## Input Output Reference — EnergyPlus 8.1

### Input Output Reference

The non-zone equipment group consists of plant objects that connect to the demand side of the plant loop but are not associated with a a specific Zone](page-011.html#zone) (and do not have their own group). There is currently one non-zone equipment object called [LoadProfile:Plant. This object places a scheduled demand load on the plant.

Non-zone equipment allows the option of performing a plant-only EnergyPlus simulation, i.e. without any zones. This can be useful for comparing the performance of various plant configurations or components without the added complexity of a full building description.

The LoadProfile:Plant object is used to simulate a scheduled demand profile. This can be useful when the building loads are already known. Demanded load and flow rate are schedules specified in the object definition. The load profile can specify heating and cooling loads. Cooling loads are entered as negative numbers. The actual load met is dependent on the performance of the supply loop components.

The LoadProfile:Plant object must be connected on the demand side of the plant loop. It should be located on a Branch](page-021.html#branch-list-output) with its control type set to “Active.” If desired, multiple [LoadProfile:Plant objects can be combined in series and/or parallel.

The unique name of the LoadProfile:Plant object.

The name of the inlet node connection to the plant loop.

This node should be on the demand side.

The name of the outlet node connection to the plant loop.

Reference to the schedule object specifying the load profile [W].

The peak demanded water flow rate [m3/s]. This value is multiplied by the flow rate fraction schedule values (below) to determine the actual volumetric flow rate.

### Field: Flow Rate Fraction Schedule Name[LINK]

Reference to the schedule object specifying the flow rate fraction relative to the value in the field Peak Flow Rate (above).

An example of this object follows.

LoadProfile:Plant,
Demand Load Profile 1 Inlet Node,   !- Inlet Node Name
Demand Load Profile 1 Outlet Node,  !- Outlet Node Name
0.003,                              !- Peak Flow Rate {m3/s}
Load Profile 1 Flow Frac Schedule;  !- Flow Rate Fraction Schedule Name

The following output variables and meters are reported for the LoadProfile:Plant object:

HVAC,Average,Plant Load Profile Mass Flow Rate [kg/s]
HVAC,Average,Plant Load Profile Heat Transfer Rate [W]
HVAC,Sum,Plant Load Profile Heat Transfer Energy [J]
HVAC,Sum,Plant Load Profile Heating Energy [J]
HVAC,Sum,Plant Load Profile Cooling Energy [J]

This is the mass flow of the fluid passing through the load profile object, in kg/s.

HVAC,Average,System Node Temperature [C]
HVAC,Average,System Node Mass Flow Rate [kg/s]