Flownex features a designer functionality where automatic calculation of component sizes and capacities are possible to obtain a specified or number of specified system operating conditions. For instance to determine the orifice sizes for flow balancing in a system or determining the shaft speed or turbine guide vane angle in a power matched turbo-unit.
The Flownex Designer
A first generation direct design facility allows the automatic calculation of component and equipment sizes and capacities to obtain a specified system operating condition.
In essence the Flownex Designer allows the Flownex user to achieve a desired result or state by varying a related parameter.
Designer Variables
In order to design a system, users will vary dependent variables between a minimum and maximum value to achieve the desired results, these variables include any adjustable component parameter in a simulation, such as:
- Mass flows.
- Pressures.
- Temperatures.
- Heat transfer.
- Rotational speed.
- Power output.
- etc…
Steps to Design
1. Flownex simulation with unequal Mass flow distribution through parallel branches connected to a common header (Orifice 50% open).
2. Designer Setup to vary orifice sizes of 4 branching lines to achieve equal mass flow distribution.
3. Set solver to run designer.
4. Designer results achieved convergence and found solution.
5. Network with equal mass flow through all 4 branches, notice the designed Orifice sizes.
Design Examples
Pipeline:
- Change valve openings to achieve a desired mass flow & pressure drop through system.
- Determine pipe diameters & roughness to achieve required pressure drop.
Heat Transfer:
- Determine wall thickness to achieve desired heat loss to atmosphere.
- Determine pipe lengths to achieve sufficient heat transfer.
Turbo Units & Pumps:
- You can optimize your pump speed to achieve a specific mass flow.
- Scale turbines & compressors to achieve desired efficiency & power output.