heattype

Heattype is a labeling convention used in thermodynamics, energy accounting, and process simulation to indicate the origin or nature of heat input or transfer within a system. As a metadata field, heattype helps analysts distinguish between different heat sources and to apply appropriate physical properties and efficiencies in calculations.

Common categories of heattype include:

- Sensible heat, associated with a temperature change of a substance without a phase change.

- Latent heat, involved in phase changes such as melting or vaporization at a constant temperature.

- Chemical heat, released or absorbed during chemical reactions.

- Electrical heating, where electrical energy is converted directly into heat.

- Radiant or solar heating, due to absorption of electromagnetic radiation.

- Waste heat, recovered heat from industrial processes or exhaust streams.

- Geothermal or ambient heat, drawn from natural environmental sources.

In modeling and analysis, heattype controls how energy flows are treated. It determines whether phase-change models are required, how specific heat capacity varies with temperature, and what efficiencies or heat-transfer coefficients apply. Implementations typically store heattype as an enumerated value or a descriptive attribute alongside energy magnitude, temperature, and time, enabling consistent energy balances across simulation steps.

Measurement and units commonly associated with heattype include energy in joules or kilowatt-hours, and power in watts when rate information is used. In practice, clear categorization of heat type supports more accurate energy accounting, better process control, and more transparent reporting in fields such as building energy modeling, HVAC design, and process engineering.

See also: heat transfer, thermal energy, energy balance, heat capacity, phase change.