First time here? Check our help page!
5

Output variable unique Key name for EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor

I am trying to implement thermostatic control of a zone based on PMV values (Fanger Comfort Criteria) using EMS in Energyplus. I add an EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor object as per the example in the InputOutput Reference documentation as follows (except the sensor is called "currentPMV" and I am trying to extract the value for the "Core_mid" zone):

EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor,
currentPMV,              !- Name
Core_mid,                !- Output:Variable or Output:Meter Index Key Name
Zone Thermal Comfort Fanger Model PMV;  !- Output:Variable or Output:Meter Name

I also define the Output:variable as follows:

Output:Variable,Core_mid,Zone Thermal Comfort Fanger Model PMV ,Timestep;

When I try to simulate, I obtain the following Severe error:

   ** Severe  ** Invalid Output:Variable or Output:Meter Index Key Name =CORE_MID
   **   ~~~   ** For Output:Variable or Output:Meter = ZONE THERMAL COMFORT FANGER MODEL PMV
   **   ~~~   ** Entered in EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor=CURRENTPMV
   **   ~~~   ** Unique Key Name not found.

I have checked that "Zone Thermal Comfort Fanger Model PMV" is listed in the .rdd file. I have also checked that "Core_mid" is a valid zone. I have tried changing the field to other zone names and obtain the same error. Does anyone know why "Core_mid" is not being recognized as a unique key name?

Any help is much appreciated.

akat022's avatar
65
akat022
asked 2017-07-30 06:31:14 -0500
__AmirRoth__'s avatar
4.4k
__AmirRoth__
updated 2018-05-09 19:46:13 -0500
edit flag offensive 0 remove flag close merge delete

Comments

add a comment see more comments

1 Answer

7

The IDF example you reference from the documentation for the EnergyManagementSystem:Sensor object is a little misleading. Zone Thermal Comfort Fanger Model PMV is actually an output variable of the People object, not the Zone object.

In the EMS:Sensor and Output:Variable object you created for PMV, you should replace Core_mid with the name of the People object assigned to that zone (likely Core_mid_ppl or something similar).

If you still see an error or warning, then you may need to extend the People object to define the input fields required to calculate thermal comfort (Activity Level Schedule Name, Mean Radiant Temperature Calculation Type, etc.).

There is a slightly related Unmet Hours question that you can refer to as well.

Aaron Boranian's avatar
14.1k
Aaron Boranian
answered 2017-07-30 09:36:02 -0500
edit flag offensive 0 remove flag delete link

Comments

Thank you! Making the change to the name of the People object did the trick.

akat022's avatar akat022 (2017-07-30 10:06:07 -0500) edit
add a comment see more comments