Group – ExternalInterface[LINK]
The ExternalInterface allows coupling EnergyPlus to the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB). It supports the import of Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs) for co-simulation as well as the export of EnergyPlus as a FMU for co-simulation. BCVTB is a software environment that allows expert users to couple different simulation programs for distributed simulation or for a real-time simulation that is connected to a building control system. For example, the BCVTB allows simulation of the building envelope and HVAC system in EnergyPlus and the control logic in MATLAB/Simulink, while exchanging data between the two programs as they simulate. The BCVTB can be downloaded from http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/bcvtb. A FMU is a component which implements the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard (http://www.modelisar.com).
ExternalInterface[LINK]
This object activates the external interface of EnergyPlus. If the object ExternalInterface is present, then the external interface objects listed below will receive their values from the BCVTB interface or from FMUs at each zone time step. If this object is not present, then the values of these objects will be fixed at the value declared in the “initial value” field of the corresponding object, and a warning will be written to the EnergyPlus error file.
The name of the external interface. The only valid entries are PtolemyServer, FunctionalMockupUnitImport, and FunctionalMockupUnitExport.
An example IDF object is:
ExternalInterface, !- Object to activate the external interface
PtolemyServer; !- Name of external interface
Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB)[LINK]
The following objects are designed to couple EnergyPlus with the BCVTB.
ExternalInterface:Schedule[LINK]
This input object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
This field should contain a unique (within all DaySchedules) designation for this schedule. It is referenced by WeekSchedules to define the appropriate schedule values.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
! Cooling schedule. This schedule is set directly by the external interface.
! During warm-up and system-sizing, it is fixed at 24 degC.
ExternalInterface:Schedule,
TSetCoo, !- Name
Temperature, !- ScheduleType
24; !- Initial value, used during warm-up
! Heating schedule. This schedule is set directly by the external interface.
! During warm-up and system-sizing, it is fixed at 20 degC.
ExternalInterface:Schedule,
TSetHea, !- Name
Temperature, !- ScheduleType
20; !- Initial value, used during warm-up
ExternalInterface:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value. If a value is specified, then this value is used during the warm-up period and the system sizing. If no value is specified, then the actuated component will only be updated once the time stepping starts, i.e., after the warm-up and the system-sizing. This allows, for example, to schedule a setpoint with a Schedule:Compact during warm-up and system-sizing, and then overwrite the value of this schedule during each zone time step based on a feedback control loop that is implemented in the BCVTB.
ExternalInterface:Actuator,
Zn001_Wall001_Win001_Shading_Deploy_Status, !- Name
Zn001:Wall001:Win001, !- Actuated Component Unique Name
Window Shading Control, !- Actuated Component Type
Control Status, !- Actuated Component Control Type
; ! initial value
ExternalInterface:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:Variable,
yShade, !- Name of Erl variable
1; !- Initial value
Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) Import[LINK]
The following objects are designed to couple EnergyPlus with FMUs for co-simulation.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport[LINK]
This object defines the FMU that will be linked to EnergyPlus.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Timeout[LINK]
This field contains the communication timeout value in milli-seconds to allow interprocess communication to take place.
Field: FMU LoggingOn[LINK]
This field contains the loggingOn value to enable or disable debug in FMU. If loggingOn=1, debug logging is enabled. If loggingOn=0, debug logging is disabled.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport,
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
15, !- FMU Timeout
0; !- FMU LoggingOn
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable[LINK]
This input object maps the names of the output variables of EnergyPlus to the input variables of the FMU.
Field: EnergyPlus Key Value[LINK]
This input object maps the names of the EnergyPlus output variables (Output:Variable or EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable) to the input variables of the FMU.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the output variable name as defined in the InputOutput Reference. For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Variable Name is the name of the EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable’s object.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable,
Environment, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Site Outdoor Air Drybulb Temperature, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
TDryBul; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable,
ZONE ONE, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Zone Mean Air Temperature, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
TRooMea; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable,
Environment, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Site Outdoor Air Relative Humidity, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
outRelHum; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable,
ZONE ONE, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Zone Air Relative Humidity, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
rooRelHum; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Schedule[LINK]
This input object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique (within all Schedules) designation for this schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Schedule,
FMU_OthEquSen_ZoneOne, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
Any Number, !- Schedule Type Limits Names
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
QSensible, !- FMU Variable Name
0; !- Initial Value
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Schedule,
FMU_OthEquLat_ZoneOne, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
Any Number, !- Schedule Type Limits Names
MoistAir.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
QLatent, !- FMU Variable Name
0; !- Initial Value
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the warm-up and time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the actuator in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the value that is used during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Actuator,
Zn001_Wall001_Win001_Shading_Deploy_Status, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
Zn001:Wall001:Win001, !- Actuated Component Unique Name
Window Shading Control, !- Actuated Component Type
Control Status, !- Actuated Component Control Type
ShadingController.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
yShade, !- FMU Variable Name
6; !- Initial Value
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the warm-up and time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Variable,
Shade_Signal, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
ShadingController.fmu, !- FMU File Name
Model1, !- FMU Instance Name
yShade, !- FMU Variable Name
1; !- Initial Value
Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) Export[LINK]
The following objects are designed to support the export of EnergyPlus as a FMU for co-simulation.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable[LINK]
This object exposes the EnergyPlus output variables (Output:Variable or EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable) to the outside simulation program.
Field: EnergyPlus Key Value[LINK]
This field contains a Key Value for an EnergyPlus output variable (ref Output:Variable/.rdd file). For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Key Value needs to be set to “EMS”.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the Variable Name as defined in the InputOutput Reference. For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Variable Name is the name of the EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable’s object.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable,
Environment, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Site Outdoor Air Drybulb Temperature, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
TDryBul; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface: FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable,
ZONE ONE, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Zone Mean Air Temperature, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
TRooMea; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface: FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable,
Environment, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Site Outdoor Air Relative Humidity, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
outRelHum; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable,
ZONE ONE, !- EnergyPlus Key Value
Zone Air Relative Humidity, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
rooRelHum; !- FMU Variable Name
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Schedule[LINK]
This object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique (within all Schedules) designation for this schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Schedule,
FMU_OthEquSen_ZoneOne, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
Any Number, !- Schedule Type Limits Names
QSensible, !- FMU Variable Name
0; !- Initial Value
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the actuator in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value. If a value is specified, then this value is used during the warm-up period and the system sizing. If no value is specified, then the actuated component will only be updated once the time stepping starts, i.e., after the warm-up and the system-sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Actuator,
Zn001_Wall001_Win001_Shading_Deploy_Status, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
Zn001:Wall001:Win001, !- Actuated Component Unique Name
Window Shading Control, !- Actuated Component Type
Control Status, !- Actuated Component Control Type
yShade, !- FMU Variable Name
6; !- Initial Value
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Variable,
Shade_Signal, !- EnergyPlus Variable Name
yShade, !- FMU Variable Name
1; !- Initial Value
Group – ExternalInterface[LINK]
The ExternalInterface allows coupling EnergyPlus to the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB). It supports the import of Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs) for co-simulation as well as the export of EnergyPlus as a FMU for co-simulation. BCVTB is a software environment that allows expert users to couple different simulation programs for distributed simulation or for a real-time simulation that is connected to a building control system. For example, the BCVTB allows simulation of the building envelope and HVAC system in EnergyPlus and the control logic in MATLAB/Simulink, while exchanging data between the two programs as they simulate. The BCVTB can be downloaded from http://simulationresearch.lbl.gov/bcvtb. A FMU is a component which implements the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard (http://www.modelisar.com).
ExternalInterface[LINK]
This object activates the external interface of EnergyPlus. If the object ExternalInterface is present, then the external interface objects listed below will receive their values from the BCVTB interface or from FMUs at each zone time step. If this object is not present, then the values of these objects will be fixed at the value declared in the “initial value” field of the corresponding object, and a warning will be written to the EnergyPlus error file.
Field: Name[LINK]
The name of the external interface. The only valid entries are PtolemyServer, FunctionalMockupUnitImport, and FunctionalMockupUnitExport.
An example IDF object is:
Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB)[LINK]
The following objects are designed to couple EnergyPlus with the BCVTB.
ExternalInterface:Schedule[LINK]
This input object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: Name[LINK]
This field should contain a unique (within all DaySchedules) designation for this schedule. It is referenced by WeekSchedules to define the appropriate schedule values.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value. If a value is specified, then this value is used during the warm-up period and the system sizing. If no value is specified, then the actuated component will only be updated once the time stepping starts, i.e., after the warm-up and the system-sizing. This allows, for example, to schedule a setpoint with a Schedule:Compact during warm-up and system-sizing, and then overwrite the value of this schedule during each zone time step based on a feedback control loop that is implemented in the BCVTB.
ExternalInterface:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
Field: Name[LINK]
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) Import[LINK]
The following objects are designed to couple EnergyPlus with FMUs for co-simulation.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport[LINK]
This object defines the FMU that will be linked to EnergyPlus.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Timeout[LINK]
This field contains the communication timeout value in milli-seconds to allow interprocess communication to take place.
Field: FMU LoggingOn[LINK]
This field contains the loggingOn value to enable or disable debug in FMU. If loggingOn=1, debug logging is enabled. If loggingOn=0, debug logging is disabled.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:From:Variable[LINK]
This input object maps the names of the output variables of EnergyPlus to the input variables of the FMU.
Field: EnergyPlus Key Value[LINK]
This input object maps the names of the EnergyPlus output variables (Output:Variable or EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable) to the input variables of the FMU.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the output variable name as defined in the InputOutput Reference. For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Variable Name is the name of the EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable’s object.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Schedule[LINK]
This input object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique (within all Schedules) designation for this schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the warm-up and time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the actuator in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the value that is used during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitImport:To:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the warm-up and time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the system sizing its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: FMU File Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the FMU file including the extension. The field should include a full path with file name, for best results. The field must be <= 100 characters. The file name must not include commas or an exclamation point. A relative path or a simple file name should work with version 7.0 or later when using EP-Launch even though EP-Launch uses temporary directories as part of the execution of EnergyPlus. If using RunEPlus.bat to run EnergyPlus from the command line, a relative path or a simple file name may work if RunEPlus.bat is run from the folder that contains EnergyPlus.exe.
Field: FMU Instance Name[LINK]
This field contains the EnergyPlus instance name of the FMU. See External Interface Application guide for more details.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the system sizing.
Functional Mock-up Unit (FMU) Export[LINK]
The following objects are designed to support the export of EnergyPlus as a FMU for co-simulation.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:From:Variable[LINK]
This object exposes the EnergyPlus output variables (Output:Variable or EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable) to the outside simulation program.
Field: EnergyPlus Key Value[LINK]
This field contains a Key Value for an EnergyPlus output variable (ref Output:Variable/.rdd file). For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Key Value needs to be set to “EMS”.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the Variable Name as defined in the InputOutput Reference. For an EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable, the EnergyPlus Variable Name is the name of the EnergyManagementSystem:OutputVariable’s object.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Schedule[LINK]
This object is similar to Schedule:Compact. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique (within all Schedules) designation for this schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Schedule Type Limits Name[LINK]
This field contains a reference to the Schedule Type Limits object. If found in a list of Schedule Type Limits (see above), then the restrictions from the referenced object will be used to validate the current field values.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the schedule in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the schedule value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Actuator[LINK]
This object maps a value received from the external interface to an actuator of the Energy Management System. The object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:Actuator. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.”
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains a unique name for the actuator. No spaces are allowed in the object name. This name will be a global read-only variable in Erl programs and cannot duplicate any other global scope Erl variable.
Field: Actuated Component Unique Name[LINK]
This field defines a unique name for the specific entity that is to be controlled. The names for each individual component are listed in the EDD output file when Verbose mode is used – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. These will often be user-defined names of input objects or system nodes, but some actuators are automatically setup by the program and will not be completely user-defined.
Field: Actuated Component Type[LINK]
The field defines the type of the entity that is to be controlled by the actuator. The component types available vary with the specifics of individual models. The types of components that can be used as actuators in a specific model are listed in the EDD output file – see the input object Output:EnergyManagementSystem for more on the EDD file. Components can be object types defined elsewhere in the IDD but there are other types of entities such as nodes and system-level actuators that do not directly correspond to IDF objects.
Field: Actuated Component Control Type[LINK]
This field defines the type of control to be done on the specific entity being controlled. The control types available are listed in the EDD output. Specific components may have more than one type of control available, such as flow rate or temperature, and this field is used to distinguish between them.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the actuator in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value. If a value is specified, then this value is used during the warm-up period and the system sizing. If no value is specified, then the actuated component will only be updated once the time stepping starts, i.e., after the warm-up and the system-sizing.
ExternalInterface:FunctionalMockupUnitExport:To:Variable[LINK]
This input object is similar to EnergyManagementSystem:GlobalVariable. However, during the time stepping, its value is set to the value received from the external interface. During the warm-up period and the system sizing, its value is set to the value specified by the field “initial value.” This object can be used to move data into Erl subroutines.
Field: EnergyPlus Variable Name[LINK]
This field becomes the global Erl variable name that can be referenced in the EnergyPlus Runtime Language. No spaces are allowed in the object name. The name must be unique across all global scope variables including those declared as sensor and actuators and the built-in variables.
Field: FMU Variable Name[LINK]
This field contains the name of the variable in the model description file of the FMU that will be mapped to the corresponding variable in EnergyPlus.
Field: Initial Value[LINK]
This field contains the initial value that is used during the warm-up period and during the system sizing.
Documentation content copyright © 1996-2014 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and the Regents of the University of California through the Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. All rights reserved. EnergyPlus is a trademark of the US Department of Energy.
This documentation is made available under the EnergyPlus Open Source License v1.0.