Revision history [back]

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What is the cause of this error? (Why is EnergyPlus attempting to create two "solar enclosure groups" for groups of zones that are separated by AirBoundary surfaces?)
4. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

* Severe * SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundaryConstruction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What is the cause of this error? (Why is EnergyPlus attempting to create two "solar enclosure groups" for groups of zones that are separated by AirBoundary Construction:AirBoundary surfaces?)
4. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What is the cause of this error? (Why is EnergyPlus attempting to create two "solar enclosure groups" for groups of zones that are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces?)
4. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

** Severe ** SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

** Severe  ** SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What is the cause of this error? (Why is EnergyPlus attempting to create two "solar enclosure groups" for groups of zones that are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces?)
4. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?

EnergyPlus v9.2.0 introduced a new object class - Construction:AirBoundary - intended to model boundaries between thermal-zones that are not associated with physical surfaces. A thermal-zone boundary surface that uses Construciton:AirBoundary allows transmission of solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation between adjacent thermal-zones. The feature can also model balanced air mixing between adjacent thermal-zones without explicit definition of ZoneCrossMixing objects. Prior to this feature, one could either model such thermal-zone boundaries: (1) as windows (which allow transmission of solar radiation but not infrared radiation), or (2) as Material:InfraredTransparent surfaces (which allow transmission of longwave infrared radiation but not solar radiation), or (3) as lightweight opaque surfaces (which absorb both solar radiation and longwave infrared radiation).

I've recently implemented Construction:AirBoundary in the model of a building that has many contiguous open-plan interior spaces. I receive the following fatal error several times:

** Severe ** SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S32_WALL_325_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

** Severe  ** SetupSolarEnclosuresAndAirBoundaries: Solar enclosure grouping error for Surface="L1_S11_WALL_000_A".This surface enclosure num=1. Other side enclosure num=2

... etc

According to the Input Output Reference, if two or more contiguous thermal-zones are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces, these thermal-zones are grouped together when calculating the distribution of solar heat gains. The error appears to be related to the method used for grouping thermal-zones. My model has many contiguous thermal-zones, most of which have multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. In some cases, two thermal zones are connected to each other by multiple Construction:AirBoundary surfaces. Presumably, this method would group all contiguous thermal-zones into one big zone, but the error suggests that at least two "solar enclosure groups" have been assigned.

In case it is not clear, the surfaces named in the error are using Construction:AirBoundary, so they should not separate "solar enclosure groups".

I have the following questions:

1. Is there any way to determine what thermal-zones have been assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"? Better yet, might there be a way to choose which zones get assigned to different "solar enclosure groups"?
2. When thermal-zones are grouped together for solar distribution calculations, the resulting "solar enclosure groups" will very likely be non-convex (this is certainly true for my model). How does the Construction:AirBoundary feature deal with models that use FullInteriorAndExterior solar distribution? Does it revert to FullExterior and simply distribute solar heat gains across all floor surfaces in the "solar enclosure group"?
3. What is the cause of this error? (Why is EnergyPlus attempting to create two "solar enclosure groups" for groups of zones that are separated by Construction:AirBoundary surfaces?)
4. What can be done to avoid the error I've encountered?