Thermal coupling magnitudes

The Thermal Model Exchanger import process of the thermal couplings depends on the Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal Thermal Coupling simulation objects magnitude type.

The Simcenter 3D Thermal Coupling simulation object offers several selection and magnitude types described here, which require special treatments.

Total conductance

A Thermal Coupling simulation object with Total Conductance magnitude type is imported in Thermal Desktop as a contactor with the Input Value Type set to Absolute - (Total conductance output equals input value).

Thermal Model Exchanger (TMX) supports constant, time-dependent and temperature difference dependent values for the total conductance magnitude. Any other table definition is not supported. The application imports the thermal coupling with the total conductance magnitude set as a constant value equal to the first value of the table, and it displays a warning in the import summary.

Total resistance

In Thermal Desktop, you cannot define a total resistance contactor. When the Simcenter 3D model contains a Thermal Coupling simulation object with Total Resistance magnitude type, TMX imports this type of thermal coupling by converting the constant, time-dependent, and temperature difference dependent total resistance value into an equivalent total conductance value.

Heat transfer coefficient and edge contact

TMX imports thermal couplings with Heat Transfer Coefficient and Edge Contact magnitude types to Thermal Desktop as contactors with the following options:

  • For thermal coupling with a Heat Transfer Coefficient magnitude type, the created contactor has the Contact From set to Faces.
  • For thermal coupling with Edge Contact magnitude, the created contactor has the Contact From set to Edges.
  • For both magnitude types, the Input Value Type is set to Per Area or Length.

TMX supports constant, time-dependent and temperature difference dependent values for the heat transfer coefficient and edge contact magnitudes. Any other table definition is not supported. The application imports the thermal coupling with the magnitude set as a constant value equal to the first value of the table, and it displays a warning in the import summary.

Conductive gap

The Simcenter 3D Thermal Coupling simulation object with Conductive Gap magnitude type does not have an equivalent contactor type in Thermal Desktop. To support this type of thermal coupling, TMX creates a thermophysical property in Thermal Desktop and assigns it the conductive gap magnitude value as thermal conductivity. Then, the application creates a contactor with the following properties:

  • Material thickness = 1 m.
  • Input Value Type = Per Area or Length.
  • Use Material checked for the created material.

TMX only supports constant values for thermal coupling with conductive gap magnitude.