6 replies to this topic

[Hellkyte]

I've gotten very interested in the heat formulas recently for modelling weapon performance and I was assuming it was based on a simple diff eq of dh/dt = (dh/dt)g - (dh/dt)d. Where the g and d stand for generated and dissapeared respectively.

My problem with that is that I remember games where I have some "base" heat that I never go under, like 3% in my swayback iirc. This is without moving or anything. This implies that heat dissapation is non-linear. I it was linear then heat at rest would either go down to zero or increase until you died.

So what gives? Am I missin something basic here? Thoughts etc?

[Grayzzur]

Your engine generates heat. However, you usually sit at zero on most maps. I'm guessing you noticed this phenomenon on Caustic Valley? That is a hot map, and depending on where you are on the map -- I've seen a resting heat as high as 11 or 12% inside the caldera on some Mechs.

Similarly, Frozen City and Forest Colony Snow allow your Mech to run cooler than normal.

[PhigNewtenz]

As far as the differential equation goes, I think the best form for you is:

dH/dt = g(t) - d(t) where,

H(t) is your current heat level at time t
dH/dt is the rate of change of your heat level
g(t) is your current heat generation rate at time t (varies with mech motion, weapon firing, ambient temperature)
d(t) is heat dissipation rate, which depends on your heat sinks, and only changes if they're destroyed



As for the latent heat you see when you're not moving, my best guess is that it has to do with the procedure by which heat is calculated in the game code. As you're aware, the differential equation above is continuous. Computers however, are discrete; they perform calculations in regular time steps.

In this case, what I would guess is happening is that, every second:

• The game checks your heat level, and subtracts your per-second heat dissipation
  
• The game checks your current heat generation, and adds this to the heat level

If the calculations are done in this order then at the start of the match (and anytime your heat should reach zero) the following happens:

• The game checks your heat, sees it at zero, and leaves it there
  
• An imperceptible amount of time later it calculates the environmental heat and adds it to your heat total (increasing it from zero)
  
• You see your heat level at something other than zero
  
• One second after steps one and two, the game checks your heat, sees it above zero, and reduces it to zero
  
• An imperceptible amount of time later (long before your monitor even draws a new frame) it calculates the environmental heat and adds it to your heat total (increasing it from zero)
  
• Steps 3-5 repeat once per second

Your heat value should be at zero, but because of the order of the calculations, it never appears to get there.

Edited by PhigNewtenz, 14 November 2012 - 01:14 PM.

[Hellkyte]

Yeah it was on Caustic valley. But maybe on anothe map as well? I can't remember. Would be worth lookin at

Also the other explanation of it having to do w/ discreet systems....that kind I makes sense. But the heat levels we are talking about here (3-15%) seem pretty high for a system that is approaching zero. It's also very steady, always that number for your build iirc.

I think that it's a possible explanation but I'm more inclined to think that this is either a discreet/nonlinear heat addition due to environmental effects (I its only on caustic valley), or the equation is not actually linear.

[Arcturious]

There is a thread lower down in this forum that covers your question in great depth.

http://mwomercs.com/...garth-sighting/

Perhaps take read and if you still need answers ask in there to keep it in one spot.

[Deatonis]

I have a question.. how do we calculate how fast we -should- be disappating. I think there's something wrong...

[PhigNewtenz]

Check out the thread that Arcturious linked. You should be able to figure it out from the spread sheet in that threads OP. If not, post a specific question here or in that thread.

Some common mistake that might cause you to see results that don't match the math:

• Different maps have different ambient heat values. These increase or decrease your heat dissipation.
  
• If you're moving, your mech generates heat.
  
• The heat gauge doesn't display your actual heat value, it displays a percentage of your total heat capacity. Make sure you account for that.