FMU Co-Simulation: Temperature Controller

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ can exchange single-value data with imported FMU models. FMU models are time-dependent models that are written according to the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) standard.

In this simulation, you model a simplified version of an automatic, dual-zone, climate control system. In a vehicle, automatic climate control allows you to specify a desired temperature. To achieve this temperature, the temperature of the incoming air flow is automatically adjusted based on the desired temperature and the temperature detected in the vehicle.

The geometry for this tutorial consists of a simplified compartment with two zones, each with an inlet-outlet pair. Air flow enters the inlets at a specified temperature. The goal is to reach a target temperature of 300 K at one of the outlets, by adjusting the input temperature at one of the inlets.

For this simulation, you are provided with an FMU model of a PI (Proportional-Integral) temperature controller prepared in OpenModelica (see ).

During the co-simulation, Simcenter STAR-CCM+ computes the thermal solution while monitoring the temperature at the chosen outlet. The FMU model calculates the optimal inlet temperature as a function of the target temperature and the current outlet temperature computed in Simcenter STAR-CCM+. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ updates the inlet temperature based on the optimal temperature calculated by the FMU. The loop continues until the outlet temperature converges to the target temperature.

The boundaries of the main compartment are adiabatic. At the other inlet and outlet, the temperature is fixed.