PIPING SYSTEMS FLUIDFLOW

Software description Piping Systems FluidFlow is "state-of-the-art" software for the solution of fluid flow through complex piping networks. The performance of almost any type of line equipment - pumps, valves, orifices, control valves, etc can be modelled. Equipment performance can be viewed graphically at the same time as the system flowsheet is displayed.

Solves for flows in complex pipe networks Almost any type of line equipment can be modelled Darcy equation or Hazen-Williams for water flow Extensive databases of user definable pipe schedules, fluids and equipment performance characteristics Graphical display of both input and ouput data Simultaneous graphical display of the flowsheet, data input and calculated results

Construction of the fluid network is in a familiar flowsheet format using click-and-drag to select piping components from the toolbar in order to add to the model. Panning, zooming and cut-and-past operations are all available to allow you to design your network with minimum effort and maximum flexibility.

FluidFlow provides the following features:-

• easy to change a variable in your network (say pump speed) • immediate display of the value of a changed variable • immediate display of a dependent variable (say flowrate or pressure)

It’s therefore possible to model dozens of variations of a network in a very short time and to optimise your pipework system.

FluidFlow utilises graphics wherever possible, both for the input of data and the display of results.

DATABASE

FluidFlow comes with 13 user-definable datasets for the storage of equipment performance characteristics and the physical properties of fluids. Data is entered in tabular and/or equation format and graphically displayed. Pump curves can be printed showing calculated duty points. The use of datasets greatly reduces the volume of data input and encourages the use of consistent design data throughout an organisation or project.

REPORTS

FluidFlow allows users to design the output format of reports to include any items of input information or calculated results. Graphs can be included in reports. A Bill of Materials option is available.

MICROSOFT EXCEL

Microsoft Excel can be used as an Automation Server or as a Report Engine. Data can be changed in Excel and ported back to FluidFlow for recalculation.

BENEFITS

By committing to Piping Systems FluidFlow you can effectively perform fluid flow designs because of…

• Proven reliability of the calculation engine and 15 years of experience in the production of fluid flow software

• Rapid network construction with build error feedback • Flow sheet, data input and results view integration enables the effect of changes to be immediately

available for evaluation • Hints and warnings help ensure you select the correct component

Features

General

• Written in Delphi - a true 32-bit code requiring Windows 95/98/NT. • PC network compatible. • Ability to utilise Microsoft Excel as an Automation Server or as a Report Engine. Output data in

Excel can be used for Bills of Materials, quantity calculations, price lists, etc. Data can be changed in Excel and ported back to Piping Systems FluidFlow for recalculation.

• Pipe layout (flowsheet) always visible when viewing entered data or calculated results. • Intelligent use of colours. User can change pipe colours. Components and pipes containing

warnings are highlighted in red. Warnings are automatically triggered if a component is operating outside its specified limits, viz insufficient NPSH for a pump or an unacceptable control valve opening.

• Cut, paste and copy all or part of a flowsheet. Cut and paste to a different flowsheet. • Equipment and fluid databases may be added to, copied and merged. Default data values can be

locked to ensure company-wide consistency. Individual databases can be allocated to separate projects.

• All Kf, K, pipe diameter, pipe roughness values obtained from datatables can be instantly overridden from the input area. Overridden values are highlighted and can be reset at any time. (For instance, the effect of scaling of pipes can be modelled. All pipes can be listed and sorted according to size. Pipes of a particular size can then be selected and the ID and roughness changed to reflect scaling in one simple operation).

• Models multiple pumps, fans and control valves. • Any pipes may be designated Open or Closed - ideal for modelling multiple pump systems where

some pumps need to be ‘switched of’. • Arrows indicate calculated direction of flow on all pipes. • "Fly by" mouse pointer can show calculated result for each component simply by pointing. • Report Writer - all entered and calculated data can be selected for inclusion/exclusion in reports • Separate models may be displayed one flowsheet. • Bill of Materials option.

Incompressible Flow

• Darcy equation is used for all liquids; Hazen Williams formula is an option for water. • Viscosity correction applied to end suction centrifugal pumps. • Affinity law correction to pump curve as speed or impeller diameter changed within model. • Automatic detection of insufficient NPSH. • Plot pump and system curves.

Compressible Flow

• Steam physical property data is estimated according to IAPWS 97 guidelines. • Physical properties of a gas mixture can be estimated.

• Choked conditions across orifice plates are detected and flow is restricted accordingly.

FLUIDFLOW SCREEN IMAGE: flowsheet

The flowsheet below shows a cooling water pumping system with two sets of pumps. The pump set lower left has been "switched off" by closing the pipes downstream of the pumps (shown dotted).

The model was built by clicking on component icons on the toolbar to the left and dragging them onto the worksheet. Pipes were rubber banded between components and coloured to add clarity - in this case the hot pipes downstream of the heat exchangers were coloured fuchsia.

Entered data and calculated results are displayed to the right. The tabs allow different information items to be displayed. On this screen capture results data for the upper pump is shown.

Use the scroll bars to view the entire image...

FLUIDFLOW SCREEN IMAGE: graphical display of results

FluidFlow makes extensive use of graphics for data entry and results display.

The pump capacity, efficiency and NPSH curves are shown with the duty point indicated as a red triangle.

FLUIDFLOW SCREEN IMAGE: results warnings

FluidFlow generates a range of warnings when equipment is operating outside set limits, for instance inadequate NPSH as in this example. Other warnings enunciate if pumps are operating outside minimum/maximum desired flowrates and control valves are opened/closed beyond specified limits. The warnings do not prevent calculation but alert the user to a possible problem.

FLUIDFLOW SCREEN IMAGE: data entry

FluidFlow generates a range of warnings when equipment is operating outside set limits, for instance inadequate NPSH as in this example. Other warnings enunciate if pumps are operating outside minimum/maximum desired flowrates and control valves are opened/closed beyond specified limits. The warnings do not prevent calculation but alert the user to a possible problem.

Download an evaluation version of Piping Systems FluidFlow in four separate files each of 1.44 Mbyte or as one file of 5.0Mbyte.

Download Instructions: Right click and select 'Save Taget As' or 'Save this program to disk' option. The Browser will display allowing you to save to your hard disk.

The four files should be saved to the same temporary folder on your hard disk.

To install, double click on the setup.exe file (or Run) and then follow the install Wizard. If you saved the four files to the same folder, the install Wizard will automatically detect the the other three.

This version of Piping Systems FluidFlow is fully functional except that the fluids database is disabled such that only a demo liquid and a demo gas can be used. The phydiscal properties of the demo fluids are not sensible, but the calcuations performed are correct based on the values of density, viscosity and vapour pressure.

Purchase of a full licence enables the database. Any models you develop with the demo version will be fully operative if you subsequently purchase a full licence.

You can also download our "QuickStart" evaluation manual as an 18 page Word document. This will get you building pipe network models within minutes.

Fluid Flow and Engineering Software Accutech 2000 Pty Ltd http://www.accutech2000.com.au/FluidFlow/Fluidflow_Contents.html