Electronics cooling simulation
Simcenter Flotherm
Part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio
Predict component temperatures before detailed CAD exists, then verify the final thermal design.
Sub-micron
Length scales up to metres
Meshing and solver built for the whole range, from IC package to system level.
Smart Expert
Support from engineers
Siemens-certified expertise, and a Top European Partner award for customer support.
What is Simcenter Flotherm?
Simcenter Flotherm is an electronics cooling simulation tool from Siemens Digital Industries Software that uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict airflow and temperatures in IC packages, circuit boards, enclosures and data centres. Thermal engineers run the studies and feed the results back to other engineering teams.
It imports board layouts from EDA tools, for example as ODB++, and geometry from MCAD tools. Transient analyses cover power cycling, power-mode changes and thermostatic fan control, and temperature fields export to Simcenter 3D for thermo-mechanical analysis.
Weigh heat sink, fan and enclosure options side by side
See which components run too hot, and why
Track thermal performance as the design develops
An industrial PC in Simcenter Flotherm: the CAD model and its temperatures.
Book a demo with an engineerDeveloper
Siemens Digital Industries Software
Typical analyses
Steady-state and transient airflow and heat transfer, with natural and forced convection, radiation including solar loads, liquid cooling, Joule heating and humidity
Used in
Consumer electronics, semiconductors, power electronics, automotive and EV systems, aerospace and defence, data centres and medical devices
Related tools
Simcenter FLOEFD, Simcenter HEEDS (design exploration), Simcenter 3D (thermo-mechanical analysis), Simcenter Amesim and Simcenter Flomaster (via FMUs from the separately licensed BCI-ROM module)
Capabilities
Build, explore and share electronics cooling models
SmartParts on a Cartesian grid
SmartParts libraries of heat sinks, fans, heat pipes, enclosures and other electronics parts make models quick to assemble. A structured Cartesian grid suits typical electronics, and localised grids add resolution where you need it. Gridding follows each SmartPart, so objects can move or rotate between studies without re-gridding.
Board and package models
EDA Bridge turns ODB++ and other ECAD layouts into a board model, and Material Map SmartParts represent copper and layer variation in boards and package substrates. PCB plots grade components pass, marginal or fail against their temperature limits. The separately licensed Pack Module creates detailed single-chip package models and JEDEC 2R and DELPHI compact models.
Design studies in Command Center
Command Center runs parametric studies, design of experiments and optimisation, for example a response surface for sizing heat sink fins against junction temperature. The thermal bottleneck (Bn) field shows where the heat path is congested, which helps explain why a part runs hot. For wider exploration, combine Simcenter Flotherm with Simcenter HEEDS.
T3STER calibration and BCI-ROM
Detailed models can be calibrated automatically against Simcenter Micred T3STER measurements. The separately licensed BCI-ROM module turns a conduction model into boundary-condition-independent reduced-order models: FMUs for Simcenter Amesim and Simcenter Flomaster, VHDL-AMS for circuit simulation, or matrices. A supplier’s Embeddable BCI-ROM needs no extra licence to use.
“Very good technical support for acquiring, deploying and using our applications. Highly recommended.”
Viktor Szente
Google review
Questions about Simcenter Flotherm
Your Simcenter Flotherm specialist
Christoffer Johansson
Senior Application Specialist, M.Sc.
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What is Simcenter Flotherm used for?
Simcenter Flotherm is used to design and check the cooling of electronic products and the components inside them. Typical jobs include choosing heat sinks and fans, checking each component on a board against its maximum temperature, modelling liquid cold plates, simulating power cycles and analysing airflow and humidity in data centres. Python, XML scripting and recorded macros automate PCB thermal workflows, and models can be queued for batch solving, also on a remote or cloud computer.
What does Simcenter Flotherm cost, and how is it licensed?
We don't publish fixed prices: we quote for your setup, based on the number of users, the licence term and the add-on modules you need. Add-ons licensed separately include the Simcenter Flotherm Pack Module, for detailed single-chip package and compact models, and the BCI-ROM module, which you need to create BCI-ROMs. Tell us which capabilities on this page you need and how many engineers will run simulations, then request a licence quote or book a meeting.
Can I see a demo of Simcenter Flotherm?
Yes: book a demo with one of our engineers. Tell us what you need to cool and which EDA, MCAD and thermal tools you use today. We reply within one day.
Simcenter Flotherm or Simcenter FLOEFD: which suits electronics cooling?
Choose Simcenter Flotherm when electronics cooling is the whole job and you want a tool built for it. Use Simcenter FLOEFD when electronics cooling is one of several flow and thermal tasks your design engineers run in CAD (NX, Solid Edge, CATIA V5 or Creo). Not sure which fits your team? Send us a technical question.
Which EDA and MCAD data can Simcenter Flotherm import?
EDA Bridge imports board routing and component layout from Siemens Xpedition, ODB++ and other major EDA formats, plus IDF and CSV layout files. MCAD Bridge imports Siemens NX and Solid Edge models and Parasolid, JT, PLMXML and XTXML files, among others. A link from HyperLynx PI brings in power-delivery network geometry and Joule-heating power maps. Thermal models can be exchanged with tools such as Simcenter FLOEFD in ECXML, the neutral JEDEC JEP181 format. Using another format? Ask our engineers.
Is Simcenter Flotherm XT the same as Simcenter Flotherm?
No: Simcenter Flotherm XT is a separate, CAD-centric Siemens electronics cooling tool. Simcenter FLOEFD 2406 and later can import its models, and Siemens presents this as a route for teams moving to FLOEFD. If your team uses Simcenter Flotherm XT today, ask our engineers about your next step.
Why buy Simcenter Flotherm through Volupe?
Your support questions go to simulation engineers, and every business developer at Volupe holds an engineering degree. We sell, support and train the full Simcenter portfolio, so the same team can help when a project adds Simcenter HEEDS or Simcenter 3D. We are a Siemens Platinum Partner at Smart Expert level, with a Top European Partner award for customer support.
Talk to an engineer in your region
Every Volupe business developer holds an engineering degree. Find your regional contact below, or send us a message.
Ask us about Simcenter Flotherm
Use this form for licence quotes, demos, training and technical questions.
What happens next
- A reply within one day.
- A scoping call with one of our engineers.
- A quote, demo or other next step that fits your enquiry.
After purchase: support from Volupe simulation engineers.