PLECS 2.1 Online Help

Heat Sink

Purpose

Model an idealized heat sink.

Library

Thermal

Description

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The Heat Sink absorbs the thermal losses dissipated by the components within its boundaries. At the same time it defines an isotherm environment and propagates its temperature to the components which it encloses. To change the size of a Heat Sink, select it, then drag one of its selection handles.

With the parameter Number of terminals you can add and remove thermal connectors to the heat sink in order to connect it to an external thermal network. The connectors can be dragged along the edge of the heat sink with the mouse by holding down the Shift key or using the middle mouse button. In order to remove a thermal connector, disconnect it, then reduce the Number of terminals. PLECS will not allow you to remove connected terminals.

For additional information see chapter Thermal Modeling.

Parameters and Dialog Box

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Number of terminals
This parameter allows you to change the number of external thermal connectors of a heat sink. The default is 0.
Thermal capacitance
The value of the internal thermal capacitance, in J/K. The default is 1.

If the capacitance is set to zero the heat sink must be connected to an external thermal capacitance or to a fixed temperature.

Initial temperature
The initial temperature difference between the heat sink and the thermal reference at simulation start, in kelvins (K). The default is 0.

Probe Signals

Temperature
The temperature difference between the heat sink and the thermal reference, in kelvins (K).