In the paper methods of the analysis of heat effects occurring in the calorimeter as well as mathematical models applied for the determination heat effects involved in these devices are discussed. It was demonstrated that often mathematical models of the determination of heat effects are rather poor. Whereas, more sophisticated, existing models are relatively rarely used in calorimetric practice. The range of application of thermal-electrical and thermal-dynamic analogy methods were presented. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.