This does look like a valid EMS actuator. It may be that this specific actuator does not perform as expected, we would need an example to diagnose the problem. Before you send an input file that does not work as you expect, try some other actuators to see if they work. For example, the Demand Side Half Loop or Demand Side Branch actuators.
Try actuating the branch for that heating coil and then try actuating the demand side of that plant loop so see if either of these EMS actuators work. Send in an example file of those actuators that do not work and we can look into a solution.
Running the EMSPlantOperation_largeOff example file, these actuators are available:
EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator Available,HEATSYS1,Demand Side Half Loop,On/Off Supervisory,[on/off]
EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator Available,HEATSYS1 DEMAND LOAD BRANCH 5,Demand Side Branch,On/Off Supervisory,[on/off]
EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator Available,PERIMETER_BOT_ZN_3 VAV BOX REHEAT COIL,Plant Component Coil:Heating:Water,On/Off Supervisory,[W]
PlantLoop,
HeatSys1, !- Name
Water, !- Fluid Type
, !- User Defined Fluid Type
HeatSys1 Loop Operation Scheme List, !- Plant Equipment Operation Scheme Name
HeatSys1 Supply Outlet Node, !- Loop Temperature Setpoint Node Name
100.0, !- Maximum Loop Temperature {C}
10.0, !- Minimum Loop Temperature {C}
AUTOSIZE, !- Maximum Loop Flow Rate {m3/s}
0.0, !- Minimum Loop Flow Rate {m3/s}
AUTOSIZE, !- Plant Loop Volume {m3}
HeatSys1 Supply Inlet Node, !- Plant Side Inlet Node Name
HeatSys1 Supply Outlet Node, !- Plant Side Outlet Node Name
HeatSys1 Supply Branches,!- Plant Side Branch List Name
HeatSys1 Supply Connectors, !- Plant Side Connector List Name
HeatSys1 Demand Inlet Node, !- Demand Side Inlet Node Name
HeatSys1 Demand Outlet Node, !- Demand Side Outlet Node Name
HeatSys1 Demand Branches,!- Demand Side Branch List Name
HeatSys1 Demand Connectors, !- Demand Side Connector List Name
Optimal; !- Load Distribution Scheme
BranchList,
HeatSys1 Demand Branches,!- Name
HeatSys1 Demand Inlet Branch, !- Branch 1 Name
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 1, !- Branch 2 Name
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 2, !- Branch 3 Name
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 3, !- Branch 4 Name
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 4, !- Branch 5 Name
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 5, !- Branch 6 Name
...,
Branch,
HeatSys1 Demand Load Branch 5, !- Name
, !- Maximum Flow Rate {m3/s}
, !- Pressure Drop Curve Name
Coil:Heating:Water, !- Component 1 Object Type
Perimeter_bot_ZN_3 VAV Box Reheat Coil, !- Component 1 Name
Perimeter_bot_ZN_3 VAV Box Reheat CoilDemand Inlet Node, !- Component 1 Inlet Node Name
Perimeter_bot_ZN_3 VAV Box Reheat CoilDemand Outlet Node, !- Component 1 Outlet Node Name
Active; !- Component 1 Branch Control Type
I also noticed the issue above. On/off supervisory control for component, branch and half loop couldn't impact the coils operation as intended. In above case, the alternative could be to use EMS to turn off the coil schedule which is very likely going to work. I had to control
PlantComponent:TemperatureSourcewhich doesn't have an availability schedule. So EMS sensor was used to sense inlet node temperature and set that as outlet setpoint temperature. This was not a perfect solution but worked very wellThe coil models are really called from the air-side and those plant component actuators are not going to do anything. They likely only work for supply-side components that are dispatched by plant operation schemes. For coil control with EMS you want to manipulate the air-side node temperature setpoint that the coil's controller is sensing.
@Archmage Thanks. I ended up just controlling off of set point and it worked fairly well. I'm working on modeling a runaround loop with a single coil to do both heating and cooling. I ended up approximating this as a separate heating coil and cooling coil, and want to prevent simultaneous use of the heating and cooling coil. Hopefully I can figure out the On/Off Supervisory to insure this.
Update: The EMS actuator for NON-plant loop equipment has been corrected. On the next release, using Plant Component Coil:Heating:Water should shut down the coil.