MathWorks extends Simscape software for modelling and simulating fluid systems

Computing software developer MathWorks has added new capabilities for modelling fluid systems within its Simscape physical modelling product family.

Introduced as part of Release 2016a, Simscape Fluids now provides component libraries for modeling and simulating thermal liquid systems, such as heat exchangers, pipes, valves, and other components.

The new options enable engineers to develop fluid power, heating and cooling, and fluid transportation systems for applications such as backhoe actuators, engine cooling systems, and water supply networks.

Simscape Fluids enables engineers to build acausal models of fluid systems that integrate directly with MathWorks’ other programs, such as block diagrams in Simulink, state machines in Stateflow, and Matlab functions.

Simulating the entire system within a single environment streamlines tasks such as designing control systems and optimising system-level performance.

This also makes it possible to detect integration issues earlier in the development process, when they are less expensive and time-consuming to address.

Simscape Fluids models can also be converted to C code to support testing of embedded software in configurations such as processor-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, which is much safer and more efficient than testing on hardware prototypes.

“Simscape Fluids is a valuable addition to Simscape that allows us to use simulation to solve problems in complex fluid systems, such as liquid cooling systems in engines and water heating systems in buildings,” said Jean Brunet, deputy CEO at Sherpa Engineering.

“An added advantage is that by working with Simulink, Simscape Fluids is part of a united environment for developing control algorithms and physical systems. This increases the value of model-based design by enabling a more useful and elaborate executable specification,” he added.