Difficulties in creating a simscape component : "Number of variables exceeds number of equations"

Hello everybody,

I try to create my own simscape component using Thermal Liquid language.

My goal is to build a simple air cooled heat exchanger component that removes part of the energy contained in the liquid.

Parameters of the component :

the ambient temperature (°K)

specific power (kW/K) (Pspé)

Through this component, there are conservation of the mass flow rate and the conservation of the energy with those equations :

Qa + Qb + Pdissip = 0

Pdissip = Pspé * (Ta -Tamb)

Qa, Qb input and output power of node a and b ; Ta the temperature of inlet.

so I wrote this code which does not work :

component radiator
% Radiator (TL) : 1.5

nodes
    A = foundation.thermal_liquid.thermal_liquid; % A:left
    B = foundation.thermal_liquid.thermal_liquid; % B:right
end

parameters

    Tamb = {293.15,'K'}; % Température ambiante
    Puissance_spe = {0.5,'kW/K'}; % Puissance dissipé spécifique

end


% Parameter checks
equations

    assert(Tamb > 0)
    assert(Puissance_spe > 0)
    
end

variables (Access = protected)
    % Through variables
    mdot_A = {0, 'kg/s'}; % Mass flow rate into port A
    mdot_B = {0, 'kg/s'}; % Mass flow rate into port B
    Phi_A  = {0, 'kW'  }; % Energy flow rate into port A
    Phi_B  = {0, 'kW'  }; % Energy flow rate into port B
end

branches
    mdot_A : A.mdot -> *; % 
    mdot_B : B.mdot -> *;
    Phi_A  : A.Phi  -> *;
    Phi_B  : B.Phi  -> *;
end

intermediates

     P_dissip = Puissance_spe * ( A.T - Tamb );

end

equations

    % Mass balance
    mdot_A + mdot_B == 0;

    % Energy balance
    Phi_A + Phi_B + P_dissip == 0;

end

end

The error from my simscape model is as follow :

-------------------------------

Error compiling Simscape network for model Hydraulique.

Caused by:

• Number of variables exceeds number of equations. Click on any Simscape blocks identified below for more detailed diagnostics.
• Hydraulique/PS-Simulink Converter
• Hydraulique/PS-Simulink Converter1
• Hydraulique/PS-Simulink Converter2
• Hydraulique/PS-Simulink Converter3
• Hydraulique/Radiator (TL)

Component:Simulink | Category:Model error

---------------------------------

in the first instance, I want to build the simplest component with a minimum of equation and then to complexify afterwards

Thank you in advance for your answer.

Answer 1

[Avadhoot]

Hi Quentin,

I understand that you created a Simscape component and are facing an error with it.

In a physical system, it is important to have the number of equations equal to or greater than the number of variables. In your component, you have defined four variables: "mdot_A", "mdot_B", "Phi_A", and "Phi_B". However, you have only specified two equations in the system. This mismatch between the number of variables and equations is causing the error.

To resolve this issue, you need to specify additional equations that describe more constraints within the system. For example, you can add equations that link "mdot_A" to "Phi_A" and "mdot_B" to "Phi_B".

I hope this helps.