Line Heat Source
This node models a heat source (or sink) that is so thin that it has no thickness in the model geometry. It is available in 3D on edges. In 2D and 2D axisymmetric, it is available on points.
In theory, the temperature in a line source in 3D is plus or minus infinity (to compensate for the fact that the heat source does not have any volume). The finite element discretization used in COMSOL Multiphysics returns a finite temperature distribution along the line, but that distribution must be interpreted in a weak sense.
Line Heat Source
Click the General source (the default) or Heat rate button.
If General source is selected, enter a value for the distributed heat source, Ql in unit power per unit length. A positive Ql corresponds to heating while a negative Ql corresponds to cooling.
If Heat rate is selected, enter the heat rate Pl.
Heat Source Radius
With the Heat Transfer Module, you can model the heat source explicitly and apply it on a cylinder around the line.
Select the Specify heat source radius check box to define the Heat source radius R. This averages the source on a cylinder of given radius around the line. This option avoids obtaining an increasing temperature value at the line when meshing finer than this radius. It makes use of the diskavg operator for averaging around the source.
Frame Selection
The settings are the same as for the Heat Source node and are described under Frame Selection.
See Built-In Operators in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual for additional information about the diskavg operator.
Location in User Interface
Context menus
Heat Transfer>support>Line Heat Source
Heat Transfer in Solids>
support>Line Heat Source
Heat Transfer in Fluids>
support>Line Heat Source
Heat Transfer in Porous Media>
support>Line Heat Source
Bioheat Transfer>
support>Line Heat Source
Heat Transfer with Surface-to-Surface Radiation>
support>Line Heat Source
Heat Transfer with Radiation in Participating Media>
support>Line Heat Source
Ribbon
Physics Tab with Heat Transfer, Heat Transfer in Solids, Heat Transfer in Fluids, Heat Transfer in Porous Media, Heat Transfer in Building Materials, Bioheat Transfer, Heat Transfer with Surface-to-Surface Radiation or Heat Transfer with Radiation in Participating Media selected:
Support>Line Heat Source
with Support as Egdes in 3D and Points in 2D.