What does PlantFLOW do?
PlantFLOW calculates single phase pressures, flow velocities, temperatures and fluid properties in gas or liquid piping networks. PlantFLOW is used to size pipes, balance flows, and to select and position equipment.
Unique PlantFLOW features:
1. Only pipe network flow analysis program with option to use real world 3D piping geometry with CAD interfaces to Rebis AutoPLANT, Intergraph PDS (PDS link requires STRAIT program), and a bi-directional interface with AutoPIPE pipe stress for model transfer. Users who do not wish to model in detailed 3D can utilize the PlantFLOW "user loss" element to simulate multiple elbows and other system loss components without having to model each of them in detail.
2. PlantFLOW couples industry standard thermodynamic models such as ASME steam table equations and National Institute of Standards (NIST) Supertrapp thermophysical model and properties database http://www.nist.gov/srd/nist4.htm with the flow equation for more accurate analysis results. Most commercial and in-house pipe flow programs assume ideal gas (Z factor = 1), constant fluid properties which do not change with temperature or pressure, limited to single fluid component or compound, and/or they lack heat transfer. Although limited to single phase analysis at this time, PlantFLOW does point-by-point calculation of pressures, temperatures, Z factor, and other thermodynamic and transport properties of non-ideal gas or liquid mixtures. PlantFLOW will calculate and warn if flashing or sonic choking occurs anywhere in the network.
Bottom line: For single phase pipe flow analysis, PlantFLOW analysis results will likely be more accurate than any flow analysis tool that the client is currently using, especially if they need to analyze compressible gases.
3. PlantFLOW calculates pressures, velocities, temperatures, and fluid properties in piping networks with branches and loops. In-house spreadsheets and many commercial flow programs are limited to single line analysis without consideration of branches or loops. Any program limited to analysis of single lines is unable to handle flow splits and converging flows from branches and loops, which hurts accuracy, and limits the user from seeing the big picture on overall system performance.
4. Graphical review of analysis results. We have yet to find any pipe network flow program other than PlantFLOW which enables users to review analysis results using color coded graphics and pop-up windows, or allows the user to click on the graphics model to review pressures, velocities, or temperatures. The ability to graphically highlight in red all points which exceed a user specified velocity or pressure, for example, is a huge advantage compared to manual searches through text output reports.
Traditional methods of analysis review involve tedious manual searches through output reports. PlantFLOW result filters enable users to isolate output results by velocity, pressure, temperature, delta P using AND/OR searches to slash time and eliminate user errors which come from manual searches through analysis reports.
PlantFlow success story WS Atkins
PlantFlow success story at 4Front Engineering