Sizing Piping Networks for Incompressible Flow With a Digital Computer

Abstract

The computer program described in this paper will find the pipe size for each section of a complex piping network necessary for proper system performance within a given set of operating criteria for an incompressible fluid under steady, one-dimensional, isothermal flow conditions. Operating criteria are specified as flow and flow direction in each pipe section, pressures required or imposed at all end points of the network, and maximum allowable velocity of the fluid. The physical description of the network is given in the form of pipe lengths, quantities and types of components in each pipe section, and heights of all end points. Any network configuration, whether convergent, divergent, loop, parallel, or a combination of these, can be designed. Selected pipe sections may be fixed in size as input and the remaining sections of the network will have sizes chosen that are compatible. In addition to calculating pipe sizes and other related data, an option may be chosen to provide a basic list of material and a material ordering format.