inputoutputreference.pdf#nameddest=Zone
# set variables
load_dist_scheme = "SequentialLoad"
# get objects
plant_loops = workspace.getObjectsByType("PlantLoop".to_IddObjectType) #array
if not plant_loops.empty?
plant_loops.each do |plant_loop|
plant_loop.setString(19, load_dist_scheme)
end
end
# echo the new zone's name back to the user, using the index based getString method
# report final condition of model
return true
end
end
# register the measure to be used by the application
SetPlantLoopLoadDistributionScheme.new.registerWithApplication
