error expanding compact HVAC descriptions

vicky8298 · Posts: 7

Hi everybody,

I am having a serious problem here. Whenever I try to simulate my building I get the following error:

Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions
...\EnergyPlus\Expanded.idf not generated

Does anyone have an idea how I can fix this?

I configured a compact HVAC in order to use heat recovery. If I set HVAC to simple and natural ventilation, the simulation works just fine.

I hope you will be able to help me, for I am rather desperate to meet my deadline...

Thank you so much!

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

I haven't been able to reproduce this problem at this end and think that your DesignBuilder installation may have become somehow corrupted. Could you try reinstalling it?

Regards,

Andy

SPlamp · Posts: 30 Location: Omaha

Dear Vicky,

I've been working with DB/EP for about a year now and I'm also originally from Berlin. I've downloaded your file and simulated it with several earlier DB releases. It seems the most recent DB release will work, but I'm experiencing problems as your model won't converge within the specified tolerances.

Sandro

PS: Contact me directly through my profile if you have further questions!

vicky8298 · Posts: 7

Hello Andy and Sandro,

thank you very much for your help.
Yes it was an installation Problem. I had set the DB settings to use the new Energy Plus 2.0 once and then back to the version that came with it. After setting it back to the older version it produced this error. I don't know why but with EnergyPlus 2.0 it works now.

Regards
Vicky

alanjackson · Posts: 9

I am getting this error on a new installation of the trial beta version. No error when using nat vent but when hvac is used i get the error. any further developments on the cause of this?

alan

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

Alan,

Have you tried reinstalling?

Andy

alanjackson · Posts: 9

Andy

Yes. I tried reinstalling after seeing this topic on the forum. Unfortunately this did not work. Are there additional files that may be lingering around after the uninstall that should be removed at the same time? What is causing this error, is there any idea?

thanks

alan

hallik · Posts: 14

Unfortunately, after installing the latest version of software (1.4.0.038) demo, I get the same error message with "cooling design" calculations. Whenever I click "continue" on License check pop-up screen, it throws up an error message saying

"Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions C:\Documents and Settings\hallik\Local Settings\Application Data\DesignBuilder\EnergyPlus\Expanded.idf not generated. Please contact DesignBuilder support".

I have tried to uninstall and reinstall the software a number of times, but no luck.

alanjackson · Posts: 9

well at least I'm not the only one then Very Happy

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

The "Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions.." error occurs on a minority of DB installations when HVAC model detail is set to Compact HVAC and you run a simulation or when using one of the Compact HVAC options for Cooling design simulations. We haven't tracked the problem down yet. It may be related to computer settings but isn't related to particular versions of DB.

We have added some more diagnostic messages for the diagnostocs.log file in future versions so if this happens again and you have version 1.4.0.040 or later please send us your log file generated imediately after this simulation.

Andy

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

If you are reading this and have the "Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions.." problem it would be a great help if you could run some checks to track the problem down.

1. First run a DB simulation with a Compact HVAC description (you should get the "Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions.." message)

2. In the dos command editor (type cmd in the Run dialog) go to the EnergyPlus folder (find this from within DB using the File > Folders > EnergyPlus folder menu command).

Do this by typing in for example:

cd\Documents and Settings\Andy\Local Settings\Application Data\DesignBuilder\EnergyPlus

3. Then check that there is a file in this folder called in.idf (it should contain the compact HVAC idf data prior to expansion).

4. Type in:

ExpandObjects

This will run the ExpandObjects program and you should get a message like that shown below in the screenshot.

5. Please report any messsages generated by ExpandObjects.

6. Then check to see if a file called "expanded.idf" has been generated. This should be the same file as in.idf but with the Compact HVAC descriptions commented out and expanded.

7. Also send a screenshot of a Windows explorer window showing the files in the EnergyPlus folder.

One or more of the above steps probably went wrong and we need to know which.

It would be great to track this problem down so please help if you can. If anything isn't clear let me know - I would be happy to talk it through with you on the phone/skype.

Andy

hallik · Posts: 14

Hi Andy,

I followed your last advice and attempted to run the DB simulation and got the error above as intended. However, when I promptly opened the EnergyPlus folder there was no "in.idf in it". The only file that had .idf extension was "compact.idf" and the only file beginning with "in." was in.epw . Just for case I ran the ExpandObjects command at the command prompt and got some errors as expected. I will attach both screenshots (EnergyPlus folder and Command prompt widow subsequent to ExpandObjects command).

thanks for looking into it,

Jaanus

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

Hi Jaanus,

Yes, sorry, that's because DesignBuilder deletes in.IDF if there is a problem in the simulation. So could you try another thing?

Try copying Compact.IDF to in.IDF using Windows Explorer (or DOS copy command) and then try running ExpandObjects again to see if the program is able to run 'standalone'?

Andy

hallik · Posts: 14

Hi Andy,

copying compact.idf to in.idf using windows command prompt and running ExpandObjects subsequently worked without errors. And expanded.idf showed up in the same folder as expected.

Jaanus

Andy Tindale · Posts: 1149 Location: Stroud

OK, so please run a new test.

Keeping your cmd and Windows Explorer windows open try running another Compact HVAC simulation from DB and take a look in the EnergyPlus folder to see if in.idf exists while the the "Error expanding compact HVAC descriptions.." message is still displayed.

You may need to refresh the Explorer window by pressing F5 to get the latest contents.

Is the in.idf file there now?

Andy

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