Piping components (resistances)

Pipeline branches consist of separate piping components (a.k.a. resistances) - pipes, bends, valves, etc. To add a new component to a branch, use the corresponding buttons of the Components toolbar or corresponding items in the "Insert - Component" menu:

- straight pipe;

- pipe entrance;

- pipe exit;

- bend;

- flow turn;

- expansion joint or loop;

- reducer;

- valve;

- orifice;

- elevation change;

- equipment (pump, reservoir, waterhammer damper, Component with known loss coefficient or pressure/temperature drop);

- tee;

- steam trap.

Please note that the new component is added to the project tree after the currently selected element. Therefore, to add a new component after an existing one, select it in the project tree or in the graphic window and add the new component. If you need to add a new component to the beginning of a branch, select the branch in the project tree and add the new component.

After adding a component, its parameters will be displayed in the Object Properties Window, which have the following structure:

By default, when entering a new component, its name matches the type (straight pipe, elbow, etc.), but if necessary, it can be changed in the corresponding field. When changing the hydraulic component type, its name changes, but only if it matches the type. If the name was changed manually, the relationship between the name and the type disappears - when the element type is subsequently switched, its name will not change. The name of each piping component can be displayed on the piping diagram next to this component by clicking the corresponding button to the right of the section name in the Object Properties Window.

For all components, except for "point" elements (without length), it is possible to specify an elevation difference. A positive difference means that the component's exit point is located higher than the entry point, a negative difference means the opposite.

For components with possible diameter change (reducers, flow-turns, etc.), the new values of the inner and outer diameters are applied to all components of the branch after this component until the end of the branch or until the next component with a diameter change (if there is one in this branch). Please note that when adding and deleting such components, as well as when changing their new diameter value (just like in case of changing the starting diameters of the branch), the program will not only automatically adjust the values of the diameters of all the following components in this branch (up to the first element with a change in diameter if any), but will also change the values of the radii of the bends and elbows in this branch if they are equal to the standard value of 1.5*DN (for pipes with DN < 500mm) or 1*DN (for pipes with DN >= 500mm).

For all types of piping components, the "quantity" parameter is available, which can be used when modeling several identical components (for example, bends or fittings). To do this, you need to set only one of these identical piping components (without setting each of them separately) and enter their quantity in this field - in this case, at the calculation, the hydraulic resistance and heat loss on this element will be multiplied by the specified value. Of course, all elements will not be displayed on the piping graphical diagram (only one of them will be displayed), but they will be taken into account in the calculation. However, it is important to note that this method of setting not always gives a good accuracy of calculation, since it does not take into account that a change in pressure and temperature after the next piping component may entail a change in the density and viscosity of the fluid (which is especially crucial for gases and gas-liquid mixtures), and, consequently, a change in the pressure drop on subsequent elements. This method can be used for a quick rough estimate and mainly for liquids, the properties of which don't change (for instance, at a constant temperature) or change slightly along the pipeline. For a more accurate calculation, you should specify all components sequentially in the exact order they appear (even if there are repeating ones among them).