Thermo Analysis

Thermo analysis procedure allows you to simulate field of temperature dynamically changing due to thermal processes. Following types of thermo process are simulated with Application: heat exchange between contacting Elements of Optical System and heat transfer with radiation. Note convection processes are not covered with current Application.

Simulation of dynamically changing fields is the principal difference between Illumination Analysis and Thermo analysis modes. During heating, Element will start re-radiate acquired heat affecting overall picture of thermal conditions until thermodynamic equilibrium will be reached.

Before starting thermo analysis procedure you have to set Thermal Properties of each Element you want to be token into account within Optical Scheme and define global Thermal Settings for whole Project.

Thermo Analysis Window

Whole procedure of Thermo Analysis of your System from initialization of calculation routine till analysis of results can be performed using Properties of Radiation Surfaces window.

• To open Properties of Radiation Surfaces Window choose Analysis of Radiation Surfaces item from View submenu of  Main Menu of Application.

New window shown below will appear immediately:

Window consists of several parts. Left part is responsible for choosing of Element of Optical Scheme to be analyzed and currently analyzed time graduation and contain numerical energy and temperature characteristics.

• Analysis on the surface -- List of Elements of Optical System placed at the upper left corner.
• Time -- List of time graduation. After calculations will be completed, list will start from 0 value up to Time of calculation value with Time step specified within Thermal Settings.
• Power (W) -- Numerical values of Power corresponding to currently chosen Element of Optical Scheme.
• Temperature (K) -- Numerical values of Temperature corresponding to currently chosen Element of Optical Scheme.
• Contribution -- List of Elements of Optical Scheme contributed into heat exchange within Optical System, and corresponding part of incident and Absorbed energy (%).

There are control buttons at the bottom of the left part of window, also.

Right part of window contains graphical charts to be used for analysis purposes. You can choose desired chart type from the list at the upper of right part of window that will be displayed at the center chart window. Following types of charts are available:

• Power (time) [W]
• Power change rate (time) [W/s]
• Temperature (time) [K]
• Temperature change rate (time) [K/s]
• Spectral distribution of power
• Spectral coefficients (wavelength)

Chart Legend is placed at the bottom of right part of window.

Control Calculation Routine

To start thermo analysis procedure:

• Set desired Thermal Properties properties for each Element to be taken into account during alalysis.
• Set desired Thermal Settings of whole Project.
• Set desired Quality properties for analysis.
• Open Properties of Radiation Surfaces window and press Start button.

Thermo analysis routine will start immediately. To monitor analysis procedure flow you can use messages appearing into Status Bar of Application window:

Initializing model parameters

Initializing surfaces

Ray Tracing progress

You can interrupt calculation routine anytime you want by pressing Esc key on your keyboard. After it, you can either continue calculations by pressing Continue button at Properties of Radiation Surfaces Window or restart calculation routine from beginning with pressing Start button.

Visualization of analysis results

During calculation routine, you will get results corresponding to currently chosen Element of Optical System. At the left part of Properties of Radiation Surfaces window numerical values will be displayed while at the right part graphical representation of analysis results will be provided.

• To select desired Element of Optical System to be analyzed choose it from Analysis on the surface list as it shown below:

• To select desired time graduation choose it from Analysis on the surface list as it shown below:

• To select desired chart representation choose it from Chart list as it shown below:

In addition, you are able to visualize results of thermo analysis you using Surface Map option of visualization available with 3D Viewer.

To visualize results of heat transfer procedure using Surface Map option:

• Within Project docked window, expand Distribution view sub-group of Setting hierarchical group.
• Choose Temperature surface map from the list of available Surface Maps.
• Choose Surface Map option from Context Menu of 3D Viewer.

Example of visualization result is illustrated with figures below:

Filled mode	Surface Map mode

Saving and reusing of analysis results

you are able to save results of thermo analysis for following using and reload it anytime you want.

To save analysis results:

• At the Properties of Radiation Surfaces window, choose Save button.
• In the Save in list, select the drive and folder where you want to save analysis results.
• To save results in a new folder, click Create New Folder.
• In the File name box, type a name for the file containing analysis results. You can use long, descriptive file names.
• Click Save.

Results will be saved using internal Application srp format. Please don't try to edit saved file using any external editor.

To load preliminary saved analysis results:

• Load appropriate Optical System.
• At the Properties of Radiation Surfaces window, choose Load button.
• In the Look in list, click the drive, folder, or FTP location that contains the preliminary saved results you want to open, and then locate and double-click the folder that contains file with analysis results..
• Double-click the file you want to open, or select file and click Open.