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Control the temperature of a neighbouring thermal zone using VRF system

Hello everyone,

I'm fairly new to Energyplus/Openstudio simulation and I have recently encountered a problem.

The system I'm trying to simulate is a VRF system, but instead of cooling/heating the zone directly, this VRF system is installed in the plenum space (ceiling space) to cool or heat the plenum space first, then the heat or cool is transferred to the zone below through ceiling.

For a standard VRF system, the temperature of the thermal zone where VRF indoor unit is installed is controlled to its setpoint. For the system I'm trying to simulate, VRF is added to plenum zone. What I want control is the temperature of the zone below the ceiling. I am aware the first step of VRF simulation is that, at each time step Energyplus calculates the cooling or heating load of the target zone and decide how much cooling or heating is required from VRF indoor units. For the system I’m trying to simulate, Energyplus should consider the heat transfer between conditioned zone (plenum zone) and the zone below for this calculation. I don't have enough points so I cannot post a figure for a better demonstration.

So my question is: is Energyplus able to simulate this VRF control? Should I look at EMS? Or other functions in Energyplus that I’m not aware of? Any advice is highly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Control the temperature of a neighbouring thermal zone using VRF system

Hello everyone,

I'm fairly new to Energyplus/Openstudio simulation and I have recently encountered a problem.

The system I'm trying to simulate is a VRF system, but instead of cooling/heating the zone directly, this VRF system is installed in the plenum space (ceiling space) to cool or heat the plenum space first, then the heat or cool is transferred to the zone below through ceiling.

For a standard VRF system, the temperature of the thermal zone where VRF indoor unit is installed is controlled to its setpoint. For the system I'm trying to simulate, VRF is added to plenum zone. What I want control is the temperature of the zone below the ceiling. I am aware the first step of VRF simulation is that, at each time step Energyplus calculates the cooling or heating load of the target zone and decide how much cooling or heating is required from VRF indoor units. For the system I’m trying to simulate, Energyplus should consider the heat transfer between conditioned zone (plenum zone) and the zone below for this calculation. I don't have enough points so I cannot post a figure for a better demonstration.

So my question is: is Energyplus able to simulate this VRF control? Should I look at EMS? Or other functions in Energyplus that I’m not aware of? Any advice is highly appreciated. Thank you very much.