# Modelica Reviews **Vendor:** Modelica Association **Category:** [Simulation & CAE Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/simulation-cae) **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 21 ## About Modelica Modelica is an open standard for modeling software. ## Modelica Reviews ### 1. It's a open source free software ,where we can use various tool boxes and can create models **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Aritra B. | Electrical Loco maintenance, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 20, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Modelica can calculate every equations automatically to run the program and various fields are available which we can use with our requirements. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** It takes more time to compile the program than others and plotting can be more better . **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** It's great . **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have done a distribution system of 69 buses in two methods, and the result which I got is appropriate so, I think it can be used as a commercial services instead of paying money. ### 2. System Modeling using Modelica **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Lars E. | Professor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 19, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** The best feature is the access to the standard components in the libraries, that cover several engineering domains, and that the language and modelling system provide standards for how different components should be interfaced so you can connect them together. This makes building systems from components very easy. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** The threshold for new users is high when it comes to the development of new components, or new domains. Debugging of your prototype components and models is difficult in equation oriented models, as there is no given causality that you can follow. It's the strength for system building but a weakness for debugging while developing new components. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Simulation of multi-domain system models, including mechanic, thermodynamic, electric, and control systems. The main benefit is that it is easy to compile complex models from standard components that are available in libraries. As long as there are libraries available then it is very easy to make new system models. With the programming language behind is is also easy to build very complex system models, for example to use for loops to create and connect a complete pack consisting of hundreds of individual battery cells. Where a single component can be studied in the context of its system. ### 3. Research engineer with 4 years experiences modelling energy systems in Modelica/Dymola **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Keith O. | Mechanical Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 11, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Intuitive acausal DAE systems. Easy to create models from scratch and build on base clase with simple functions. GUI and drag drop mode is easy to use. Wide variety of validated components and libraries available, most of which are open source. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** A lot of post processing is needed to get from model to results. Debugging is often difficult. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** Consider firstly the problem at hand. I find modelica a very powerful language for multi-domain problems accross thermal, electrical and fluid domains -> these domains all have a large collection of well validated components. Personaly I think modelica lacks a little with optimisation problems such as unit commitment problems /thermal merit orders and feel that other commercial tools may be more closely suited for this (EnergyPro etc). **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Mainly, simulation of thermal energy systems - large networks of thermohydraulic piplelines, heat exchangers, valves, consumers etc. Also solar thermal and thermal storage etc. Main benifits are the well validated models for all of these components. ### 4. A language allowing reusability, portability and avoidance of vendor lock-in **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Luigi V. | Associate Professor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 01, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** The Modelica language allows to do object-oriented equation-based modeling using both graphical composition (aka, drag and drop) and/or textual modeling (i.e. by using the language itself) to define models of complex systems. If the models are developed adhering to the language definition, they can work in multiple tools, e.g. Dymola, OpenModelica, SystemModeler, Optimica Compiler Toolkit, etc, without the need to reimplement them; which allows to take advantage of the different features in the different tools. Finally, most Modelica tools allow to export models using the FMI standard, which improves even further the portability of the models. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** That traditional vendors of tools, e.g. Mathworks, do not support it so to lock-in customers to their environment. I wish the standard was more broadly adopted, but this is a challenging area as tool vendors do not have an incentive to allow their users to adopt a standard that would enable portability. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** I recommend learning the language first before committing to any particular tool. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** We are using it for multi-domain modeling for aircraft propulsion (thermo-electrical modeling), for energy system modeling (power grid + district heating), etc., the possibility of building multi-domain models within a same environment through interfaces is a very powerful way of building integrated systems for the future. Using the Modelica language has allows use to perform research in areas that require multi-disciplinary engineering. I also use Modelica in my teaching, it allows me to bring traditional simulation topics together with an advanced language to illustrate mode complex ideas and use cases for modeling and simulation as use in the industry. ### 5. Declarative paradigm **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Federico Z. | Adjunct Associate Professor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 16, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Modelica is incredibly flexible. Code reuse is the stuff dreams are made of: you literally put code together like Lego, and it just works. This is because the declarative paradigm allows (requires) you to describe the problem in terms of equations, and let the computer figure out how to solve them. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** The declarative paradigm is great, but it comes at a price: you lose control of the algorithm, and error messages are often cryptic. (This is not Modelica's fault, but rather an implicit trade-off.) As a result, you need to build long class hierarchies, with a new class for every feature, and extensive test cases for each level in order to catch where problems appear. Also, nonlinear equations with multiple solutions can be tricky, as the solver might choose unphysical solutions (negative concentrations and so on). Can be fixed, but will take time. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used Modelica to model a fuel-cell system, and, after a few months developing from scratch, the model was ready. My boss was pleased and suggested we develop a new variant of the system, assuming it would take about the same time; but in fact it was ready the same afternoon, thanks to how Modelica works! ### 6. A nice and free tool as an alternative to Simulink **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 19, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** That it has a free version and do what it says. Can be used for simple and complex problems and it easy for amateurs as its learning curve is really fast. From a modeling point of view, block creation and equation formulation things are quite straightforward. The capability of library creation is very important and well used. Modelica as a modeling language is powerful and easy to use. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Some discrepancies between free (OpenModelica) and paid versions (Dymola). With the use of different solvers, slightly or significantly different results may occur. The user has to be aware of the mathematical nature of its problem in order to select the correct solver. Presentation of results can be improved in the OpenModelica free version. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** Simulink may be the common standard but it is not free. Give Modelica change. Be aware of various solver problems, as there are many options. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Mechanical and Electrical energy-related problems and various dynamical problems and quasi steady-state problems. I really like the large model library and the multidomain problem-solving. Can be used for renewable energy modeling, thermomechanical components with a large and very large system modeling (thousands of equations). You can implement what-if logic make it suitable for hybrid simulations (discrete event and continues) ### 7. Efficient and accurate tool for multidisciplinary modelling and simulation **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Calvin T. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 04, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Equation based and acausal modelling of behaviour, suitable for modeling complex physical systems which encompass disciplines that are very different in nature. Object Oriented Modeling approach adopts concepts of Object Oriented Programming, where features such as class, inheritance, encapsulation, abstraction, etc forms the architecture of the modeling language. Non-proprietary language, which encouraged the development of a large repository of open-source libraries across various disciplines. For the same reason, there is a large number of Modelica simulation environments that are available, both commercially and free of charge **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Support for scripting in modelica language is lacking Good software such as Dymola is expensive when compared to MATLAB (Modelica's main competitor) **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** If you are looking for an equation-based modelling tool that allows you to intuitively model behaviours across multiple disciplines, Modelica is the best tool for you. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Modelling dynamic behaviour of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) Vehicles across multiple disciplines as part of framework for modeling and simulation of eVTOL vehicles. Most engineering systems require development in several disciplines. The limitation of modeling in specific disciplines individually is that influences from other disciplines are not addressed adequately. It is recognized that the encompassing of interactions across different disciplines is vital to the accuracy and realism of the simulations. Hence, developing and simulating integrated models where different discipline-specific models are interfaced with each other is beneficial. Modelica offers an intuitive way to model a physical system by compartmentalizing the system into relevant subsystems and connect them together via interfaces where all quantities that interact between the subsystems are specified. User-friendly graphical user interfaces are available (e.g. Dymola), where systems are described by blocks and connecting lines. Since the connections describe the balancing of the Differential Algebraic Equations, the connections are non-causal in nature. This approach allows convenient construction of components and subsystems, which is ideal for developing libraries of reusable models. ### 8. unsteady simulation of ejector cycle in modelica **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Oil & Energy | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 01, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** you can design each component of your circuit as a single component, so it is not dependent from the others. It has a lot of libraries, even though most of them are not free, and in those libraries you can find and use most of the needed components of your circuit. So they are already modeled and you don't have to spend time doing that. Moreover, once the code is compiled, the simulations are very fast to run, compared to Matlab of other languages. also, you can work a lot graphically: you can connect graphically the components, design the circuit as you prefer, and use many different levels, since you can use components that are made of different components, and graphically you can see the whole system, and the inside of each component. Moreover, it is possible also to see the results on the system that you design, such as temperature, pressure and mass flow rate of different selected points, and its variations during the time. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** the export is an FMU and you need a FMI to read it, and it is free only on python. it is also not so easy to understand what it is doing if there is an error and the c-code is not available. moreover, it gives some font problems on 4K screens. moreover, if you connect some components in the text mode, you cannot see them graphically, so you lose the whole graphic part of the program if, for example, you need to connect a lot of similar components using the 'for cycle'. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** Always check for libraries that already have your components modeled and subscribe to some course both on modelica and on the library before than starting **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I am simulating an ejector cycle in order to understand its behavior in the start up and in the transitory. i was forced to use modelica since in any other language there are no available libraries that i can use for simulating my circuit and the time needed to write the code is not worth the gain achieved, especially for complex problems like start up and unsteady behavior. ### 9. Simulate the complex system in easy manner. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Gaurav R. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 12, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** I like the component-based approach in Modelica. We can create a library of components and use it for various system-level modeling and simulation. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** The modeling of new components might be difficult for a few people without programming experience. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** Modelica is useful to model and simulate complex systems. Please create the component's library and validate equations used during modeling before any simulation. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have used Modelica for smart building modeling and simulation. I have created models for PV panels, batteries, and passive/active energy consumption of the household building. Then I searched for the optimized parameters to reduce the energy requirement from the grid using various simulation scenarios. ### 10. An environment for all your modeling needs **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mohammad Haris S. | Doctoral Researcher, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 14, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Modelica provides a complete environment for modeling different physical systems. I have been using it to model building systems using a modular approach. I can even draw systems from scratch that other team members can use to build their systems. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** I hate that Modelica doesn't have a standard interface to enhance interoperability. Also, the support documentation is not appropriate and needs further testing and development. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Designing building systems for instance, HVAC system design, building fabric etc. ### 11. Water chains modeling in industry, Modelica has a huge potential modeling specially in multi domain. **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Mohamad N. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 05, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Easy syntax resembling to matlab and Java, very easy to learn and to use, built in libraries that can be used. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Hierarchy in modeling can sometimes be a problem **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Modeling a system for the optimization of water usage in industry. Modelica presents an easy way to model different units and the transmission of water from one to another ### 12. I used various physics formulae to describe different processes **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Peter C. | Building Services Design Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** I found it quite good at representing physical properties **What do you dislike about Modelica?** getting help from the community was difficult **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Dynamic modelling of a free piston stirling engine using Modelica. I used modelica to represent the physical interaction between the temperatures, pressures of the working gas with the piston and the displacer. I used various physics formulae to describe different processes and eventually built out the entire model. ### 13. I had used for my MTech Project Modelica. **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Ravi K. | Senior Software Engineer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 05, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** To use for modelling more easier way like Simulink Matlab. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** I didn’t had full Version of license, hence found some kind of bonds. **Recommendations to others considering Modelica:** Please use it. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I had used for turbine modelling simulation, and found real simulation response in short time, where actual turbine takes time for response with graphics. ### 14. Modelica wasn't available on various compilers. **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Abdallah H. | Instructor, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 22, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Modeling language which supported "Bond Graph" library **What do you dislike about Modelica?** It was quite amusing to use Modelica as a modeling language, there is nothing I didn't like. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** it was testing the correctness of a system modeled using bond graph library ### 15. Best language for mathematical modelling **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Anupam K. | Engineer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 30, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Easiest language to write and understand any program especially for modelling fluid & mechanical systems. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** I do not find any major demerit in modelica as of now but I would say dynamic modelling requires more modeller efforts in modelica **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Mathematical modelling & simulation of HVAC systems ### 16. great tool for modeling **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Malapati S. | Sr. Project Technical Assistant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 23, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Modelica is a good tool for the simulation and modelling **What do you dislike about Modelica?** There is nothing to dislike in Modelica **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** we are trying to develop a chemical process simulator ### 17. Best open source software for students **Rating:** 2.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Renewables & Environment | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 25, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Open source- As student we don't have access to other softwares or even if we have its limited. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Issue which I found is there are less tutorials for which I was using my software for. For a beginner it's tough to understand. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Space heating related. ### 18. Best modelling tool with exhaustive library **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bharath M. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** December 09, 2020 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Simulation runs without any lag, graphics are great and the ease of cross platform connectivity. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** The license cost is expensive, complex to automate. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Achieved high fidelity simulation using modelica. ### 19. Experience with Vehicle Dynamics and Control Simulations using Modelica **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Automotive | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 07, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** Object Oriented Programming approach to modeling physical systems **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Lack of robust open source implementation **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** Vehicle state estimation and control. Ability to use simulation to better understand underlying physics of system at hand, flexibility of creating models with varying fidelity based on application requirement using fundamental physical building blocks ### 20. Micro Gas Turbines for Hybrid Vehicles **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Automotive | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** January 08, 2021 **What do you like best about Modelica?** I liked that modelica was versatile, and easy to pick up. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** I found the versatility left me with lots of my own research to do, and not enough ready made examples to run with. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I used it to model the performance of a micro Gas turbine. ### 21. Convinient to compose schematics **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Avinash K. | FEA Specialist, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 19, 2017 **What do you like best about Modelica?** The main functional gain over other simulation software with modelica is that is has cross platform support with Altair, ANSYS, Dassault Systems etc. This makes it easier to use across the industry. **What do you dislike about Modelica?** Though there are some free tools available which can be used in conjuction with modelica. Its is quiet expensive to add several packages which adds to the overall cost. **What problems is Modelica solving and how is that benefiting you?** I have to generate a discrete simulation along with Hyperworks. - [View Modelica pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/modelica/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-15+12%3A04%3A25+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=318ed182-c8c2-4042-af77-3144914c48b2&secure%5Btoken%5D=e4646ac14afa41db6789a2ed21d44c8ad178d475699ccf5a170493416a09653f&format=llm_user) ## Modelica Features **Design** - 3D/solid modeling Tools - Drawing Tools - Editing Tools - Rendering tools **Tools** - Fluid analysis - Finite element analysis - Multibody dynamics **Work** - Discrete event modeling - Continuous event modeling - Mechanical event simulation - Manufacturing process simulation - Integrate **Environment** - Hardware support - Task - Manage Multiple Profiles - Command Clarity ## Top Modelica Alternatives - [Simcenter Amesim](https://www.g2.com/products/simcenter-amesim/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (112 reviews) - [Scilab](https://www.g2.com/products/scilab/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (58 reviews) - [MATLAB](https://www.g2.com/products/matlab/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (748 reviews)