FloCAD® is a Thermal
Desktop®
module that allows a user to develop and integrate both fluid and
thermal systems within a CAD based environment. Like Thermal Desktop,
FloCAD is a graphical user interface for SINDA/FLUINT.
With FloCAD, the mechanics of building fluid submodels is very similar
to that of building thermal submodels, with many of the commands working
on components of both types of submodels.
FloCAD
adds the capability of modeling flow circuits, including fans
and convective heat transfer, attached directly to the surfaces
and solids representing PCB boards, chips, etc.
Circuit
Board Sample
CAD-Based
Condenser Model
It
is specifically targeted for electronic packaging design tasks,
but since it provides full access to the powerful and general-purpose
SINDA/FLUINT thermohydraulic analyzer, FloCAD will find use
in other industries as well.
FloCAD is fully compatible with Thermal Desktop features, including full parameterization using spreadsheet-like variables and arbitrarily complex expressions as input, rather than hardwired numbers. This allows complex models to be rapidly manipulated using a few keystrokes, meaning that updating or maintaining a model is trivially easy, as is performing sensitivity studies and investigating what-if scenarios. This provides access to SINDA/FLUINT's Optimization and Reliability Engineering modules, which can be used to size components, maximize performance, find worst-case operating conditions (design cases), correlate models to test data, and even treat uncertainties statistically.
Summary of
Features
Generates
flow networks and calculates convective heat transfer factors
for input into CRTech's SINDA/FLUINT
Postprocesses
temperatures, pressures, and flow rates for fast interpretation
and impressive presentations
Faster model
building and faster calculations than CFD mean more alternatives
can be investigated, sizing and sensitivities performed, and models
calibrated to tests
Automatic
connection and apportionment of convection links (FLUINT "ties")
to thermal surfaces
Full access
to FLUINT fluid network modeling capabilities, with abbreviated
inputs for common components
fans
and pumps
flow
passages and ducts
filters
and loss elements
Arbitrary
fluids including dry air, moist air (psychrometrics), water, water/glycol,
ammonia, and PAO. Accepts user-defined fluids as well
Enables concurrent
engineering for thermal analysts by providing full access to CAD-based
geometry and CAD model building methods without compromising good
modeling practices
Imports and
exports IGES and STEP CAD geometry
Uses CAD
geometry directly, or accepts snap-on thermal surfaces
Stretch and
reshape surfaces directly on the screen in addition to traditional
form-based inputs
Offers true
curved geometric surfaces: cones, spheres, etc. avoiding thousands
of tiny facets
Imports TRASYS,
TSS, STEP-TAS, and Nevada geometry models.
User-defined
symbols and expressions add spreadsheet-like parametric modeling
Dynamic
link to SINDA/FLUINT for on-the-fly recalculations and access
to logic, parametrics, optimization, statistical design
K-factor
resistance utility for common fittings
Helper utilities
for calculating flow lengths and flow areas
Easy to use
tool bars provide quick access to FloCAD commands
Extensive
CAD functions make model building fast and effective:
Boolean,
revolved, extruded surfaces
Layer
management
Multiple
port views with store/recall
Snap-on
entity building
Drag
and Drop model editing
User-defined
light sources
Wireframe,
hidden, and rendered views
Multiple
undo command
Exploits
inexpensive PC platforms
Incredibly
easy to learn and use with the assistance of step-by-step tutorials
Expansibility:
FloCAD is an optional module of CRTech's CAD-based Thermal Desktop®,
which handles conduction and capacitance in surfaces and
solids, features arbitrary (nongeometric) nodes, and supports
FEM models including innovative automatic network simplification
techniques, and mapping to codes such as NASTRAN and SDRC's
FEMAP®, IDEAS/FEA®,
and IDEAS/TMG®.
Also available:
RadCAD® for inclusion of thermal radiation
Free evaluation
versions available from our web page offer significant functionality
so you can prove these claims to yourself on real analysis tasks!
Minimum System Requirements
XP Pro (SP2 or newer), Vista Pro or Home, Windows 7
AutoCAD
32 Bit Version: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011
64 Bit Version: AutoCAD 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011
Memory: 1 GB
Minimum for XP, 2 GB for Vista or Windows 7
Display resolution:
1024x768 minimum, 1280x1024 or finer recommended
