Errors using EMS on E+ to simulate dynamic insulation

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Hello everyone.

My name is João Tiago Homem, and I am currently doing my master thesis on Dynamic Insulation. In the process, I am trying to simulate elements of insulation (on the walls) that offer a dynamic behavior rather than a static one, by means of:

1 - Changing its conductivity

2 - Adding/Removing a certain layer of insulation in the construction

3 - Changing its thickness

To do so, I am using EnergyManagementSystem (EMS) on EnergyPlus to achieve these changes throughout the simulation period.

Details of the model:

• BESTEST Case 600 (whereas the temperature setpoints are 20ºC and 27ºC)
• Heat Balance Algorithm: CondFD
• Timestep: 1 min

Action on EMS

For instance, I am trying to change the conductivity of the insulation of the walls, from High (0.08) to Low (0.04) whenever a certain condition is true:

• Sensors: T_in (Zone Mean Air Temperature), T_out (Site Outdoor Air Drybulb Temperature)

• Actuator: Surface, Construction State (on all walls: South, North, East and West)

• Program:

  IF (T_in > 27 && T_out < T_in) || (T_in < 20 && T_out > T_in)

    Set Ins_ConstructSouth = Walls_HighCond
    Set Ins_ConstructNorth = Walls_HighCond
    Set Ins_ConstructWest = Walls_HighCond
    Set Ins_ConstructEast = Walls_HighCond
  

  ELSE

    Set Ins_ConstructSouth = Walls_LowCond
    Set Ins_ConstructNorth = Walls_LowCond
    Set Ins_ConstructWest = Walls_LowCond
    Set Ins_ConstructEast = Walls_LowCond
  

Errors

Every time I run the simulation, I get this errors:

*** No node connection errors were found.

*** Beginning Simulation

* Severe * InitEMSControlledConstructions: EMS Construction State Actuator not valid.

* ~~~ * Construction named = WALLS_LOWCOND has number of finite difference nodes =5

* ~~~ * While construction named = WALLS_HIGHCOND has number of finite difference nodes =4

* ~~~ * This actuator is not allowed for surface name = SOUTHWALL, and the simulation continues without the override

* Severe * InitEMSControlledConstructions: EMS Construction State Actuator not valid.

* ~~~ * Construction named = WALLS_LOWCOND has number of finite difference nodes =5

* ~~~ * While construction named = WALLS_HIGHCONDhas number of finite difference nodes =4

* ~~~ * This actuator is not allowed for surface name = WESTWALL, and the simulation continues without the override

* Severe * InitEMSControlledConstructions: EMS Construction State Actuator not valid.

* ~~~ * Construction named = WALLS_LOWCOND has number of finite difference nodes =5

* ~~~ * While construction named = WALLS_HIGHCONDhas number of finite difference nodes =4

* ~~~ * This actuator is not allowed for surface name = NORTHWALL, and the simulation continues without the override

* Severe * InitEMSControlledConstructions: EMS Construction State Actuator not valid.

* ~~~ * Construction named = WALLS_LOWCOND has number of finite difference nodes =5

* ~~~ * While construction named = WALLS_HIGHCONDhas number of finite difference nodes =4

* ~~~ * This actuator is not allowed for surface name = EASTWALL, and the simulation continues without the override

If I do the same procedure changing the thickness instead of conductivity, I get the same errors. I already checked all the posts on the community regarding EMS or changeable U-value but they didn't help me finding the solution.

What do you think about this?