Heat source configuration
Heat Source Configuration in Twin Fabrica
In Twin Fabrica, heat sources model internal thermal generation within volume or surface regions of a geometry. This section guides you through configuring a heat source, including defining its characteristics and assigning it to specific geometrical entities.
đź“ť Note: This guide covers configuring an existing heat source. For creating and renaming a new heat source component, see the separate tutorial.
1. Introduction to Heat Sources
A heat source in Twin Fabrica can be assigned to either:
- Volume entities (representing internal generation), or
- Surface entities (representing boundary-level thermal input).
The software assumes a uniform distribution by default, unless specified otherwise.
2. Selecting the Target Entity Type
The geometrical entities drop-down menu displays one type of entity—volume or surface—at a time.
For this example, we will apply the heat source to a volume entity.
3. Choosing the Definition Mode
Heat sources can be defined in one of two ways:
- As a total heat generation rate (e.g., in watts)
- As a power density (e.g., W/mÂł)
To define a power density, check the Power Density box.
The unit label beside the Value field updates automatically based on your selection.
4. Optional: Define Spatial Distribution
By default, heat input is uniformly distributed.
For non-uniform distribution, use the Space Function field to define a space-dependent pattern.
This enables complex, non-uniform generation profiles.
This advanced capability is covered in a separate tutorial.
5. Optional: Parametric Heat Source Definition
Define the heat input value using a parametric expression.
This approach works well for modeling losses or time-varying phenomena that depend on operating conditions or other variables.
In this guide, we'll focus on a simple constant-value setup.
6. Label the Heat Source
Give your heat source a descriptive label.
Clear labels help you identify and manage inputs throughout the simulation workflow.
7. Enter the Nominal Value
Enter the nominal value for heat generation.
This value applies to Full Order Model (FOM) simulations unless a parametric function overrides it.
8. Assign the Heat Source to Geometry
To apply the heat source:
- Select the target geometrical entity from the Entity Tree on the right panel.
- The tree shows only volume or surface entities based on your earlier selection.
- Use the checkboxes to assign the heat source to one or more entities.
9. Save the Configuration
After assigning at least one entity:
- Click SAVE to confirm and store the heat source configuration.
- The heat source is now ready for your physics setup and thermal simulations.
10. Verify Assignment
To confirm proper configuration:
- Go to the PHYSICS tab and select the heat source from the navigation tree.
- Twin Fabrica will automatically highlight the assigned geometry in both the viewer and the entity tree, confirming the heat source location.