Pipe Flow Expert Software Example Systems - General 12 – Step by Step (User Created Example)

Figure 30  General 12 – Step by Step (User Created Example)

This section provides a step-by-step walkthrough example that shows how to create and solve a system that contains 5 pipes, 3 tanks and one pump. It explains how to design the system, calculate the solution and view the results.

Note: When Pipe Flow Expert is operating in trial mode, a maximum of 5 pipes can be drawn and the system cannot be saved. A licensed version of Pipe Flow Expert allows up to 1000 pipes in a single system.

Create a System using the following Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select new grid – Click new grid tool button.

2. Click yes at prompt to create a new grid. - Click no to reject the isometric grid option

3. Click the Imperial radio button to change the units to the imperial defaults.

4. Click yes to accept the Imperial default units

Adding the tanks:

5. Click the ‘Tank button’ on the tool bar,, the drawing cursor will change to a pointer and a tank symbol.

6. Click on the grid, in the left hand quarter of the grid and about half way down the screen.

7. A tank will be drawn on the grid and the node pane will show the tank details.

8. Leave the tank surface pressure as 0.000 psig (the tank is open to atmosphere).

9. Edit the liquid level value, enter 2.000 (the liquid level in the tank is set to 2.000 ft).

10. Edit the bottom elevation value, enter 1.000 (the tank is located at 1.000 ft above your datum).

11. Move the cursor to a position about 12 grid intervals to the right and 2 grid intervals above the original tank position and click on the grid.

12. A second tank will be drawn on the grid and the node pane will show the tank details.

13. Leave the tank surface pressure as 0.000 psig (the tank is open to atmosphere).

14. Edit the liquid level value, enter 2.000 (the liquid level in the tank is set to 2.000 ft).

15. Edit the bottom elevation value, enter 10.000 (the tank is located at 10.000 ft above your datum).

16. Move the cursor to a position about 4 grid intervals to the left and 2 grid intervals above the second tank position and click on the grid.

17. A third tank will be drawn on the grid and the node pane will show the tank details.

18. Leave the tank surface pressure as 0.000 psig (the tank is open to atmosphere).

19. Edit the liquid level value, enter 2.000 (the liquid level in the tank is set to 2.000 ft).

20. Edit the bottom elevation value, enter 10.000 (the tank is located at 10.000 ft above your datum).

Adding the first pipe:

21. Click the ‘Add pipes button’ on the toolbar, , the drawing cursor will change to a pointer with a node/pipe link symbol.

22. Click the tank on the left of the drawing, to indicate that a pipe will be drawn from this node.

23. Move the cursor and the ‘Rubber banding’ line will appear to show where a pipe will be drawn.

24. Click at a grid intersection about 4 squares to the right of the tank.

25. A first pipe reminder message will appear, click yes to change the defaults.

Select the default pipe size

26. The Configuration Options – Pipe Defaults Tab is shown.
27. Click the Material button, , to display the list of pipe material types.

28. Scroll to choose Steel (ANSI) Sch. 40, highlight this line, click the ‘Select’ button (or double click on the Steel (ANSI) Sch. 40 line).

29. A list of pipe sizes will be displayed.

30. Scroll to choose 4” Nominal Size, highlight this line, click the ‘Use selected size’ button (or double click on the 4” Nominal Size line).

31. The chosen size is now displayed in the top pane of the Pipe diameter data window.

32. Click the ‘Save Data to Pipe’ button to set the default pipe values.

33. Edit the length value, enter 50 (the length of the default pipe is set to 50 ft)

34. Click the OK button to confirm the changes.

35. The details of Pipe 1 have now changed to match the default pipe details.

Add further pipes

36. Move the rubber band to a position about 2 grid intervals above the previous node and click on the grid to draw a vertical line in an upward direction.

37. Pipe 2 has been added, the details of Pipe 2 match the default pipe details.

38. Move the rubber band to a position about 4 grid intervals to the right of the previous node and click to draw a horizontal line.

39. Pipe 3 has been added, the details of Pipe 3 match the default pipe details.

40. Move the rubber band to draw a further horizontal line, click the grid when the cursor is on the tank at the right hand side of the grid.

41. Pipe 4 has been added, the details of Pipe 4 match the default pipe details.

Add a pipe at a new position

42. Right click the mouse to switch off the rubber banding and the pipe drawing.

43. Click the pipe node directly below the tank at the top of the grid (this should be N6).

44. The node will be highlighted and the rubber banding will re-appear.

45. Move the rubber band to draw to draw a vertical line, click on the tank at the top of the grid.

46. Pipe 5 has been added, the details of Pipe 5 match the default pipe details.

47. Right click the mouse to switch off the rubber banding and the pipe drawing.

Note: If Pipe Flow Expert is operating in trial mode the maximum number of pipes allowed has been reached.

Setting the Node Elevations

As pipes are added, the elevations of the node at the end of each pipe, will have been set to match the elevation of the node at the start of the pipe.

The elevations of node N5 and node N6 need to be changed.

48. Click the ‘Show item button’ on the toolbar, .

49. Select Node 5, click node 5 on the drawing to choose this node. A highlight circle will be shown around the node. The node details will be displayed in the node pane.

50. Edit the Elevation of join value, enter 10.000 (the elevation is set to 10.000 ft).

51. Select Node 6, click node 6 on the drawing to choose this node. A highlight circle will be shown around the node. The node details will be displayed in the node pane.

52. Edit the Elevation of the node, enter 10.000 (the elevation is set to 10.000 ft).

Moving the Tanks and Nodes

53. To re-position items on the grid click the ‘Drag and Move’ button on the tool bar, . 
    All nodes, tanks, and text labels will be highlighted with a yellow circle.

54. Click on a yellow circle and drag the item to a new position.

55. Right click the mouse to turn off the ‘Drag and Move’ feature.

Note: Text labels associated with a node or a pipe can only be moved within the area around a node. Pipe labels can only be moved within the area between the start and end of the pipe.

56. To move more than one Tank or Node and the attached pipes, click the ‘Selection tool’ button on the tool bar.

57. Click on the grid, holding the mouse down to drag the selection rectangle to enclose the nodes to be moved, and then release the mouse. Click in the selection rectangle, holding the mouse down, and move the selected nodes to a new position.

58. Right click the mouse to turn off the ‘Selection’ feature

Add a pump

59. Click the ‘Show Item Info’ button on the tool bar, .

60. Select Pipe 1: click pipe 1 on the drawing to choose this pipe. A highlight bar will be shown around the pipe.

61. Click the pump symbol, , in the pipe pane to open the pump dialog.

62. Enter this performance data for the pump: (or load pump data from database see step 64)

Note: Flow units are UK gpm

63. Click the ‘Draw Graph’ button to view the pump performance graph.

64. The pump data may also be loaded from the pump database.

1. Click the Open Pump Database tab on the pump screen.

2. Click the browse radio button & select the ‘GenericPumps_EndSuction_50Hz’ folder from the drop down list.

3. Browse the pump list and select the Generic_4x3-10H_A40_1475.pfpm’ entry.

4. The pump performance graph will be shown.

5. Click the ‘Select’ button to load the pump information on to the pump data screen.

6. Amend the pump speed to 800 rpm by using the up/down adjustment arrows.

7. Amend the pump impeller diameter to 9.50 inch by using the up/down adjustment arrows.

65. Set the pump distance ‘Along pipe’ to 20ft and the ‘at Elevation’ to 1.0 ft.

66. Click the ‘Save to Pipe’ button to close the Pump dialog.

67. The Pump symbol is now shown on Pipe 1.

Solving the system

68. Click the ‘Calculate’ button on the tool bar to find a balanced flow and a balanced pressure state for the system.

69. The Results Log should appear and confirm that the network was solved successfully

70. Three comments in the log warn the user that flow comes in from a tank and flow discharges from a pipe, but no fitting with a K factor to represent these effects have been included. Ignore these warning for this example.

71. Click the ‘View Results Sheet’ button to view the Results tables.

The results can also be viewed on the drawing.

72. Close the ‘Results Sheet’ to view the results on the drawing only, or Click the ‘View Results Drawing’ button if you did not click ‘View Results Sheet’ previously.

73. Hover over a pipe, node or tank on the drawing to display the results in the pop-up data panel. Click an item to display data in the status pane.

74. Click the pump symbol on Pipe 1 to view the pump operating point.

Re Design the system

75. To make amendments to the system design, click the Re-Design button.
76. Click the ‘Show Item Info’ button on the toolbar,.

77. Select the tank at the right hand side of the drawing (Node 2). Click on the drawing to choose this tank. A highlight circle will be shown around the tank. The tank details will be displayed in the node pane.

78. Edit the Bottom Elevation of tank, enter 9.000 (the elevation is set to 9.000 ft), the pipe P4 will now be assumed to fall 1.000 ft over its length (from 10 ft elevation to 9 ft elevation). This will allow more water to flow along this pipe.

79. Click the ‘Calculate’ button on the toolbar to find a balanced flow and a balanced pressure state for the new system design.

The user may wish to add a pipe entry fitting, pipe exit fittings & tee fittings to complete the model.