Heat-flux measurement tool
This tool enables you to measure the total heat-flux going into or coming out of a certain surface within a defined region.
The surface can be either an internal one (between different materials) or an external one (touching a boundary condition/climate).
To setup the tool you will have to take two steps:
- define the surface/interface you want to measure
- define the geometric region where you want to measure the heat flux
Defining a surface
This function can measure the heat-flux whenever it flows from one material to another material or boundary condition. To define the surface/interface you are interested in just select the appropriate materials on either side within the properties dialog of the tool:
In the case displayed above, any heat-flux from or into any surface touching an internal climate boundary conditions will be measured. You can either define the interface by manually selecting the items in either lists or by using the speed-buttons:
- All to internal climate: will define the inner surface of your model, when any material touches a boundary condition defined as “internal”
- All to external climate: will define the outer surface of your model, when any material touches a boundary condition defined as “external”
- All: use this button to quickly select any material in the according list
- None: use this button to quickly unselect all materials in the according list (to manually select materials afterwards)
For most applications the use of the speed buttons “all to int. climate” and “all to ext. climate” will be sufficient.
Defining a region for the measurement
Apart from defining the interface you will also have to restrict the measurement to a certain region. This can easily be done by dropping one or more regions onto the specific measurement tool within the project manager. Just drag the region down while pressing the left mouse button and release the button over the desired measuring tool.
Read more on measurement areas here: defining a measurement area.