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Meter:Custom is confused about units

asked 2020-04-15 02:16:46 -0500

Jim Dirkes's avatar

updated 2020-04-15 09:36:28 -0500

I've used Meter:Custom for energy in the past, but never used it for a typical Output:Variable. I'm trying to aggregate all of the outdoor airflows of a bunch of PTACs.

When I do so, this warning below results - and none of the airflows are added to the meter. Can one of you add some light here? Thanks in advance.

The object looks like:

Meter:Custom,
  OAflow,                  !- Name
  Generic,                 !- Fuel Type
  Floor1:NWTHCorner PTAC Outdoor Air Node Name,  !- Key Name 1
  System Node Standard Density Volume Flow Rate,  !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1

.... etc for several nodes....

Here's the warning (repeated for all 20+ nodes)

** Warning ** DetermineMeterIPUnits: Meter units not recognized for IP Units conversion=[m3/s].
**   ~~~   ** ..on Meter:Custom="OAFLOW".
**   ~~~   ** ..requests for IP units from this meter will be ignored.
** Warning ** Meter:Custom="OAFLOW", variable not summed variable Output Variable or Meter Name="SYSTEM NODE STANDARD DENSITY VOLUME FLOW RATE".
**   ~~~   ** ...will not be shown with the Meter results; units for meter=m3/s, units for this variable=m3/s.
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Comments

are you setting the output reports to report in IP units? If so, try changing it to SI.

mdahlhausen's avatar mdahlhausen  ( 2020-04-16 11:51:36 -0500 )edit

The OutputControl:Table:Style was set for InchPound, but changing it to JtoKWH or JtoMJ results in no improvement (ie, same warning)

Do you think the DetermineMeterIPUnits subroutine doesn't "know" about flow variables?

Jim Dirkes's avatar Jim Dirkes  ( 2020-04-18 06:58:44 -0500 )edit

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answered 2020-04-20 12:33:14 -0500

Reading up on the Meter:Custom object, you can only add output variables with units of energy defined in the eplusout.mdd file. You will need to add out the oa flow from nodes outside of E+.

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Comments

Thanks! On the one hand, that would explain it! On the other hand, I didn't find that distinction in the I/O Reference. It says:

Field: Output Variable or Meter Name # This field must be a valid output variable name or a valid meter name.

Is the I/O reference in need of correction? or maybe I'm still missing something....

Jim Dirkes's avatar Jim Dirkes  ( 2020-04-20 12:54:44 -0500 )edit

yes, I think the IO references needs to be more specific

mdahlhausen's avatar mdahlhausen  ( 2020-04-20 13:28:45 -0500 )edit

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Asked: 2020-04-15 02:16:46 -0500

Seen: 125 times

Last updated: Apr 20 '20