mldichter's profile - activity

I'm getting an intermittent failure using ep-launch to run a energyplus 9.0 simulation. Sometimes no err file is generated, and sometimes this err file is generated.

Link to file showing sqlite error

Program Version,EnergyPlus, Version 9.0.1-bb7ca4f0da, YMD=2019.01.03 08:16,
   **  Fatal  ** The SQLite database failed to open.
   ...Summary of Errors that led to program termination:
   ..... Reference severe error count=0
   ..... Last severe error=
   ************* Warning:  Node connection errors not checked - most system input has not been read (see previous warning).
   ************* Fatal error -- final processing.  Program exited before simulations began.  See previous error messages.
   ************* EnergyPlus Warmup Error Summary. During Warmup: 0 Warning; 0 Severe Errors.
   ************* EnergyPlus Sizing Error Summary. During Sizing: 0 Warning; 0 Severe Errors.
   ************* EnergyPlus Terminated--Fatal Error Detected. 0 Warning; 0 Severe Errors; Elapsed Time=00hr 00min  1.03sec

I have no idea what's causing it. Everything was running fine yesterday. I'm hoping it just goes away, but any idea what I can do to troubleshoot?


In response to @shorowit's comment

Here is the whole err file. Not all of it was overwritten, and there are a ton of characters notepad++ is displaying as NUL.

I'm having some difficulty running a simulation. The error is below. There's no reason why the chiller loop should be this hot. I think it's just a numerical error because it's during the simulation of the first time step of a design day, the previous design days simulate just fine, and I bet the rest of the simulation would run just fine if I could get EnergyPlus to ignore the high temperature for a couple time steps. Oddly, I can get the error to go away by changing the storage capacity of the thermal energy storage ice tank that the chiller is feeding into. Any ideas on how I could get energyplus to ignore the high temp for just a little bit?

Workaround below, but still no solution.

** Severe  **
Plant temperatures are getting far too hot, check controls and relative loads and capacities
During Warmup, Environment=TORRANCE-MUNICIPAL ANN CLG 1% CONDNS DB=>MCWB, at Simulation time=08/21 00:04 - 00:06
PlantLoop Name (SupplySide)= CHILLED WATER LOOP PRIMARY WATER LOOP ICE TANK CHILLER HEAT EXCHANGER HALF
PlantLoop Setpoint Temperature=-5.0 {C}

PlantLoop Outlet Node (SupplySide) "CHILLED WATER LOOP CHW PRI SUPPLY OUTLET" has temperature=322.3 {C}
PlantLoop  Inlet Node (SupplySide) "CHILLED WATER LOOP CHW PRI SUPPLY INLET" has temperature=-4.5 {C}

Post Script
I just tried the obvious idea of changing the time step. A timestep of 10 minutes gave the 322C error, a timestep of 1 minute gave a 491C error, and a timestep of 30 minutes gave a 359C error.
Post Post Script
I came up with a workaround. I increased the Maximum Loop Temperature field of the PlantLoop object to 400C and got these errors for a simulation running from 5/1 to 10/1.

Warning GetSpecificHeatGlycol: Temperature out of range (too high) for fluid [ETHYLENEGLYCOL40PERCENT] specific heat 
   *************  **   ~~~   **   This error occurred 718 total times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Warmup 0 times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Sizing 0 times.
   *************  **   ~~~   **   Max=595.421006 {C}  Min=127.188615 {C}
   *************
   *************  ** Warning ** GetDensityGlycol: Temperature out of range (too high) for fluid [ETHYLENEGLYCOL40PERCENT] density **
   *************  **   ~~~   **   This error occurred 144 total times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Warmup 0 times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Sizing 0 times.
   *************  **   ~~~   **   Max=595.421006 {C}  Min=127.191025 {C}
   *************
   *************  ** Warning ** Plant loop exceeding upper temperature limit, PlantLoop="CHILLED WATER LOOP PRIMARY WATER LOOP ICE TANK CHILLER HEAT EXCHANGER HALF"
   *************  **   ~~~   **   This error occurred 2 total times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Warmup 0 times;
   *************  **   ~~~   **   during Sizing 0 times.
   *************  **   ~~~   **   Max=521.753501

I also looked the System Node Temperature for the node that was getting to 322C before and it does not report a termperature outside -10C to 10C. So looks like something's wrong with energyplus, possibly as simple as an overly aggressive error condition.

I have a HeatExchanger:AirToAir:SensibleAndLatent object that is generating this error.

** Warning ** HeatExchanger:AirToAir:SensibleAndLatent "DOAS HEAT RECOVERY"
**   ~~~   ** Average air volume flow rate is <50% or >130% of the nominal HX supply air volume flow rate.
**   ~~~   ** Air volume flow rate ratio = 0.446. Environment=MIAMI INTL AP ANN HTG 99.6% CONDNS DB, at Simulation time=01/21 00:00 - 00:15

*************  ** Warning ** HeatExchanger:AirToAir:SensibleAndLatent "DOAS HEAT RECOVERY":  Average air volume flow rate is <50% or >130% warning continues. Air flow rate ratio statistics follow.
*************  **   ~~~   **   This error occurred 830 total times;
*************  **   ~~~   **   during Warmup 0 times;
*************  **   ~~~   **   during Sizing 0 times.
*************  **   ~~~   **   Max=0.499836  Min=0.438976

Looking in the engineering reference,

but the Nominal Supply Air Flow Rate field is autosized.

Is there a recommended way to fix the error?

I'm trying to use the "Duct Static Pressure Reset Curve Name" field of the Fan:ComponentModel object to have the VAV dampers open more at lower flow rates allowing the fan to run at a lower pressure and power, thereby saving energy. However, I can't seem to get the "Duct Static Pressure Reset Curve" to influence the simulation, even when changing the curve value by a factor of 10 in either direction.

I suspect I'm not interpreting the curve correctly, or do not have an appropriate paired object. Is there an example file for a non-constant "Duct Static Pressure Reset Curve" available? The ExampleFiles-ObjectsLink.html only lists files with a constant "Duct Static Pressure Reset Curve" called DiagnosticSPR

Curve:Linear,
    DiagnosticSPR,           !- Name
    248.84,                  !- Coefficient1 Constant
    0.,                      !- Coefficient2 x
    0.,                      !- Minimum Value of x
    100.,                    !- Maximum Value of x
    62.5,                    !- Minimum Curve Output
    248.84;                  !- Maximum Curve Output

Is there another way to get my VAV dampers to open more and lower the fan pressure and power? There's a lot of room for improvement in my file as the VAV are usually 30% open at the lowest flow rate with the pressure mostly constant at 534 across the fan.

I know this is very easy in an openstudio measure, but how do I delete an object from the idf file using an energyplus measure?

Also, is there any documentation for writing energyplus measures similar to the openstudio documentation?

https://openstudio-sdk-documentation....

@tri.ton99 That's a bit involved, and I'm just a user, not a developer. You could try using an IdealLoadsAirSystem objec

@tri.ton99 I wouldn't save solved, but I got the simulation working. I used an IdealLoadsAirSystem object. My best guess

For other who find this post. Energyplus developers are working on improving this object and may be fully functional in

I have an HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating that I'm trying to use as a air to water source heat pump to replace a natural gas boiler in a plantloop. The problem is the plantloop flow is almost always zero water flow with thousands or unmet heating hours. It just isn't turning on.

To test, I took the same file, replaced my realistic air to water source heat pump curves with constant 1 curves, which did not work either. I'm using look tables to model a particular piece of equipment, so thought that might cause a problem.

Then I changed the HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating into a Boiler:HotWater, which did work. That leads me to believe I have the plantloop pump setup wrong or something.

Here are the zipped files in a google drive link if anyone is kind enough to help out.

If I can't get the HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating object working, I'll try using EMS to control a District Heating object instead. A bit of a kluge, but it should work.

@Aaron Boranian Are you familiar with the health of the HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating object? You are my first best hope f

HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating Not Heating I have an HeatPumpPlantLoopEIRHeating that I'm trying to use as a air to water s

I am trying to read the Facility Net Purchased Electric Energy output variable using EMS to change behavior of equipment in the simulation, but the value being read from the output variable and rewritten to a meter is not the value of the output variable in the CSV file. To show this, I have EMS read a Sensor for the Facility Net Purchased Electric Energy output variable and then write out that value into a custom meter.

Most of the time, the difference is around 10^-13, but other times the difference is enormous.

Here is a google drive link to a minimal working example with the important objects listed below

There are quite a few places that could be messing up the EMS read and write:

EnergyManagementSystem:ProgramCallingManager
    !- EnergyPlus Model Calling Point

EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable
    !- Update Frequency
    !- EMS Program or Subroutine Name

I don't know what the problem could be though. I tried a lot of plausible combinations of choices for those fields, but none of them have been close to correct for the entire simulation. Any ideas?

!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: ENERGYMANAGEMENTSYSTEM:SENSOR ===========

EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor,
    Pre_EMS_Net_Electricity, !- Name
    Whole Building,          !- Output:Variable or Output:Meter Index Key Name
    Facility Net Purchased Electric Energy;  !- Output:Variable or Output:Meter Name


!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: ENERGYMANAGEMENTSYSTEM:PROGRAMCALLINGMANAGER ===========

EnergyManagementSystem:ProgramCallingManager,
    Read_EMS_Write_Caller,   !- Name
    AfterPredictorAfterHVACManagers,  !- EnergyPlus Model Calling Point
    Read_Write_Net_Electricity;  !- Program Name 1


!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: ENERGYMANAGEMENTSYSTEM:PROGRAM ===========

EnergyManagementSystem:Program,
    Read_Write_Net_Electricity,  !- Name
    SET EMS_Net_Electricity = Pre_EMS_Net_Electricity;  !- Program Line 1


!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: ENERGYMANAGEMENTSYSTEM:OUTPUTVARIABLE ===========

EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable,
    EMS_Net_Electricity,     !- Name
    EMS_Net_Electricity,     !- EMS Variable Name
    Summed,                  !- Type of Data in Variable
    SystemTimestep,          !- Update Frequency
    Read_Write_Net_Electricity,  !- EMS Program or Subroutine Name
    J;                       !- Units

!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: OUTPUT:VARIABLE ===========

Output:Variable,
    Whole Building,          !- Key Value
    Facility Net Purchased Electric Energy,  !- Variable Name
    Hourly;                  !- Reporting Frequency


!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: OUTPUT:METER ===========

Output:Meter,
    EMS Net Facility Electricity Meter,  !- Key Name
    Hourly;                  !- Reporting Frequency


!-   ===========  ALL OBJECTS IN CLASS: METER:CUSTOM ===========

Meter:Custom,
    EMS Net Facility Electricity Meter,  !- Name
    Electricity,             !- Fuel Type
    ,                        !- Key Name 1
    EMS_Net_Electricity;     !- Output Variable or Meter Name 1

@HJOJOA Did you ever get rid of the surface temperature errors by the way? I'm having the same problem in my model, and

@JasonGlazer I tried having my coworkers copy my functioning EP-Launch 9.4 into their 9.4 installation directory, but th

@JasonGlazer I tried having my coworkers copy my functioning EP-Launch 9.4 into their 9.4 installation directory, but th

@JasonGlazer Three of my coworkers are having the same problem. Two coworkers installed E+ 9.4 in Dec and EP-Launch won'

@Mohammad The fix I used is in my original post. I was trying to figure out why it happened rather than simply how to fi

@shorowit @Aaron Boranian https://proxy.unmethours.com/about.html works for me as well.

@Aaron Boranian Your are correct! I few more things I found:There is a space in "started" in "Get s tarted with the Help

What are user contributions licensed under now that the footer with the Creative Commons license is gone from UnmetHours.com? And what date did the license change occur? Will there be any marking on posts before and after the change to signify which license is applicable?

@shorowit I'm not so sure. All the linked pages are missing too leading to Page not found. https://unmethours.com/help.h

Creative Commons License What are user contributions licensed under now that the footer with the Creative Commons licens

My gmail account consistently marks emails from UnmetHours as phishing emails and puts them in spam. This started happening a few months ago. I thought it would go away if I kept marking the emails as "Not spam" in gmail, but gmail is still suspicious. I also tried setting a filter for UnmetHours emails with directions to "Never send it to Spam", but that didn't work either. Is anyone else having this problem?

@codybond This email did come through. Who knows what happened? : / One question remains. Have you noticed if unmethour

As far as I know, the DaylightingDevice:Tubular object must reference two FenestrationSurface:Detailed objects, each of which must be embedded in a BuildingSurface:Detailed object. Is there a way to model a solar tube with a dome that is attached to the roof surface, but the diffuser surface is free floating in the space?

POST SCRIPT
Here's an obvious idea. Can I just have a rectangular prism attached to the ceiling that extends down into the space? I could put the two fenestration surfaces on the top and bottom of the box. However, I then have to split up the roof into a lot of rectangles to keep all the surfaces convex. Is there a better way? Does a fake bottom surface made of air simulate correctly in EnergyPlus?

I ended up using a ZoneCrossMixing object so there was energy flow between the zones and a Material:NoMass object with t

Guide for ZoneHVAC:HybridUnitaryHVAC Tables? I would like to use the ZoneHVAC:HybridUnitaryHVAC in EnergyPlus 9.4 to mod

@Aaron Boranian I saw your answer about Construction:AirBoundary in this post and was wondering if you think that would

@shorowit You're right. We're trying to back out properties of real life water heaters from the UEF, but we're having to

@Lingkai @shorowit Wouldn't it be nice if EnergyPlus accept UEF directly? UEF is the new, federally mandated standard, s

I am looking for the written report containing all the research and references that accompanies the "Create DOE Prototype Building" BCL measure. We are hoping to use the report to tease apart some of the objects that lump together a lot of equipment so we can simulate changing out specific pieces of equipment with more efficient versions.

For example, most of the building models that have elevators explicitly have an Electric:Equipment object with the power consumption and schedule of an elevator. However, the Large Office model appears to have lumped the elevator with other equipment in a single object to model power consumption. In order to implement an efficient elevator, we need to know what portion of the energy use is from the elevator in that object.

Another example, we'd like to exchange gas and electric equipment in kitchens with ENERGYSTAR equipment, but they have been, quite reasonably, lumped together into single electric and gas equipment objects for the kitchens.

Does anyone know where I can find the report?


Post Script

After searching a bit, I wasn't able to find a publication on the 90.1-2013 models, but I was able to find a publication, linked here, for the 90.1-2004 and previous models, which was published in 2011. With this in mind, there probably isn't an entirely new report made for updating the models to the new standards, probably just a list of updates to the models going from one ASHRAE standard to the next. The linked report states the differences between models for the different ASHRAE standards "...are reflected in the insulation values, lighting levels, and HVAC equipment types and efficiencies." However, there are some significant changes in the models from 2004 to 2013, such as the addition of the data centers to the Large Office model at some point.

So to rephrase my original question, Does anyone know where I can find a changelog or equivalent, with citations, for the 90.1-2013 models generated by the BCL measure?

Looks like the culprit is an EnergyPlus bug. Unfortunately for @DerricksRoss, MaterialProperty:PhaseChange objects must

Looks like the culprit is an EnergyPlus bug. Unfortunately for @DerricksRoss, MaterialProperty:PhaseChange objects must

Looks like the culprit is an EnergyPlus bug. I took the CondFD1ZonePurchAirAutoSizeWithPCM.idf example file and made a

Jon Hand recently made a video on compiling EnergyPlus 9.3 on the Raspberry Pi 4 8GB model. Here is the link. You could

One other nice benefit of using the python script versus the built in run group approach is the python script can handle

Ha ha. I was using 2019 TDV factors, but the other source was using 2022 TDV factors, which got released last month. Phe

As usual, this is really simple after you know the answer. The constants are from kBtu/kWh = 0.2931 and kBtu/therm = 0.0

Ha ha. I was using 2019 TDV factors, but the other source was using 2022 TDV factors, which got released last month. Phe