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Software for thermal analysis
Other packages
Finite elements
SAP
NCM
 
Comparision of widely available simulation software

This page gives details on four widely available programs used for simulation.  It has been split into a number of different catagories so easy comparisions can be made.
System requirements/computer platform required
Standards adapted
Input data
Calculation
Output
Extra modules available
Target users
Cost and support
Website, email and contact address

System requirements/computer platform required

LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ Infomind: Flixo




Windows NT/2000/XP
64 MB RAM
Hard drive with at least 150 MB of available space
 Windows NT/95 and above
256 MB RAM
 Windows NT/95 and above
16 MB RAM
 Windows 2000/XP and above
30 MB hard drive space

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Standards adapted

LBNL: THERM 5.2 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo




BS EN ISO 10077-2
ISO 15099
 BS EN ISO 10077-2
-
 BS EN ISO 10077-2

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Input data


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Geometry of cross section
 Almost any shape
 Any shape
 Any shape
 Any shape





Importing a cross section

 bmp or dxf file as underlay (has to be overdrawn as polygons)
 bmp file colour filled without material border.
Each colour corresponds to a material or a boundary condition
 iges files imported as line drawing
 dxf or SVG file as underlay
dxf file can be converted automatically if in correct format, but material must be defined
 dxf file can be converted into coloured bmp file using BISCO-DXF utility
 dxf file can be converted automatically if in correct format
 dxf file can be converted automatically





Material thermal conductivity database

 ASHRAE (USA)
BS EN ISO 10077-2
 BS EN ISO 10077-2
BS EN 12524
DIN 4108-4
IEA Annex XIV
NBN
NEN
ONORM
PHYSIBEL
SBR
 None as standard, must be created
 BS EN ISO 10077-2
BS EN 12524
BS EN 673
BS EN ISO 6946
DIN 4108-4
Can be extended
 Can be extended
Can be extended

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Calculation


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Numerical technique
 Finite element analysis (FEA)
 FEA
 FEA
 FEA





Calculation of the equivalent thermal conductivity in frame cavities
 ISO 15099
BS EN ISO 10077-2
 BS EN ISO 10077-2
 Not available
 BS EN ISO 10077-2





View factor and surface emissivity based radiation
 Yes for radiation enclosures, no for external surfaces
 Yes if required
 Yes if requied
 Yes for radiation enclosures, no for external surfaces





Non-linear model for convection in an enclosure
 Yes if required
 Yes
 Yes
 No





Stability
 Underlay can cause problems when zooming in on fine details
 Good
 Good
 Good





Detail of drawing
 Large and fine cross sections can cause problems
 Can accommodate fine details
 Fine details no problem
 Fine details no problem





Batch running option
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes





Boundary conditions


 Combined convection and radiation
 Combined convection and radiation
 Combined convection and radiation
 Combined convection and radiation
Convection, radiation view factor based,
constant heat flux due to other sources can be combined
 Convection, radiation view factor based,
constant heat flux due to other sources can be combined
 Convection, radiation view factor based,
constant heat flux due to other sources can be combined
 -
Constant ground temperature has to be treated differently
 Constant ground temperature has to be treated differently
 Constant ground temperature has to be treated differently Constant ground temperature has to be treated differently





Temperature
dependant thermal conductivity
 For detailed model
 For air cavities in frames
 Yes
 For air cavities in frames





Radiation correction for opposing surfaces (view factor based)
 Limited capability for external surface
 View factors automatically calculated for cavity and exposed surfaces if required
 View factors automatically calculated for cavity and exposed surfaces if required
 Limited capability for external surface





Temperature dependant convection
 No
 Yes
 Yes, user defined
 For air cavities in frames

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Output


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Alphanumeric output
 To screen, printer or file
 To screen
 Printer or file
 To screen





Isothermal lines
 To screen or printer

Full image only
 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted
 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted		 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted





User defined values for temperature contours
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 No





Point temperature
 Yes, temperature at cursor
 Yes by adding temperature sensors
 Yes
 No





Identify min and max temperatures
 Min temp at cold side and max temp at warm side
 Min temp at both cold and warm side
 Min temp at cold side and max temp at warm side
 Min temp at warm side





Heat flux vector and contour plot
 To screen or printer

Full image only
 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted
 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted
 To screen, printer or file

Zoom permitted





User defined values for flux vector or contours
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 No





Print material properties
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes





Print finite element mesh
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes





Output finite element mesh
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes





High resolution graphics
 No
 Yes
 Yes
 Yes





Calculation results
 Heat flow rate
Frame U-value
 Heat flow rate
 Heat flow rate
 Heat flow rate
Frame U-value
Minumum temp





Graphic output
 Isothermal lines
Temp contour
Heat flux field
 Isothermal lines
Temp contour
Heat flux lines
Material properties
 Isothermal lines
Temp contour
Heat flux field
 Isothermal lines
Temp contour
Heat flux lines
Material properties

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Extra modules available


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





3D calculations
TRISCO
SOLIDO
 Standard





Transient heat flow
SECTRA
VILTRA
 Standard





Multi-zone transient heat transfer
CAPSOL
 Standard





1D vapour diffusion, condensation risk
GLASTA






Climate databases
Several databases available






Applications other than thermal and condensation analysis
 No
 No
 Yes
 No

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Target users


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Developed for
 Thermal assessment of window and door frames
 Thermal performace of window and door frames.
Simple to complex building details
 Engineering analysis of complex engineering problems (more than just thermal analysis)
 Thermal performace of window and door frames.
 Simple to complex building details





To be used by
 Students,
componet designers,
analysts
 Consultants,
analysts,
window manufacturers
 Consultants,
system designers
 Consultants,
analysts,
window manufacturers

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Cost and support


 LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Cost
 Free
 £2800
 £8000 annual license





Manual
 Provided
 Provided
 Provided, plus online help
 Provided





User support
 Email
 Email,
telephone hotline
 Email,
telephone hotline
 Email





Software update notification
 By email
 By email
 By email
 By email





Error notification
 No
 Errors and correcrive action notified when found
 Errors and correcrive action notified when found
 Errors and correcrive action notified when found

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Website, email and contact address

LBNL: THERM 5.2
 Physibel: BISCO 8.0w
 ANSYSÂ: Ansysâ
 Infomind: Flixo





Web site
 Therm
Physibel
Ansys
Flixo





Email
 THERMHelp@lbl.gov
mail@physibel.be
ansysinfo@ansys.com
info@infomind.ch





Address
 Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory
Mail Stop 90-3111
1 Cyclotron Road
Berkeley
California 94720
USA
 Physibel
Heirweg 21
B-9990 Maldegem
Belgium
 ANSYS Europe Ltd
West Central 127
Milton Park
Abingdon
OX14 4SA
UK
 Infomind GmbH
Westerstrasse 10
8004 Zurich





Telephone
 +1 510 4867179
 +32 50 711432
 +44 (0)870 1420333
 +41 44 2412486





Fax
 +1 510 4864089
 +32 50 717842
 +44 (0)870 1420304
 +41 44 2412489

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