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Assumptions and limitations for importing a model
The following section describes the Thermal Model Exchanger assumptions and limitations when you import a Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal model into Thermal Desktop.
Importing thermal couplings
You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import Thermal Coupling simulation objects from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop as Contactors.
Coupling methods and overlapping option
The Thermal Model Exchanger import process of thermal couplings depends on the selected method for overlapping elements in Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal.

User documentation
- Introduction
  Thermal Model Exchanger is a Windows application that allows you to transfer thermal models between Ansys Thermal Desktop^TM and Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal. The application supports the transfer of meshes, material and optical properties, and boundary conditions of your model.
- Thermal Model Exchanger user interface
  The Thermal Model Exchanger user interface consists of a top border bar and an information window.
- How to use Thermal Model Exchanger
  The following section describes how to use Thermal Model Exchanger to transfer thermal models between Thermal Desktop and Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal.
- Simcenter 3D entities supported by Thermal Model Exchanger
  This page summarizes the Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal entities supported by the Thermal Model Exchanger during the import.
- Thermal Desktop entities supported by Thermal Model Exchanger
  This page summarizes the Thermal Desktop entities supported by the Thermal Model Exchanger during the export.
- Assumptions and limitations for importing a model
  The following section describes the Thermal Model Exchanger assumptions and limitations when you import a Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal model into Thermal Desktop.
  - Importing meshes
    You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import 0D, 1D, 2D and 3D meshes from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal to Thermal Desktop.
  - Importing thermo-physical properties
    Thermal Model Exchanger supports importing thermal and physical properties from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop.
  - Importing thermal loads
    Thermal Model Exchanger supports importing the Heat Load and Heat Flux types of Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal Thermal Loads. It converts these entities into the Total Load and Flux types of Thermal Desktop Heat Load, respectively.
  - Importing temperature constraints
    You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import Temperature constraints from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal to Thermal Desktop.
  - Importing thermal couplings
    You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import Thermal Coupling simulation objects from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop as Contactors.
    - Selection regions
      Thermal Model Exchanger supports importing the thermal coupling primary and secondary region selections from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop.
    - 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.
    - Coupling methods and overlapping option
      The Thermal Model Exchanger import process of thermal couplings depends on the selected method for overlapping elements in Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal.
  - Importing radiation
    You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import Radiation simulation objects from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal to Thermal Desktop.
  - Importing orbits and space environments
    You can use Thermal Model Exchanger to import Orbit modeling objects and Orbital Heating simulation objects from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop as External Heating Environment boundary conditions.
  - Importing a solution
    Thermal Model Exchanger supports importing solutions from Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal into Thermal Desktop.
- Assumptions and limitations for exporting a model
  The following section describes the Thermal Model Exchanger assumptions and limitations when you export a Thermal Desktop model to a Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal XML file.
- Legal notice

Coupling methods and overlapping option

The Thermal Model Exchanger import process of thermal couplings depends on the selected method for overlapping elements in Simcenter 3D Space Systems Thermal.

When a Simcenter 3D thermal coupling uses the Element Subdivision method with the Only Connect Overlapping Elements check box cleared, Thermal Model Exchanger (TMX) creates a contactor that uses the Point Algorithm and a tolerance set to 1e+20 m in Thermal Desktop.

When a Simcenter 3D thermal coupling uses the Projective Intersection method or has the Only Connect Overlapping Elements check box selected, TMX creates a contactor that uses the Ray Trace Algorithm. You must make sure that the To and From surfaces of the contactor are connected. Otherwise, the solve will fail because the ray trace algorithm in Thermal Desktop does not connect coplanar surfaces.