Some weeks of the new year have passed, looking back at 2024 we had several new useful features in Simcenter FLOEFD. Two releases, version 2406 (June-release) and 2412 (December-release), were provided by Siemens. In this week’s blog post we will take a look at the largest new features together with some honorable mentions.
Content of new features:
- Simcenter FloTherm XT format importable into Simcenter FLOEFD
- Fill thin slots
- Bubble charts for parametric studies
Content of honorable mentions:
- Multi-selection of components
- Scripting and automation using Python
- Create LED and Two-Resistor features automatically through Component Explorer
- 2nd order of elements for structural simulations
- Faster handling of large CAD assemblies
Simcenter FloTherm XT format importable into Simcenter FLOEFD
Simcenter FloTherm XT and Simcenter FLOEFD have different origins but share the same numerical code for their CFD and CHT calculations. Both codes are focusing on electronics cooling, where Simcenter FLOEFD is a front-loading software which has a wider range of possible physics to simulate and the connection to CAD programs will ease the transition from modelling to simulation.
Since users tend to transition from Simcenter FloTherm XT to Simcenter FLOEFD, we are now happy to present that in version 2406 you can import XTXML-format (native Simcenter FloTherm XT files) into Simcenter FLOEFD. And for version 2412 compatibility with the module EDA bridge is also added.
You export XTXML files from Simcenter FloTherm XT by right-clicking on Components -> Export XTXML project and then import the file into Simcenter FLOEFD at EDA import -> PDML or XML import. See the picture below. In this way you can transfer all your settings to Simcenter FLOEFD without needing to set up the model again.
Fill thin slots
Geometry handling and extracting the fluid domain is always a large part of the simulation work. Simcenter FLOEFD is integrated within your CAD software to efficiently go from CAD to simulation, but still there can be details that are not easy to handle in this transition. One of these details can be small and thin slots which create a need for high resolution of cells (since you want to use at least some cells across the slots to resolve a gradient). Slots in the geometry are sometimes due to an error in the CAD and sometimes there is a slot in reality but it is not affecting the flow much compared to the computational cost to calculate the flow in this part of the domain. Regardless of the reason for the need to close the slots, the new feature Fill thin slots will help you in your simulations.
This feature was introduced in version 2412 and in the video below you see how to select which surfaces should be closed, which material should be filled in the slot, and which is the maximum height of slots to fill. As seen in the post-processing section of the video, the filled thin slots will be assigned a unique domain index to easier distinguish where slots have been filled.
Bubble charts for parametric studies
When it comes to visualization of results there is a new possibility in Simcenter FLOEFD. From version 2412 bubble charts are added for Parametric studies. Parametric studies are used for varying design parameters in an automatic workflow. Parameters can be either geometrical (for example lengths on pipes) or flow parameters (for example inlet mass flow quantities). Combinations of the different simulation parameters can be set up in a design table and run in sequence using Parametrical studies. When the simulations are run, results between the different combinations can be compared in plots. Bubble plots add the possibility to compare results based on several parameters at once, up to four parameters. The four parameters correspond to x-axis and y-axis of the plot, together with color and size of the bubbles.
Honorable mentions
Below short descriptions of more new features follow.
Multi-selection of components: In version 2406 the possibility to multi-select components using the shift-key. This feature will save time when selecting components in large assemblies within Component control and Check geometry.
Scripting and automation using Python: The EFD API for scripting was introduced in version 2312 and has been improved in version 2406. Additionally, new examples were added in version 2412, for example for the LED module and components with radiation. You find the EFD API at https://support.sw.siemens.com/en-US/product/852852070/knowledge-base/KB000128301_EN_US.
Create LED components within Component Explorer: You can from the release 2412 use the Component explorer to create LED and two-resistor features. Data can be imported via Excel sheets, and then applied to all LED features automatically.
2nd order of elements for structural simulations: Higher order elements for FEM simulations will provide more accurate results without the need of finer mesh, and it is now possible to use from version 2412.
Faster handling of large CAD assemblies: When CAD assemblies become too large, they are always difficult to handle. Speedups in the software have improved handling simulations when it comes to opening and creating new features. The speedups were measured to up to 5 times for geometries with around 45’000 components and up to 150 times for advanced packages of solder balls. These speedups were measured in test cases for version 2406.
For more information about new features in Simcenter FLOEFD, check out Siemens’ blog posts at:
https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/simcenter/simcenter-floefd-2406-whats-new/
https://blogs.sw.siemens.com/simcenter/simcenter-floefd-2412-whats-new/
We at Volupe hope that these new features will help you in your simulation process. If you have any questions about these new features or your simulations, you are welcome to reach out to us at support@volupe.com.
Author
Christoffer Johansson, M.Sc.
support@volupe.com
+46764479945
