EcosimPro - System Modelling and Simulation Software
Description
EcosimPro is a first class modelling and simulation software for modeling 0D or 1D multidisciplinary continuous-discrete systems and any kind of system based on differential-algebraic equations (DAE) and discrete events. Although originally developed for space applications, namely to assist in the modelling of the Environmental and Control Life Support Systems (ECLSS) for European Space Agency (ESA)’s HERMES and COLUMBUS projects, due to the nature of its broad, wide-ranging capabilities it is now being used in many other fields as system simulation software. The first version of EcosimPro was released in 1993.
Simulation Software
EcosimPro has been designed to carry out steady and transient studies, as an optimization and design tool that helps the engineer to improve any kind of system modeled with equations (0D and 1D). It also provides a highly intuitive graphics environment that facilitates its use in creating physical models based on schematic views.
Engineers find it to be an extremely intuitive tool, since it has been designed based on real industry needs. Its GUI provides tools for creating easy to identify icons that represent components and which can be connected to other icons using ports of the same type. EcosimPro carefully extracts the complexity of the mathematical model and solves the final equations.
Features
Easy to program new libraries
An easy to learn modeling language for the creation of new components and libraries. The language support causal and acausal approaches and allows the modeler to have a lot of flexibility and at the same time imposing some behavior when necessary. Its object orientation allows developing extendible and easy to maintain libraries. Furthermore existing C/C++ and FORTRAN functions can be called from the EL language and interaction with XML files is easy through the XML parser.
Connectivity with other engineering tools
Ecosimpro models may therefore be connected with other software (e.g. Matlab/SIMULINK, MS-Excel, ISIGHT, MS-Visual Basic etc.). Additionally EcosimPro models can also be translated into C++ code, which can be reused in other C++ applications.
Export models as black box
Models and calculations can be encapsulated and encrypted in a standalone application (deck) with user defined accessible input/output variables. The deck can be used in command line mode, through a graphical user interface, or integrated into C or FORTRAN applications by means of standard interfaces. The deck exporting allows safe sharing of models between companies.
Automatic creation of robust mathematical models
The symbolic mathematical kernel automatically extracts the mathematical model from the graphical schematic. The user selects the governing input variables (e.g. valves opening law) and the internal algorithms generate robust mathematical models through symbolic manipulation and equation reordering. The tool also allows selecting any iterative variables when nonlinear equation systems are formed, and provides valuable information about the mathematical problem to be simulated by the solvers.
Powerful solvers
The available internal solvers allow dealing with stiff or nonstiff dynamic problems, steady problems, optimization problems, use of constraints, etc. The solvers use dense or sparse version depending of the size of the problem in order to speed up the simulation. The algebraic problems are tackled by an improved Powell’s hybrid based method with sophisticated features as design tool. Convergence issues can be addressed with the help of the simulation log, in which the evolution of the variables, residues, Jacobians, simulation errors and statistics are summarized. Additionally, several optimisation solvers are also included, which enable undertaking parametric optimisation, dynamic optimisation, and system identification problems.
Running models from Excel
The user can run the models from EcosimPro but also from Excel. A toolbar has been created in Excel to configure stand-alone spreadsheets and to play the simulation from Excel. The user can input any data and visualize the outputs in real time.
Screenshots
