Overview and Usage of the Excel SINDA Controller for SINDA/FLUINT

1
Overview and Usage of theExcel SINDA Controller
for SINDA/FLUINT
2
API Overview

• Microsoft COM-based commands
• COM methods allow applications to call other
  applications, similar to a program calling a
  subroutine
• A SINDA Controller (iSINDA) has been created as a
  COM-based object
• Can be addressed directly by third party software
  such as Excel, Matlab, iSIGHT
• Launches SINDA/FLUINT
• Enables data exchange and restarts

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Excel Launcher Template

• iSINDA provides communication between programs
• Provides ability to launch SINDA/FLUINT from
  Excel
• Ability to exchange register and processor data
  with Excel
• Allows postprocessing in Excel
• return of processor variables and registers back
  to Excel
• ability to query save file for data
• XY plotting in Excel
• Interface is customizable
• Prebuilt option allows models to be run without
  a SINDA/FLUINT license
• Version available for Thermal Desktop

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Typical Uses

• Allow rapid updating and launching of a
  pre-existing SINDA/FLUINT model
• Ability to superimpose model results on a sketch
  or photo of the actual hardware
• Alternate user interface allowing a new
  SINDA/FLUINT user to easily modify and launch a
  model without having to navigate the cryptic
  ASCII file
• Can be used to develop a pre-compiled version of
  the model to run in a license-free mode
• To be run by non-technical support personnel
• Deliverable for a customer

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Basic Usage
Interface can be customized by the user
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Plot Control Usage
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Demo basic interface
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Enable COM Interface

• The underlying SINDA/FLUINT model must include
  commands to enable the COM interface
• Enable COM in Operations Data
• Pause execution of SINDA/FLUINT run to allow
  update of parameters in Excel (can occur in any
  logic block)
• Send parameters to Excel for postprocessing
  (Operations Data)

CALL COMINIT Initiates the API connection
back to Excel CALL DOWAIT Pauses
execution, places SINDA/FLUINT wait state
CALL SETREAL(Twidget, comp.T21) Send a real
variable to Excel CALL SETINT(Status,Icount)
Send an integer back to Excel
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Sample COM Logic
HEADER OPERATIONS BUILD ALL CALL COMINIT
Initiates the API connection back to Excel ...
C make a certain nodes temperature can
be examined or set from Excel CALL
SETREAL(HiTemp,WING.T14) 100
CONTINUE CALL STEADY CALL DOWAIT C At this
point check and set registers in Excel C
When we are done we will set the register IMDONE
to 1 in Excel IF(IMDONE .NE. 1) GOTO 100
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Demo of customized Excel interface
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Access Information

• Basic Excel Interface is installed with
  SINDA/FLUINT
• Accessible from the start menu
• Loop Heat Pipe customized sample is available for
  download from the web site
• www.crtech.com/excelSinda.html
• If you need the prebuilt version, please contact
  us.

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