Other modelling tools
From ASCEND
Here is a (probably incomplete) list of related software that does some or all of what ASCEND aims to do. Please, feel free to add to, or update, this list.
Some further software tools are listed at http://www.idsia.ch/~andrea/simtools.html
Contents |
[edit] Free and Open Source Software
[edit] Open Modelica
A free implementation of the Modelica language, not yet a complete implementation. Includes an Eclipse-plugin IDE.
Open Modelica still lacks functionality sufficent for modelling of thermo-fluid systems as can be done using the Modelica language using the commercial solver Dymola.
http://www.ida.liu.se/~pelab/modelica/OpenModelica.html
[edit] Scicos / SciLab
Scicos is a free clone of Simulink. Arguably not suited for process engineering style problems (comments?). Good for control and electrical problems.
http://www.scicos.org/ http://www.scilab.org/
[edit] fREEDA
Focussed on electrical networks but includes nonlinear solvers and a 'small language'. Appears to have a fairly well developed GUI now too.
[edit] GNU Octave
Free MATLAB clone
http://www.octave.org/ http://octave.sourceforge.net/
[edit] SciPy
Aims to partly clone MATLAB but within the Python interpreter. Includes many high-level scientific computing routines, plotting, etc.
[edit] ColSim
Aimed primarily at solving solar thermal collector models. Appears to be sequential modular in nature. Includes a SIMULINK-style block diagram GUI based on XFIG.
[edit] Ptolemy
http://ptolemy.eecs.berkeley.edu/
[edit] Licensing TBD
[edit] MPxJava / MPxCsharp
Products developed Kirk Abbott, who did his !PhD on ASCEND. He is considering opening up the source code, or he might even send it to you if you're nice.
[edit] masaccio
http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~tah/Publications/masaccio.html
[edit] CHARON
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/mobies/charon/
[edit] Gratis but not Libre
[edit] EMSO
EMSO features a very nice user interface and an easy-to-learn language. It uses SUNDIALS to provide some of its solver functionality but does not seem to provide a fully block-decomposing NLA solver like QRSlv. It includes very nice automatic index reduction and a good plotting interface, and can quite easily link external functions and external solvers, using external DLL/SOs. Can link to a thermo properties library by VMG, via a CAPE-OPEN interface.
[edit] DNA
This is a fairly basic 'small language' by Brian Elmegaard for modelling energy systems including turbines, boilers, condensers, pumps, etc.
http://www.et.web.mek.dtu.dk/software/dna/
[edit] Commercial Software
[edit] AMPL
AMPL has its own modelling language for describing various large-scale optimisation and mathematical programming problems, and a wide range of solvers have been interfaced. There is a trial version that will solve up to 300 variables.
[edit] GAMS
NLA, LP and MINLP solver with its own modelling language. The language allows quite concise and readable models, although the syntax uses some funny conventions like =L= for less-than. A wide range of very powerful solvers is available. There is a trial version of some sort. http://www.gams.com
[edit] Dymola
Implements the Modelica langauge.
[edit] ASPEN HySys
http://www.aspentech.com/product.cfm?ProductID=274
[edit] gPROMS
For both dynamic and steady-state simulations
http://www.psenterprise.com/gproms/
[edit] TRNSYS
Popular with Solar Thermal Energy researchers and HVAC engineers. Provides a rather low-level 'small language' that can be used to link together arbitrary equations and 'units' from a large library of components such as hot water tanks, thermal collectors, pumps, control valves, weather data, sun position, etc. Performs dynamic simulation and reports results of 'watched' variables. There are two GUI interfaces available that make it quite a bit easier to use. External units can be programmed in Fortran-90. Update with version 16, external units can be programmed in any language (as long as it's Windows)
http://sel.me.wisc.edu/trnsys/ http://www.trnsys.com/
[edit] Simulink / MATLAB
http://www.mathworks.com/products/simulink/
[edit] Jacobian
Commercial spinoff of ABACUSS II
[edit] GAMS
[edit] STELLA
Looks to be squarely aimed at the educational market. Looks to have some nice graphics. From Jay Forrester's lab -- the 'pioneer of system dynamics'.
http://www.iseesystems.com/softwares/Education/StellaSoftware.aspx
[edit] TkSolver
[edit] Berkeley Madonna
A clone of STELLA with a quite-nice GUI, frequency-domain analysis, bifurcation analysis,...
http://www.berkeleymadonna.com/
[edit] Ebsilon
General purpose graphical process simulation program with apparently good support for power generation applications (coal power, condensers, boilers, turbines, etc)
http://www.sofbid.com/ebsilon/en/index.html
[edit] IPSEpro
http://www.simtechnology.com/IPSEpro/english/IPSEpro.php
[edit] Defunct
[edit] Omola
Efforts were moved over onto Dymola/Modelica?
http://www.control.lth.se/~cace/omsim.html
[edit] SpeedUp
Pantelides' program
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-32898-13261/unrestricted/ETD.PDF
[edit] ABACUSS II
We were recommended to look at Jacobian instead.
http://yoric.mit.edu/abacuss2/abacuss2.html
[edit] Sim42
This was an attempt to make a nice modelling environment using the Python language, but the project fell down for reasons that may have been related to the Virtual Materials Group, who took over the website for a while and then ultimately took it offline.

