How to set values to all the variables that could be possibly used as iteration variables, for example, there is a heat exchanger which includes a few connectors, and each connector includes a few variables, I can't know which variables could be used as iteration variables, when dealing with initialization, do I need to set values to every variable so that no matter which variable is chosen as iteration variable, there is a reasonable value?
Marvel,
I think that you are a bit on the wrong track for finding a solution: setting values to all variables that possibly could become iteration variables is often too many, and will lead to errors and problems. But I think I can give you some useful advice in any case.
- Alias variables: there are many alias variable sin Modelica models. You should always try to only select one of them to set start values.
- Feedback between start values and iteration variables: most Modelica tools will prefer to select iteration variables that have start values set. Selecting fewer thus can guide the algorithm towards selecting good one. Therefore: don't overdo it.
- General advice for selecting iteration variables. For a pure ODE, the states will always be a complete set of start variables, even if sometimes not the best one. For DAE you can start with the following exercise: think of all equations that result from a singular perturbation of the complete physics as differential equations with states. For example, in a heat exchanger, you need to consider the dynamic momentum balance and not the most often used static reduction to an algebraic pressure loss only, i.e. add the mass flow as a state. Similar in chemical reactions: think of it as Kinetics, not equilibrium reactions. That gives you a pretty good starting point, even though often not the best one.
If your troubles don't quite resolve from that, I recommend that you contact us via www.modelon.com: we have advanced ways of dealing with hard initialization and steady state problems in our Modelic tool. :-)