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Why is GetBranchInput seeing extended alpha fields as blank?

asked 2015-03-22 02:29:01 -0500

updated 2015-07-11 13:53:07 -0500

I'm getting the following error in a fuel cell CHP model which has multiple SOFC modules in series on a single branch. It only seems to occur when there are 11 components on the branch. It works fine with six components in series but the error doesn't mention the number of components. It looks to me like extended alpha fields 3 and 4 contain "SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 11" and "SOFC Heat Rec Outlet Node" and so why is EnergyPlus seeing them as blank?

** Severe  ** GetBranchInput: Branch="FUEL_CELL_CHP PRIMARY PLANT LOOP BRANCH", invalid data.
**   ~~~   ** blank required field: Extended Alpha Field 3
**   ~~~   ** Occurs on Extended Alpha Field 1="GENERATOR:FUELCELL:EXHAUSTGASTOWATERHEATEXCHANGER", Extended Alpha Field 2="PRIMARYHEATER 11".
** Severe  ** GetBranchInput: Branch="FUEL_CELL_CHP PRIMARY PLANT LOOP BRANCH", invalid data.
**   ~~~   ** blank required field: Extended Alpha Field 4
**   ~~~   ** Occurs on Extended Alpha Field 1="GENERATOR:FUELCELL:EXHAUSTGASTOWATERHEATEXCHANGER", Extended Alpha Field 2="PRIMARYHEATER 11".
** Severe  ** GetBranchInput:  Invalid Branch Input, preceding condition(s) will likely cause termination.

The branch is as follows:

Branch,
Fuel_Cell_CHP Primary Plant Loop Branch,
autosize,
,
Generator:FuelCell:ExhaustGasToWaterHeatExchanger,
PrimaryHeater 0,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 1,
Active,
Generator:FuelCell:ExhaustGasToWaterHeatExchanger,
PrimaryHeater 1,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 1,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 2,
Active,
    <snipped>
Generator:FuelCell:ExhaustGasToWaterHeatExchanger,
PrimaryHeater 10,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 10,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 11,
Active,
Generator:FuelCell:ExhaustGasToWaterHeatExchanger,
PrimaryHeater 11,
SOFC Heat Rec Inlet Node 11,
SOFC Heat Rec Outlet Node,
Active ;
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answered 2015-03-22 11:24:55 -0500

Chandan Sharma's avatar

updated 2015-03-22 11:31:53 -0500

Looks like there are 12 Primary heater components in the branch. IDD branch object has input fields for 11 components and for more components extra input fields need to be added in IDD. Did you edit the IDD Branch object input fields as below?

   A57, \field Component 11 Branch Control Type
       \note field is no longer used 
   A58, \field Component 12 Object Type
   A59, \field Component 12 Name
   A60, \field Component 12 Inlet Node Name
        \type node
   A61, \field Component 12 Outlet Node Name
        \type node
   A62; \field Component 12 Branch Control Type
       \note field is no longer used
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Asked: 2015-03-22 02:29:01 -0500

Seen: 242 times

Last updated: Mar 22 '15