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2025 • Institute for Automation and Communication (ifak) SIMBA# – a dynamic simulation tool for water, wastewater, and biogas systems

SIMBA# is a dynamic simulation tool for modeling and analyzing wastewater treatment plants, sewer networks, drinking water systems, rivers, and biogas plants. Originally developed as an extension of MATLAB/Simulink, SIMBA# evolved into a standalone software programmed in C# using the .NET framework. It integrates process engineering, energy analysis, automation solutions, and digital twins, making it valuable for research, teaching, and real-world applications. With modules covering activated sludge processes, aeration, sludge digestion, and control system design, the tool enables optimization of sanitation and resource recovery systems. Widely used in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and beyond, SIMBA# supports circular economy principles by facilitating water reuse, biogas generation, and nutrient recovery.

Recovered Materials & Products

Energy
Electricity
Heat
Biogas
Digestate
Water reuse

Waste Streams

Wastewater
Organic solid waste
Wastewater sludge
Sewage sludge

Confirmed countries

Germany

What is this tool intended for?

SIMBA# provides an integrated modeling environment for wastewater and resource recovery systems. It enables:

  • Wastewater treatment process design and optimization
  • Energy and material flow analysis
  • Sewer network management and control
  • Digital twins for real-time system simulation
  • Biogas plant modeling and optimization
  • Urban water cycle analysis, including rivers and groundwater

How does this tool work?

SIMBA# features a graphical process flow editor, allowing users to connect function blocks that represent wastewater treatment processes, automation systems, and control elements. It includes:

  • Model libraries for activated sludge, anaerobic digestion, sewer hydraulics, and river water quality.
  • Simulation of aeration, energy consumption, and chemical dosing.
  • Dynamic modeling of control strategies using PID controllers, AI-based learning, and neural networks.
  • Visualization tools including time-series analysis, Sankey diagrams, and 3D process animations.
  • Export capabilities to Excel, SCADA systems, and cloud-based applications.

Who might use this tool and with which types of stakeholders?

Primary users include:

  • Researchers and academic institutions for teaching and simulation-based studies.
  • Municipalities and wastewater utilities for treatment plant design and digital twin applications.
  • Consultants and engineers optimizing sanitation infrastructure.
  • Biogas and energy sector professionals for anaerobic digestion system analysis.
  • Policy makers developing sustainable water resource management strategies.

What stages of a process can this tool support?

  • Feasibility studies (treatment plant design, energy recovery options)
  • Operational optimization (control system improvements, process stability)
  • Scenario analysis (climate resilience, pollution control strategies)
  • Training and capacity building (education and skill development)

What skills, capabilities, and resources are required to use this tool?

  • Basic knowledge of wastewater treatment, energy recovery, and process modeling
  • Comfort with graphical user interfaces (GUI) and simulation software
  • Access to wastewater treatment plant data for case-specific applications
  • Familiarity with automation and control engineering (optional)

Where can this tool be used?

SIMBA# is applicable globally, with strong adoption in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Canada, and Israel. It is used in urban wastewater treatment, industrial water systems, and biogas applications.

Case examples of where this tool has been used

  • Germany: Used by universities and water utilities for wastewater treatment process optimization.
  • Austria: Implemented in energy-efficient treatment plant design.
  • Netherlands: Applied for sewer network modeling and stormwater management.
  • Canada: Utilized for biogas process optimization in anaerobic digestion plants.

Get the Tool

Simba# is a commercial software with license-based access. Information on how to download the tool and acquire relevant licenses and documentation is available at the link below.
https://www.ifak.eu/en/produkte/simba

Learn more

Explanatory videos and tutorials about Sima# are available on YouTube at the link below.
https://www.ifak.eu/en/products/simba-YT-explanatory-videos

Training courses on the Simba# tool are available at the link below.
https://www.ifak.eu/en/products/simba-training-courses

Technologies

Anaerobic digestion
Biogas upgrading
Combined heat and power (CHP)
Activated sludge
Sludge application
Membrane bioreactor

Themes

Design
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Waste-to-energy
Automation and control