Defining model orientation for solar heating

The options on the Model Orientation tab of the Solar Heating dialog box and the Solar Heating Space dialog box let you position the model in relation to the sun to determine how the sun strikes it. The options available depend on the method you select from the Orientation Method list.

Defining model orientation with the Latitude method

If you choose Latitude from the Orientation Method list, the options in the Earth Vectors (Solar Heating dialog box) or Sun Planet Vectors (Solar Heating Space dialog box) group let you define two vectors to orient the model in relation to the Earth or selected planet. These two vectors cannot be parallel to each other. Often, they are perpendicular to each other.

The first vector you define always points towards its target in the direction you select from the Aim at list. If the two orientations are not perpendicular, the second vector you select is not parallel to the direction you select from the Align with list, but it remains as aligned as possible. The aim at (1) and align with (2) vectors originate from the model.

For example, if the first vector points towards the zenith, and the second vector points towards the sun, the model rotates about the first vector such that the second vector approximates the solar vector as closely as possible.

Defining model orientation with the Sun Earth or Sun Planet Vectors method

If you choose Sun Earth Vectors or Sun Planet Vectors from the Orientation Method list, you can specify a series of time varying vectors to model the position of the sun and the center of the planet with respect to the global coordinate system by specifying sets of Cartesian or spherical coordinates.

• Define the time-varying vectors with Cartesian coordinates by selecting Cartesian from the Coordinates list and clicking Select a Field to define a table field in the following format:Sun Earth or Sun Planet Vectors defined with Cartesian coordinatesIndependent variableDependent variablesAnalysis time (sec)Sun vector coordinatesEarth or planet vector coordinatesSun X valueSun Y valueSun Z valueEarth X valueEarth Y valueEarth Z value

• Define the time varying vectors with spherical coordinates by selecting Spherical from the Coordinates list and clicking Select a Field to define a table field in the following format:Sun Earth or Sun Planet Vectors defined with spherical coordinatesIndependent variableDependent variablesAnalysis time (sec)Sun vector coordinatesEarth or planet vector coordinatesSun Theta valueSun Phi valueEarth Theta valueEarth Phi value

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