Customize Components

On this page you will find a general overview on what you have to consider when adapting existing components or creating new ones. Furthermore, there is tutorial available on how we built the PolynomialCompressorWithCooling together at the first tespy user meeting here.

Extend existing components

You can easily add custom equations to the existing components. In order to do this, you need to implement four changes to the desired component class:

  • modify the get_parameters(self) method.

  • add a method, that returns the result of your equation.

  • add a method, that returns the variables your equation depends on.

In the get_parameters(self) method, add an entry for your new equation. If the equation uses a single parameter, use the ComponentProperties type DataContainer (or the ComponentCharacteristics type in case you only apply a characteristic curve). If your equations requires multiple parameters, add these parameters as ComponentProperties or ComponentCharacteristics respectively and add a GroupedComponentProperties type DataContainer holding the information, e.g. like the darcy_group parameter of the tespy.components.heat_exchangers.simple.SimpleHeatExchanger class shown below.

# [...]
'D': dc_cp(min_val=1e-2, max_val=2, d=1e-4, quantity="length"),
'L': dc_cp(min_val=1e-1, d=1e-3, quantity="length"),
'ks': dc_cp(val=1e-4, min_val=1e-7, max_val=1e-3, d=1e-8, quantity="length"),
'darcy_group': dc_gcp(
    elements=['L', 'ks', 'D'], num_eq_sets=1,
    func=self.darcy_func,
    dependents=self.darcy_dependents
),
# [...]

Tip

With the quantity keyword, tespy will automatically understand what unit conversion to apply to the respective parameter. E.g. in case you want to specify the roughness ks in millimeter, you can either set the default unit for length of your Network to millimeter, or you can pass the ks value as pint.Quantity to your component using millimeter as unit. Then the conversion to the SI unit is taken care of automatically in the preprocessing and the respective equation will make use of the SI value.

func and dependents are pointing to the method that should be applied for the corresponding purpose. For more information on defining the equations and dependents see the next section on custom components. When defining the dependents in a standalone way, the partial derivatives are calculated automatically. If you want to insert the partial derivatives manually, you can define another function and pass with the deriv keyword.

Create own components

You can add own components. The class should inherit from the Component class or its children. In order to do that, you can use the customs module or create a python file in your working directory and import the base class for your custom component. Now create a class for your component and at least add the following methods.

  • component(self),

  • get_parameters(self),

  • get_mandatory_constraints(self),

  • inlets(self),

  • outlets(self) and

  • calc_parameters(self).

Optionally, you can add

  • powerinlets(self) and

  • poweroutlets(self)

in case your component should have methods to connect the material flows with non-material flows associated with a PowerConnection.

Note

For more information on the PowerConnection please check the respective section in the docs.

The starting lines of your file should look like this:

from tespy.components.component import Component
from tespy.tools import ComponentCharacteristics as dc_cc
from tespy.tools import ComponentMandatoryConstraints as dc_cmc
from tespy.tools import ComponentProperties as dc_cp

class MyCustomComponent(Component):
    """
    This is a custom component.

    You can add your documentation here. From this part, it should be clear
    for the user, which parameters are available, which mandatory equations
    are applied and which optional equations can be applied using the
    component parameters.
    """

    def component(self):
        return 'name of your component'

Mandatory Constraints

The get_mandatory_constraints() method must return a dictionary containing the information for the mandatory constraints of your component. The corresponding equations are applied independently of the user specification. Every key of the mandatory constraints represents one set of equations. It holds another dictionary with information on

  • the equations,

  • the number of equations for this constraint and

  • the variables each equation depends on.

Furthermore more optional specifications can be made

  • the partial derivatives,

  • whether the derivatives are constant values or not (True/False) and

  • the structure_matrix keyword.

For example, the mandatory equations of the class Valve look are the following:

\[0=h_{\mathrm{in,1}}-h_{\mathrm{out,1}}\]

The corresponding method looks like this:

    def get_mandatory_constraints(self):
        constraints = super().get_mandatory_constraints()
        constraints.update({
            'enthalpy_constraints': dc_cmc(**{
                'structure_matrix': self.variable_equality_structure_matrix,
                'num_eq_sets': 1,
                'func_params': {'variable': 'h'},
                "description": "equation for enthalpy equality"
            })
        })
        return constraints

The method inherits from the Component base class and then adds the enthalpy equality constraint on top of the mass flow equality and fluid equality constraints.

Note

In this simple case only the structure_matrix has to be provided. It creates a mapping between linearly dependent pairs of variables and is utilized to simplify the problem during presolving. It is generally optional.

For equations, that depend on more than two variables, or that do not have direct linear relationsships additional parameters have to be supplied, e.g. see the respective method of the class HeatExchanger.

    def get_mandatory_constraints(self):
        constraints = super().get_mandatory_constraints()
        constraints.update({
            'energy_balance_constraints': dc_cmc(**{
                'func': self.energy_balance_func,
                'dependents': self.energy_balance_dependents,
                'num_eq_sets': 1,
                "description": "hot side to cold side heat transfer equation"
            })
        })
        return constraints

Here we have the following keywords:

  • func: Method to be applied (returns residual value of equation)

  • dependents: Method to return the variables func depends on

  • num_eq_sets: Number of equations

Note

In some cases the number of equations can depend on the length of the fluid vectors associated with the component. num_eq_sets specifically points to the number of equation per all fluids in the fluid vector. Since this number is not necessarily known prior to solving the problem, there is a possibility to update the number of equations after presolving to determine the correct number. This update is only relevant for classes like Merge and CombustionChamber etc.. Feel free to reach out in the discussion forum, if you have any questions about it.

With the above mentioned specifications, tespy will apply the method to calculate the residual value of your equation and automatically calculates its partial derivatives towards all variables specified in the dependents list.

Finally, sometimes it is reasonable to not let tespy automatically calculate all partial derivatives, because the calculation can be computationally expensive. Instead you can additionally provide the following keyword:

  • deriv: A method that calculate the partial derivatives.

You will find more information and examples on this in the next sections.

You can also define mandatory constraints that are conditional, e.g. in context of PowerConnections. For example, the connection between the material flow variables of the inlet and the outlet of the turbine to the non-material energy output variable of the turbine should only be made, in case the turbine is actually connected with a PowerConnection:

    def get_mandatory_constraints(self):
        constraints = super().get_mandatory_constraints()
        if len(self.power_outl) > 0:
            constraints["energy_connector_balance"] = dc_cmc(**{
                "func": self.energy_connector_balance_func,
                "dependents": self.energy_connector_dependents,
                "num_eq_sets": 1
            })

        return constraints

Attributes

This part is very similar to the previous one. The get_parameters() method must return a dictionary with the attributes you want to use for your component. The keys represent the attributes and the respective values the type of data container used for this attribute. By using the data container attributes, it is possible to add defaults. Defaults for characteristic lines or characteristic maps are loaded automatically by the component initialisation method of class tespy.components.component.Component. For more information on the default characteristics consider this chapter.

The structure is very similar to the mandatory constraints, e.g. for the class Valve:

    def get_parameters(self):
        return {
            'pr': dc_cp(
                min_val=1e-4, max_val=1, num_eq_sets=1,
                structure_matrix=self.pr_structure_matrix,
                func_params={'pr': 'pr'},
                quantity="ratio"
            ),
            'dp': dc_cp(
                min_val=0,
                num_eq_sets=1,
                structure_matrix=self.dp_structure_matrix,
                func_params={"inconn": 0, "outconn": 0, "dp": "dp"},
                quantity="pressure",
                description="inlet to outlet absolute pressure change"
            ),
            'zeta': dc_cp(
                min_val=0, max_val=1e15, num_eq_sets=1,
                func=self.zeta_func,
                dependents=self.zeta_dependents,
                func_params={'zeta': 'zeta'}
            ),
            'dp_char': dc_cc(
                param='m', num_eq_sets=1,
                dependents=self.dp_char_dependents,
                func=self.dp_char_func,
                char_params={'type': 'abs'},
                description="inlet to outlet absolute pressure change as function of mass flow lookup table"
            )
        }

Inlets and outlets

inlets(self) and outlets(self) respectively must return a list of strings. The list may look like this (of class HeatExchanger)

    @staticmethod
    def inlets():
        return ['in1', 'in2']
    @staticmethod
    def outlets():
        return ['out1', 'out2']

The number of inlets and outlets might even be variable, e.g. if you have added an attribute 'num_in' your code could look like this (as in class Merge):

    def inlets(self):
        if self.num_in.is_set:
            return [f'in{i + 1}' for i in range(self.num_in.val)]
        else:
            self.set_attr(num_in=2)
            return self.inlets()

Inlets and outlets for PowerConnections

If your component should incorporate PowerConnections you can define connctor ids in a similar way, for example power inlet for compressors or power outlet for turbines. Here the methods are powerinlets and poweroutlets.

    @staticmethod
    def powerinlets():
        return ["power"]
    @staticmethod
    def poweroutlets():
        return ["power"]

In a similar way, you can add flexibility with a dynamic number of inlets and outlets:

    def powerinlets(self):
        return [f"power_in{i + 1}" for i in range(self.num_in.val)]
    def poweroutlets(self):
        return [f"power_out{i + 1}" for i in range(self.num_out.val)]

Define the required methods

In the above section the concept of the component mandatory constraints and their attributes was introduced. Now we need to fill the respective parts with some life, i.e. how to define

  • the structure_matrix (optional),

  • the func,

  • the dependents and

  • the deriv (optional) methods.

Define a structure matrix

As mentioned, with the structure matrix you can make a mapping, in case two variables are linked to each other with a linear relationship. The presolving of a model will utilize this information to reduce the number of variables. For example, for a specified pressure ratio pr of a component, where the inlet and the outlet pressure are linked through this equation:

\[p_\text{inlet} \cdot \text{pr} - p_\text{outlet} = 0\]

We can create a method and reference to it from the component mandatory constraints or attribute dictionaries. In this method you have to

  • place the partial derivatives towards both variables in the component’s _structure_matrix attribute.

  • place any offset in the component’s _rhs attribute.

For the example above, the derivative to the inlet pressure is pr, and to the outlet pressure -1. The offset/right hand side value of the equation is 0.

    def pr_structure_matrix(self, k, pr=None, inconn=0, outconn=0):
        r"""
        Create linear relationship between inflow and outflow pressure

        .. math::

            p_{in} \cdot pr = p_{out}

        Parameters
        ----------
        k : int
            equation number in systems of equations

        pr : str
            Component parameter, e.g. :code:`pr1`.

        inconn : int
            Connection index of inlet.

        outconn : int
            Connection index of outlet.
        """
        pr = self.get_attr(pr)
        i = self.inl[inconn]
        o = self.outl[outconn]

        self._structure_matrix[k, i.p.sm_col] = pr.val_SI
        self._structure_matrix[k, o.p.sm_col] = -1

A different equation to simplify with this method could be the delta pressure dp. In this case, the _rhs is not zero, it is the value of dp.

\[p_\text{inlet} - p_\text{outlet} = \text{dp}\]
    def dp_structure_matrix(self, k, dp=None, inconn=0, outconn=0):
        r"""
        Create linear relationship between inflow and outflow pressure

        .. math::

            p_{in} - dp = p_{out}

        Parameters
        ----------
        k : int
            equation number in systems of equations

        dp : str
            Component parameter, e.g. :code:`dp1`.

        inconn : int
            Connection index of inlet.

        outconn : int
            Connection index of outlet.
        """
        inlet_conn = self.inl[inconn]
        outlet_conn = self.outl[outconn]
        self._structure_matrix[k, inlet_conn.p.sm_col] = 1
        self._structure_matrix[k, outlet_conn.p.sm_col] = -1
        self._rhs[k] = self.get_attr(dp).val_SI

Define the equations

The definition of an equation is quite straight forward: It must return its residual value. For example, the equation of the dp_char parameter associated with the class Valve is the following:

\[p_\text{inlet} - p_\text{outlet} - f_\text{dp}\left(x\right) = 0\]
    def dp_char_func(self):
        r"""
        Equation for characteristic line of difference pressure to mass flow.

        Returns
        -------
        residual : ndarray
            Residual value of equation.

            .. math::

                0=p_\mathrm{in}-p_\mathrm{out}-f\left( expr \right)
        """
        p = self.dp_char.param
        expr = self.get_char_expr(p, **self.dp_char.char_params)
        if not expr:
            msg = ('Please choose a valid parameter, you want to link the '
                   'pressure drop to at component ' + self.label + '.')
            logger.error(msg)
            raise ValueError(msg)

        return (
            self.inl[0].p.val_SI - self.outl[0].p.val_SI
            - self.dp_char.char_func.evaluate(expr)
        )

Caution

Your equations should only use and access the SI values val_SI associated with connection or component parameters in the back-end .

Define the dependents

Next, you have to define the list of variables the equation depends on, i.e. towards which variables the partial derivatives should be calculated. In this example, it is the inlet and the outlet pressure, as well as the mass flow and in case the volumetric flow should be used to assess the characteristic function, the inlet enthalpy.

    def dp_char_dependents(self):
        dependents = [
            self.inl[0].m,
            self.inl[0].p,
            self.outl[0].p,
        ]
        if self.dp_char.param == 'v':
            dependents += [self.inl[0].h]
        return dependents

The solver will automatically determine, which of the variables returned by this method are actual variables (have not been presolved) and the calculate the derivative to the specified equation numerically using a central finite difference. In the case of this method, this will be an extra 6 or 8 function evaluations to determine the partial derivatives, if all of the indicated variables are actually system variables (have not been presolved).

The only thing you have to do is, to make the method return a list of variables the equation depends on.

It can be more complex than that when dealing with equations, which have partial derivatives towards components of a fluid mixture. For example, the energy balance of the CommbustionChamber depends on the fuel’s mass fraction in the fluid mixtures of its inlets. To account for this in the dependents specification, your method has to return a dictionary instead, which uses the keys

  • scalars for all “standard” variables

  • vectors for all fluid mixture component variables

In the example below, the variable mixture components of the inlets are the union of the set of fuels available in the CombustionChamber and the fluid components that are actually variable in the mixture. For this, a subdictionary is created, which is a mapping of the fluid mixture container c.fluid to a set of fluid names self.fuel_list & c.fluid.is_var.

    def energy_balance_dependents(self):
        inl, outl = self._get_combustion_connections()
        return {
            "scalars": [var for c in inl + outl for var in [c.m, c.h]],
            "vectors": [{
                c.fluid: self.fuel_list & c.fluid.is_var for c in inl + outl
            }]
        }

Define the derivatives

The downside of the simple to use approach of defining the equation together with its dependents is, that it can be computationally expensive to calculate the partial derivatives. In this case, it may be reasonable to implement a method specifically for the calculation of the partial derivatives.

For example, consider the isentropic efficiency equation of a Turbine:

    def eta_s_func(self):
        r"""
        Equation for given isentropic efficiency of a turbine.

        Returns
        -------
        residual : float
            Residual value of equation.

            .. math::

                0 = -\left( h_{out} - h_{in} \right) +
                \left( h_{out,s} - h_{in} \right) \cdot \eta_{s,e}
        """
        inl = self.inl[0]
        outl = self.outl[0]
        return (
            -(outl.h.val_SI - inl.h.val_SI)
            + (
                isentropic(
                    inl.p.val_SI,
                    inl.h.val_SI,
                    outl.p.val_SI,
                    inl.fluid_data,
                    inl.mixing_rule,
                    T0=inl.T.val_SI
                )
                - inl.h.val_SI
            ) * self.eta_s.val_SI
        )

The partial derivatives to the inlet and outlet pressure as well as the inlet enthalpy can only be determined numerically. However, the partial derivative to the outlet enthalpy can be obtained analytically, it is 1. To save the extra evaluation of the equation in case the outlet enthalpy is a variable, we can define the following method:

    def eta_s_deriv(self, increment_filter, k, dependents=None):
        r"""
        Partial derivatives for isentropic efficiency function.

        Parameters
        ----------
        increment_filter : ndarray
            Matrix for filtering non-changing variables.

        k : int
            Position of derivatives in Jacobian matrix (k-th equation).
        """
        dependents = dependents["scalars"][0]
        f = self.eta_s_func
        i = self.inl[0]
        o = self.outl[0]

        if o.h._reference_container != i.h._reference_container:
            self._partial_derivative(o.h, k, -1, increment_filter)
            # remove o.h from the dependents
            dependents = dependents.difference(_get_dependents([o.h])[0])

        for dependent in dependents:
            self._partial_derivative(dependent, k, f, increment_filter)

To place the partial derivative you can use the _partial_derivative method and pass

  • the variable

  • the equation number (passed to your method through the argument k)

  • the value of the partial derivative (a number or a callable)

    • in case you pass a number, it will put the value directly into the Jacobian

    • in case you pass a callable, the derivative will be determined numerically for the specified callable and the result will then be passed to the Jacobian

  • the increment_filter, which is a lookup for variables, that do not change anymore from one iteration to the next. In this case, the calculation of the derivative will be skipped.

Caution

We cannot simply put down the derivatives for all variables in the Jacobian because we do not necessarily know (prior to solving) which variables will be mapped to a single variable because they are linearly dependent. Thus, we have to use the set of dependents, that is passed to our derivative method. Otherwise, the calculation of the derivative, e.g. for outlet pressure may override the value for inlet pressure, even though both are pointing to the same variable. In case of numerical derivative calculation this is not an issue except for the extra computational effort. But if you have determined the derivatives analytically, then their value might change if two variables are mapped to a single one.

Need assistance?

You are very welcome to open a discussion or submit an issue on the GitHub repository!