PROPULSIMA Model Based Design Software for Propulsion System DesignOnur Tunçer, Ferit Tunçer, Yekta Mirkan, Stanislav GrateMelina Aero Technology Development and Design Bureauonur.tuncer@melina-aero.com , ferit.tuncer@melina-aero.comyekta.mirkan@melina-aero.com , stanislav.grate@melina-aero.com

RAENG LIF Alumni Event, September 26th 2017, TÜBİTAK, Ankara

1 Stage of the projectWe have developed a rapid prototype for the core layer, one thathandles computations, under MATLAB environment. This coreat the time being is able to solve the steady-state behavior of sim-ple pipe networks and some turbo-machinery components. Wealso developed a user friendly graphical user interface (GUI) andstarted porting our MATLAB code into C#. Now, we can show astand-alone proof-of-concept desktop application demo that cansolve pipe networks that are defined by the user via drag anddrop interactions. We also began implementing databases forsome standard components. As a next step we will start imple-menting Git integration which lets teams of all sizes to collaborateeasily in a shared project.

2 Short description of the projectDevelopment of power and propulsion systems is an iterative andcostly task with typical design times spanning to about sevenyears and an exponential cost . Our aim is to reduce iterationcycle times at least 15%, by cutting 5% in the overall project cost.Our software product ”Propulsim” is an object oriented softwarefor the model based design, simulation and optimization of powerand propulsion systems, offering a concurrent and collaborativeteam design environment.

Figure 1: Propulsim and Simenergy Logos

We are also developing another product ”Simenergy” whichshall be the energy sector counterpart of Propulsim. It will becapable of solving power plant cycles (Rankine, ORC, combinedcycles etc.) and targets energy customers. Both software are es-sentially thermodynamic cycle solvers, they have a lot in common.This will enable us develop both software concurrently.

2.1 Conventional vs Model Based Design

Figure 2: Propulsim GUI

As engineering systems be-come more complicated, soft-ware dependent and com-plex, model based design pro-vides enabling technologiesfor robust and cost-effectiveproduct development. Modelbased development also helps

to ensure design quality, functional safety verification and re-useof design assets.Conventional silo design approach wherein eachcomponent is optimized individually and put together in a systemonly results in a sub-optimal design at the system scale. Modelbased design offers a holistic perfective that remedies this draw-back.

Successful companies apply modeling and analysis of systems atstart of the process using model based design as early as possibleand throughout component design, then integrating this informa-tion to address the full system.

2.2 Collaborative Working Environment

Figure 3: A Turbojet Modelin Propulsim GUI

Propulsim offers a collabora-tive working environment. Ateam of engineers can workon the same design simulta-neously. Within this frame-work, they can either fo-cus on different parts of theproject or they may simulta-neously evaluate different al-

ternatives without hindering one another’s work. Distributed ver-sion control offers new possibilities about how projects are sharedand documented. This feature is expected to reduce overhead andpaperwork associated with documentation.

2.3 Physics Based ModelingIn order the simulation to be accurate fidelity of mathematicalmodeling must match the reality closely. We aim to gain a com-

petitive advantage by providing high fidelity turbo-machineryand engine component models within our libraries.

2.4 Design of Experiments, Optimizationand Statistics

Figure 4: Control Library Icons

Software will in-clude an auto-matic design of ex-periments (DoE)tool in order to ex-plore a vast num-ber of design al-ternatives which isimpossible to domanually. Basedon the results ofDoE analysis a re-sponse surface will

be generated which will be used for optimization. This tool pro-vides insight into design alternatives and trade-offs. We will alsoincorporate a statistical uncertainty quantification tool into oursoftware.

2.5 Co-Simulation and Data Exchange

Figure 5: Sample Log File from a SimplePipe Network Simulation

Software will havetwo-way data ex-change capabili-ties with third-party proprietaryapplications suchas Excel, Mat-lab, Tecplot etc.On top of that,SaaS version willprovide data ex-change with otherSaaS tools suchas Google Sheets,Google plots etc.

Another goal is to provide co-simulation capabilities with com-mon third party software such as SIMULINK.

3 The technology and the intellec-tual property

At the very heart of the software there is a robust differential-algebraic equation (DAE) solver which is capable of handling stiffsystems of equations. What the program does actually is to con-vert the model defined by the user via drag and drop interactionsinto a DAE system of the following semi-explicit form.

x = f (t, x, z)

0 = g(t, x, z)

Propulsim and Simenergy both are being built upon the MVVM(Model-View-ViewModel) architecture, and both will have twovariants one a desktop application built using WPF technology,another one will be a web application using Silverlight. This notonly minimizes redundancy, but also makes software maintenanceeasier. The web application will be licensed with a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. We believe that having a SaaS versionwill democratize the market, empower individual and SME scalecustomers and reach a much wider user base generating constantrevenue.

Figure 6: Model-View-View Model DesignPattern for Both Desktop and SaaS Delivery

Software with itsmodular loosely-coupled yet co-herent architec-ture will incorpo-rate lots of de-sign modules aswell. These add-on modules willenable the concep-tual design of en-gine components.This feature willbe aimed at providing a seamless preliminary-integrated-design(PID) approach for the customer.

Figure 7: Aerospace and Energy Market Size

4 The market size and opportunity

Figure 8: Projected MarketShare by 2026

Aerospace and energy mar-kets globally represent a mar-ket size of nearly a trilliondollars per year. In today’ssoftware driven world soft-ware has a large share inthis market, because softwareplays a crucial role through-out the life-cycle. Modelbased design plays an ever in-creasing role in this lifecycle,

from preliminary design to plant control. We are estimating amodest 1% estimate for the market share of model based designsoftware in this market.

5 Route to marketWe outline a eight year projection from the start of the project.

Figure 9: Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

• 2017 proof-of-concept complete• 2018 beta testing for Propulsim• 2019 Propulsim sold in local market• 2020 First global customer for Propulsim• 2021 Simenergy in the market• 2022 IPO in the AIM market of Borsa Istanbul• 2023-2026 Add-on software module development• 2026 50 million USD net present value

6 The Team• Onur Tunçer, Founding Partner, Mechanical Engineer• Ferit Tunçer, Computer Scientist• Yekta Mirkan, Software Developer• Stanislav Grate, Aerospace Engineer• Nagihan Aydınlık, Graphical Designer• Murat Özfırat, Business Development Consultant• Mark Vellacott, Mentor

7 InvestmentA discounted cash flow analysis puts Melina Aero’s net presentvalue at 50 million USD in 2026.While performing the analysisonly revenues from desktop versions of Propulsim and Simenergyare taken into account. Revenue projections from SaaS versionwere not considered. Therefore Melina Aero’s value for todayis 5 million USD. We are therefore offering 20% equity in thecompany in exchange of 1 million USD investment.

AcknowledgementsWe acknowledge support from TÜBİTAK, and a Leaders inInnovation Fellowship opportunity from the Royal EngineeringAcademy. Guidance from Mark Vellacott is also gratefully ac-knowledged.