| What
Is EES?
Key
features and quick facts:
EES
(pronounced "ease") stands for Engineering
Equation Solver. EES gives the numerical solution
of a set of algebraic equations. It can also be used
to
* solve differential and integral equations.
* do optimization.
* provide uncertainty analyses and linear and non-linear
regression.
* generate publication-quality plots.
Developed by professors teaching thermodynamics and
heat transfer to undergraduates:
EES
was developed by two professors, Dr. William Beckman
and Dr. Sanford Klein, both of the University of Wisconsin.
Their experience in teaching mechanical engineering
thermodynamics and heat transfer showed that students
were spending too much time looking up property information
and solving equations for their homework problems, tasks
that did not help the students master the subject material.
Interesting practical problems could not be assigned
because of their mathematical complexity. Dr. Beckman
and Dr. Klein designed EES to allow the user to concentrate
more on design by freeing him or her from mundane chores
like looking up property information and solving equations.
EES
vs. other equation solvers:
There
are two major differences between EES and other equation-solving
programs.
*
First, EES allows equations to be entered in any order
with unknown variables placed anywhere in the equations;
EES automatically reorders the equations for efficient
solution.
* Second, EES provides many built-in mathematical and
thermophysical property functions useful for engineering
calculations. Transport properties are also provided
for all substances.
The library of mathematical and thermophysical property
functions in EES is extensive. EES also allows the user
to enter his or her own functional relationships in
three ways.
*
EES provides a facility for entering and interpolating
tabular data, so that data can be directly used in the
solution of the equation set.
* The EES language supports user-written functions,
procedures and modules.
* Compiled functions and procedures, written in a high-level
language such as Pascal, C, or FORTRAN, can be dynamically-linked
with EES.
EES is particularly useful for design problems.
EES
may be used to solve design problems in which the effects
of one or more parameters must be determined. EES's
Parametric Table, which is similar to a spreadsheet,
provides this capability. The user identifies the independent
variables by entering their values in the table cells.
EES will calculate the values of the dependent variables
in the table. EES also provides plotting capability
to display the relationship between any two variables
in the table.
With
EES, it is no more difficult to do design problems than
it is to solve a problem for a fixed set of independent
variables.
With
EES's simple set of intuitive commands, a novice can
quickly solve complex problems. EES's large built-in
data bank of thermodynamic and transport properties
is helpful in solving problems in thermodynamics, fluid
mechanics, and heat transfer. EES can be used for many
engineering applications; it is ideally suited for instruction
in mechanical engineering courses and for the practicing
engineer faced with the need for solving practical problems.
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