Video demonstrations of Pipe Flow Expert software  (15-Dec-2010)

Pipe Flow have released a number of Video demonstrations of Pipe Flow Expert, the premier software application for solving flow rates, pressures and pumping requirements in pipe systems.

Video 1 provides an introduction to the features and functionality of the Pipe Flow Expert software, demonstrating its simple user interface while showing off the robust calculation engine that allows a user to solve the pressure losses and fluid flow rates throughout a pipe system.

Video 2 shows a classic Three Reservoir Problem, where flow occurs in separate pipes from two reservoirs at elevated positions. The two pipes then join at a common point at a lower elevation and from this point the fluid flows down a third pipe to the base reservoir. In this example system, the question is "What flow rate will occur under gravity in each of the 3 pipes in the system and what is the total flow rate that will be delivered to the base reservoir?".

While this sounds like a simple problem, it is not easy to solve by hand calculations since the flow rates and pressures in the pipe system must be balanced at all points and as the flow increases in one pipe so does the friction loss in the pipe, which affects the flow and pressures at other points in the system. Accurately solving the flows and pressures in small and relatively simple pipe networks where flows branch or join together is a difficult problem - unless you have the right software that is. Pipe Flow Expert makes it easy to model and analyze the flows and pressures in your pipe system.

Video 3 demonstrates how to find the pump head required to move water at flow rate of 200 US gpm between two tanks at different elevations. The first tank is located at 0 ft elevation and the second tank is located at an elevation of 280 ft and the tanks are connected by a series of pipes that contain a number of bends and fittings. This system is easily modeled using the Pipe Flow Expert software and the pump head required to produce the given flow rate is calculated instantly.

Pipe Flow expect to add more videos over time to show how the Pipe Flow Expert software can be used to model and solve a variety of general hydraulic engineering problems that may be encountered by process engineers when designing or modifying existing pipe systems.

The Pipe Flow Software videos are also available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/pipeflowsoftware

Pipe Flow Expert is used by engineers in over 75 countries worldwide, in many different industries, including aerospace, chemical processing, education, food and beverage, general engineering, mining, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, power generation, water and wastewater processing.