MATLAB: How can i allow a radiation coefficient of zero

Question

Hello MATLAB Community, I have a problem in Simscape concerning the radiative and convective heat transfer blocks. Both blocks do not allow a heat transfer coefficient of zero. Due to multiple test setups in the model, some of the coefficients will be zero depending on the test setup (e.g. because radiation is blocked by another surface). Is there a way to allow a radiation coefficient of zero? I thought about creating a custom block and removing the check for the coefficient being zero, but I'm not sure if this could cause any unphysical behaviour or other problems. I would prefer not to create hundreds of enabled subsystems to selectively comment out every block that would have a coefficient of zero. Therefore, does anyone have experience or suggestions concerning heat transfer coefficients being zero?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

I tried out a model with modified blocks that allow a heat transfer coefficient of zero, which does not present a problem in itself. It does cause the model to be unable to simulate though, because the inital conditions cannot be established any more for all blocks where the coefficient happens to be zero. Modified blocks are therefore not a viable solution to the problem. I suggest to indeed use enabled subsystems to simulate multiple test setups.