Sinaps® is a graphical user interface for developing SINDA/FLUINT models and for viewing and reporting the results. Sinaps® provides a 2D sketch environment for thermal and flow modeling analysis allowing abstraction and simplification of complex systems.
Sinaps® allows the user to work with a SINDA/FLUINT model visually, reducing the learning curve and speeding the model building process. Because it is a complete pre and post-processor, it facilitates the reporting of results and the sharing of models between engineers. Thermal and fluid networks are sketched on the screen using pop-up menus and fill-in forms to quickly build and maintain complex models. Models can be validated, SINDA/FLUINT runs can be launched, and results can be displayed directly on your sketch via coloring and other post processing operations, all without leaving the Sinaps® environment.
Model creation is quick and simple using the toolbars and built in smart click-and-drop methods. Network objects can be selected from the toolbars and dropped onto the network. Links (flow paths and heat paths) can be created by drawing links between objects. Based on default settings and object types, Sinaps automatically creates the proper type of link. Several layout and organization features such as layers, collections, clones, zoom, etc. provide organization for large networks.
The Case Manager in Sinaps® supports system modeling by streamlining the creation and management of multiple design cases for a master model. The Case Manager provides direct access to control parameters for convergence criteria along with various solution options, case-specific user-definable logic blocks, and post processing options. The case manager also allows the creation of case-level overrides for user-defined variables (registers) and fluid descriptions.
A thermophysical property databases file store the material properties. The database supports the ability to define temperatures dependent properties and allows the import of thermophysical property databases from Thermal Desktop. Scaling factors are included on all property definitions to support sensitivity studies, parametric design, model correlation, and goal seeking.
The Model Browser provides a summary of the model network in a heirarchical tree format. Using the model browser, the user can quickly navigate the model tree to locate objects for editing or highlighting in the network diagram.
Compatible with Thermal Desktop to allow database sharing
Import and Export
Read in existing SINDA/FLUINT input files
Import older SinapsPlus® XML files; requires installation of SinapsPlus export patch
Print or export plots and network diagrams for report generation
Export a traditional input file to transfer to other SINDA/FLUINT users
Post-processing
Color/shade nodes and lumps and thicken connections (conductors, ties, etc.) to visualize flow rates, temperatures, pressures, heat flows, pressure drops, vapor/gas qualities, etc.
Integrated with Microsoft Excel for tabular data postprocessing
Post processing tools such as customizable meters and gauges
Create X-Y plots and apply extensive customizations, including:
legend, title, labels, colors
compare results of multiple runs
rescale axes and apply unit conversions
add user lines generated by algebraic manipulations of other data series
Sinaps®
Version 5.3
Extended Macros and Autogeneration of Ducts (SINDA/FLUINT Macros)
The automatic aggregation of similar elements in continuous flow passages has been updated to support changes in SINDA/FLUINT Version 5.3. These changes now allow HX and Line macros to be a collection of both junctions and tanks and both tubes and stubes (previously macros were limited to only one lump type and one path type). This new feature allows the aggregation of elements on a larger scale to create “extended macros.” These extended macros (referred to as Ducts in Sinaps) may contain individual lumps and paths but may also contain one or more pipes. This allows the creation of one continuous flow passage through a piping network as long as the inlet and outlet flow areas of adjacent paths are similar and appear to be the primary flow passage.
The duct concept provides the ability model single flow passage with varying diameters along its length as multiple pipes while retaining the ability to automatically calculate spatial accelerations throughout the duct due to heating, area changes, or side flow. Previously each pipe was constituted a separate duct. To from a duct, two pipes of dissimilar flow areas, must be connected with a flow reducer or expander (tube/stube or a pipe with unique inlet and outlet flow areas defined, i.e. AFI/AFJ). See “Automatic Duct Generation” on page 7-6 for more information.
Expanded Pipe Capabilities
The pipe object has been redesigned in version 5.3. The primary purpose of the redesign was to expand capabilities such as adding automatic calculation of thermal capacitance and conductance for the pipe wall, ability to add insulation to a pipe, the addition of built-in standard pipe tables, and the ability to create a user definable pipe library for custom pipes. See “Pipes” on page 7-7 for more details.
A secondary purpose in the redesign was to allow more flexibility with regard to customizing the objects within the pipe without locking in pipe level parameters. For example, previously setting the FK factor on a path in a pipe resulted in the entire pipe being customized and the subsequent inability to change the lump type or path type for the pipe. The pipe form now controls only the parameters defined within the pipe form such as geometric definition, element types, resolution, insulation, etc. All element level parameters not defined via the pipe form (path K factors, lump compliance, etc.) become the responsibility of the user to define outside of the pipe form.
The new pipe dialog provides the following expanded capabilities:
New options allow flow cross sections as circular, rectangular, and user defined.
The wall roughness fraction parameter (WRF) is now defined at the pipe level instead of the path level. The WRF value will be applied to all paths within the pipe.
Automatic calculation of pipe wall thermal capacitance and conductances.
Ability to define pipes with two radial nodes in the pipe wall.
Multiple wall cross sections including circular, rectangular, and user defined. Both circular and rectangular have options to define the pipe as a mass/length or as a cross section.
Built-in tables for standard pipe schedules and sizes for user with circular pipes.
Ability to add insulation to the exterior of a pipe. Up to ten layers of insulation can be defined, each with a unique thickness and material.
New fill/purge options have been added to a pipe to assist in flat front modeling.
New user definable pipe library. The library saves pipe parameters such as diameter, flow areas, wall roughness, insulation, etc. Pipe length, resolution and duplication factors are not saved as part of the library. The resulting library can be accessed from any Sinaps model.
New multi-conductor network element can be used to generate a series of conductors connecting the outer surface of a pipe to a single node, perhaps as a convective or radiative environmental connection.
Pipes from versions prior to Sinaps 5.2, text file import, or SinapsPlus import will migrate as “user defined” cross section, with a “user defined” wall geometry. Migrated pipes will need to be edited, defining the cross section and wall geometry along with associated parameters, in order to take advantage of the new pipe features.
Miscellaneous Improvements
New ability added to Model Browser to view automatically generated macros.
New right click option on pipes to allow element level editing.
New option added to fluid lumps to allow a lump to not be aggregated into automatic ducts.
Support for new global level logic. Note that output now defaults to the global output block.
New ability to defined registers as double precision.
Added ability to define temperature dependent thermophysical properties using either absolute or standard temperature units. Previously property tables were required to be in absolute temperature units.
Revised the pipe renumbering form to allow renumber of twins.
Added ability to create selection sets through the model browser.
Added new ability to select multiple pipes in the model browser for top level editing. This feature is useful for toggling element types in pipes, see “Browsing Pipes and Other Macros” on page 8-4.
Added support for expanded names in SINDA/FLUINT version 5.3. Submodel names, register names, and build configuration names can now be 32 characters long. Expressions can be 1000 characters long. Note that Fortran logic sections are still limited to 132 characters due to the limit in most Fortran compilers.
EZXY plotter updated for improved compatibility with Thermal Desktop. Note that 5.1 and early 5.2 plot files may need to be migrated through a later 5.2 version before they can be opened in 5.3.
To provide compatibility with the new SINDA/FLUINT feature “Functions and Subroutine Interfaces,” the reserved word list has expanded to include all SINDA/FLUINT subroutine names and more. Older models which previously ran may now throw a preprocessor error. For example if a model contained a register named “Tsink” it will result in a preprocessor error since the name is in conflict with the subroutine named TSINK.
Minimum System Requirements
Since Sinaps®is a graphics-intensive program, please make sure you have adequate
memory.
System Requirements
Operating
System
Windows XP Pro or Home, Vista Pro or Home,
Windows 7
