Simcenter Amesim
Simulating a whole system rather than a single device. To assess how the whole plant responds to a change in operating mode, a 1D model delivers results in seconds instead of hours.
When you need a 1D model rather than 3D
The question is at system level
Whether a pump is adequately sized for the whole network, whether a control valve responds fast enough, how long start-up takes: these are system-level questions outside the scope of 3D CFD.
Thousands of scenarios are feasible
A 1D model solves in seconds, so the entire operating range can be swept, including upsets and transients.
Libraries by discipline
Ready-made hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, electrical and mechanical blocks — you build the system by connecting blocks rather than writing equations.
Applications
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems — pumps, valves, cylinders, control circuits
- Thermal systems — heat exchanger networks, steam cycles, cooling systems
- Transients — start-up, shutdown, power loss, sudden valve closure
- Mechatronics — motors, sensors and control laws coupled into the physical model
Strengths in industrial projects
- Describes a whole system at very low computing cost
- Tests control laws before they go to the field
- Co-simulation with 3D models: the critical part solved by CFD, the rest in 1D
- Generates reduced-order models to feed a digital twin
Coupled tools
Simcenter STAR-CCM+
Co-simulation: the critical equipment solved in 3D, the rest in 1D.
View details →Applications at CFDWAYS
- Assessing how a system responds when the plant changes operating mode
- Checking hydraulic and pneumatic systems before fabrication
- Preparing the base model for an equipment digital twin
Licensing & support
An Amesim license comprises the platform and discipline libraries. The cost depends on the libraries selected, so CFDWAYS first establishes the type of system you need to model.
- The platform for building and solving 1D models
- Discipline libraries: hydraulics, pneumatics, thermal, electrical, control
- Coupling packages for 3D models and for external control tools
Indicative system requirements
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 64-bit or Linux |
|---|---|
| CPU | No need for many cores — 1D models solve very fast |
| RAM | 8–16 GB is enough for most models |
Frequently asked questions
Can a 1D model replace CFD?
No. The two tools address different questions: 1D describes how the system operates; CFD describes how the flow develops inside a single piece of equipment. Many projects need both.
Is experimental data required?
Yes. A 1D model rests on component characteristics — pump curves, valve loss coefficients. Without them the results are only qualitative.
Is your question at equipment level or system level?
Describe the system and what you want to know — CFDWAYS will advise whether 1D, 3D or both is the right answer.