Software
Acoustics Module Simulates Sounds Whether Underwater or in the Air
Designed for those who work with devices that generate, measure and use acoustic waves, the COMSOL product line now features an Acoustics module that is ideal for examining mechanical wave phenomena in structures and fluids. Users can easily model wave propagation in solids and stationary fluids, as well as study aeroacoustics in moving fields. The module provides a variety of application modes that offer tailored user interfaces loaded with predefined settings. Users can create or import a geometry, fine-tune the physics settings, and solve the problem. To help users get a head start on developing their models, and to learn tips and tricks to make their modeling more effective, the module comes with a Model Library that contains more than a dozen entries. Each comes with a detailed theoretical discussion followed by step-by-step instructions, although users can instead simply load a supplied model file. One example examines the open-pipe problem, which is a classic benchmark dealing with resonances, while another studies reflection of forward-propagating modes in jet engine intake. Results are compared to published simulations and semi-analytical solutions.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
Comsol
http://www.comsol.com
Tap into DeltaV Batch and Continuous Historians With this Automated Batch-Reporting Solution
Designed for use with Emerson Process Management’s DeltaV batch and continuous historians, these off-the-shelf Incuity EMI Batch Analysis Reports integrate plant-floor production data and enterprise business information from disparate sources and provide context for the data so that users can make better business decisions. This reporting solution enables users to analyze information using Microsoft Excel and the firm’s analytical tools, and to publish graphs, reports and dashboards via the firm’s portal for viewing using standard web browsers. The first elements available in this batch-reporting solution include: S88 equipment model import from DeltaV; S88 procedural model import from DeltaV; pre-configured batch-analysis reports, such as batch-end report (including process variables, alarms, and operator change events within the context of the batch); and cycle-time comparisons. Also available are analysis reports broken out by procedure, unit procedure, operation, phase and control module for alarms (warning and critical), occurrence of batch holds, time batches in held state, and operator change events.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
Incuity Software
www.incuity.com
Process Calculation Software Optimizes Processes to Make for Greener Chemistry
The recently released HSC Chemistry 6.0 process calculation software contains 21 calculation modules and 11 databases for reaction, equilibrium, heat balance, heat transfer, petrological and simulation applications. Most of the calculation modules automatically utilize the same extensive thermochemical database, which contains enthalpy (H), entropy (S) and heat capacity (C) data. This database has been expanded to include over 20,000 species. HSC Chemistry 6.0 also features the new HSC flowsheet simulation module that makes it possible to: optimize process output and minimize waste materials; identify metering errors; and improve the understanding of process interdependencies. The HSC flowsheet enables the pre-test simulation of the effect of recycling streams, raw materials and different operating conditions on process efficiency and emissions, all on a desktop computer without needing to disrupt the actual process.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
Outokumpu Technology
www.outokumputechnology.com/hsc
HMI/SCADA Software Supports Microsoft’s Vista
HMI/SCADA users and systems integrators can now take advantage of the latest Microsoft security improvements and graphical capabilities. Compatible with Vista and other Microsoft operating systems, InduSoft Web Studio is said to be the only HMI/SCADA solution that runs on virtually every type of hardware in the automation and control industry. Cell phones, PDAs, embedded computers and panel computers, industrial devices, and desktop workstations with dual-core processors and high-power graphic cards that take full advantage of new features in Vista, will all receive continued support from the software developer. New users can also design a solution on Vista from the outset. According the firm, because InduSoft Web Studio uses the same PC-based development system, users can configure anything from real-time, embedded controls to remote data acquisition systems and control room HMI/SCADA systems, as well as historians and database systems — all using the same development software.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
InduSoft
www.indusoft.com
Information System Streamlines Crisis Response and Daily Operations Anytime, Anywhere
ESS Crisis is a robust browser-based solution that provides fast, easy, reliable information management for real-time response operations. The system can be adapted to fit any incident management structure and its intuitive interface is so simple to use that new team members can be up and running in just a few minutes. Available as a secure hosted, on-demand or onsite system, ESS Crisis features automated remote notification, which uses text-to-speech technology to send urgent messages to regulators, responders or stakeholders. It also comes with Microsoft Virtual Earth, a tightly integrated spatial information module that provides online mapping with oblique (bird’s eye), satellite and aerial imagery of an incident site. The ESS Crisis’ Emergency Message Center provides a full record of routine and crisis-related activities, and facilitates easy access to data detailing: deployed resources; completed standard operating procedures (SOP); shelter openings; completed notifications; casualties/impacts; and evacuated facilities. Its Task Tracking feature stores, displays and dynamically tracks operational progress by creating checklists for multiple concurrent functional and hazard-specific tasks
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
ESS
www.ess-home.com
Optimize Fluid Dynamics Analysis With this Software
Three new features are offered in version 7.3 of this firm’s Engineering Fluid Dynamics (EFD) analysis, which consists of EFD.Lab, EFD.V5 for CATIA V5 and EFD.Pro for Pro/ENGINEER. The first feature is 64-bit processor support. The EFD family can now be run on 64-bit machines. As a result, users will be able to analyze very large problems, those generally regarded as too large or too time consuming, directly on the desktop. With a scalable solution that can readily adapt to user needs, the EFD suite can now be deployed across the enterprise. The second feature is an integrated interface with MSC Patran. To help engineers solve design problems involving both fluid and structural issues, EFD results can now be applied as loads for structural analysis inside Patran, the popular MSC pre- and postprocessor. Fully integrated into Patran, the automated interface drastically reduces the amount of time necessary for updating analysis models. The third feature is support of CATIA V5 R17. To ensure full compatibility with the latest release of CATIA, EFD.V5 now offers full support of CATIA V5 R17 in both 32- and 64-bit formats. Therefore organizations who have standardized on CATIA V5 R17 can maintain an up-to-date development platform.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
Flomerics
www.flomerics.com
Eliminate Data Transfer Problems by Simulating Flow, Thermal and Stress Problems in a Single Solver
STAR-CD V4.02, the second major release of this simulation tool for computational continuum mechanics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD), provides direct access to the latest automatic surface cleaning and mesh generation technology from within a single integrated environment. Pioneered in sister code STAR-CCM+, this technology can reduce the time-to-mesh from days to hours. According to the software developer, “the combination of high-quality automatic polyhedral mesh generation and efficient solver technology will result in improved ease-of-use, faster turnaround times and increased solution accuracy, for all classes of flow, in all application areas.” STAR-CD V4.02 allows users to simulate flow, thermal and stress problems in a single solver, using a single computational mesh, without the hassle of solution mapping or data transfer. The company notes that “these capabilities will rapidly mature and open the door to routine analysis of a range of applications, such as strongly coupled fluid/solid interaction problems and mold-filling, that were either very difficult or impossible to solve before
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
CD-adapco
www.cd-adapco.com
New CFD Modeling Options Result in Greater Speed and Flexibility
Core solver improvements are the main focus of the recently released FLUENT 6.3 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software. A pressure-based coupled solver joins the existing solver options and improves solution efficiency, as well as convergence and robustness for many cases. Also new are polyhedral meshes, which allow the flexibility of an unstructured mesh to be applied to complex geometries without the overhead associated with a large tetrahedral mesh. The automatic nature of the techniques used to create polyhedral meshes saves the user time, and, since a polyhedral mesh contains many fewer cells than the corresponding tetrahedral mesh, convergence is faster. With FLUENT 6.3, dynamic mesh capabilities for modeling moving objects, such as impellers in baffled mixing tanks, can now be applied to a series of related steady-state simulations, reducing the amount of time that a user spends on pre-processing. Additional new functionality adds flexibility for simulating complex object motion. Reacting flow simulations benefit from new models for slow chemistry and micromixing. Emissions modeling is more comprehensive through the addition of new SOx and NOx modeling capabilities. Multiphase modeling continues to be an area of focus. The software offers improvements to the accuracy of transient multiphase solutions, as well as enhancements that extend the regimes in which multiphase models can be applied.
Appeared In Issue: February 2007
Ansys, Inc.
www.ansys.com