ThermofluidStream 1.4.0 release

[tobiasreischl]

Summary

This PR prepares the release of ThermofluidStream 1.4.0.

It updates the release-related version metadata, release notes and README content for the new minor release.

Important

This release is intended to include #373. This PR should therefore be updated with the final main branch after #373 has been merged.

Release 1.4.0 highlights

• Added the new ThermofluidStream.Idealized package for simplified thermodynamic process and cycle modeling.
• Added the new ThreeWayValve model based on BasicControlValve; the previous Switch model is now obsolete.
• Substantially improved the sensor package, including icons, connector placement, dynamic value displays, numerical formatting and selectable display units.
• Improved valve diagnostics and validation, including unreachable-set-point indicators and checks for invalid modifications to dp_ref and rho_ref.
• Deprecated the Cvs_UK flow-coefficient option while retaining it for compatibility.
• Improved heat-exchanger connector handling, icons, assertions and OpenModelica compatibility.
• Improved graphical rendering and cross-tool compatibility of idealized thermodynamic processes.
• Updated the SimpleAirCycle example and several media, pump and heat-exchanger examples.
• Changed the default value of Idealized.Processes.Isenthalpic.enforcePressureDrop from true to false to improve numerical robustness.
• Added and updated regression tests and fixed several issues in sensors, valves, heat exchangers, documentation and graphical annotations.

Migration notes

No conversion script is required. Existing models may nevertheless require adjustments due to the following changes:

• The default value of Idealized.Processes.Isenthalpic.enforcePressureDrop changed from true to false.

  Models requiring the previous behavior must explicitly set:

  enforcePressureDrop = true

• When using Kvs, Cvs_US or Cvs_UK, the following reference values must not be modified:

  • dp_ref = 1 bar
  • rho_ref = 1000 kg/m3

  New assertions detect unsupported modifications to these values.

• ThermofluidStream.FlowControl.Switch is obsolete; new models should use ThreeWayValve.

• ThermofluidStream.Utilities.RealVector is obsolete.

• The Cvs_UK flow-coefficient option is deprecated.

The obsolete and deprecated components have not been removed - planned for upcoming major release 2.0