PiscesPro

Design your pipework system and size your pipes within the Virtual Environment, saving time and increasing productivity.

Model

PiscesPro can use the 3D building model from the Virtual Environment or 2D DXF CAD drawings as the background for drafting the pipework system. Alternatively, the system can be drafted on a blank canvas.

Data entry and interface

Data Preparation

  • General system data, including pressure gradients, TRV authority, non-index run resize option, fluid and air temperatures, velocity limits and fluid properties
  • Customisable fitting data file, with data for each fitting type – how to draw it and connect it to pipes, and its pressure loss category
  • Pre-definable list of pipe parameter sets for easier data entry when editing the default pipe or a particular pipe in the network (e.g. type of pipe, roughness, emissivity)
  • Default data to be used during graphical placement – default pipe, default fitting for each junction type, and default terminal
  • Pipe data – predefined parameter set, lag code, division number, optional fixed pressure losses, ambient air temperature, optional extra k-factor, etc
  • Fitting data – fitting type, plan rotation (if editable), dimensions (if editable), etc
  • Terminal data – as for fittings, plus fluid flowrate, heat emission, division number, pressure drop, optional fixed pressure losses, ambient air temperature, optional extra k-factor, and number of panels.

Graphical Facilities

  • Graphical placement of pipes, using the current default pipe, with automatically-assigned fitting types at each junction, using the current default fittings
  • Graphical placement of fittings and terminals, using the current default fittings and terminals
  • Pipe networks can be drawn around a VE 3D building model, over a DXF drawing file, or on a ‘blank canvas’
  • The pipe network can be drawn in any view (plan view, front view etc)
  • Ability to copy, move, edit and delete facilities on all graphical objects
  • Easy-to-use tool for connecting pipes to emitters.

Other Data Preparation Utilities

  • Radiators may be placed – or selected and moved – in the model, either singly or as an array. A ceiling grid may be defined to aid this process. Radiators may be placed relative to walls or windows

Analysis Options

  • Calculate all the routes through the network, starting from the flow node and going to the return node
  • Check for any closed loops and warn user
  • Calculate initial 'ideal' pipe sizes based on the specified design friction gradient, modified if the velocity limit criteria are exceeded. Select nearest available size
  • Calculate the heat emission from all the pipes in the system, iterating to recalculate surface temperatures until successive estimates of heat emissions agree to less than 0.5 percent
  • Adjust the emitter outputs based on the useful pipe heat
  • Calculate new flowrates for the system based on the new emissions and the required flow and return temperatures
  • Repeat until the system is balanced
  • The analysis may be repeated with calculated sizes removed or retained for some or all of the pipes.

Outputs and deliverables

Review options

  • Input data
  • Errors and warnings
  • Calculation results
  • Parts list
  • Output file containing all input data and results.

Deliverables

Output includes the following:

  • For each section of pipework: mass flowrate, pipe size, pipe and valve pressure drops, velocity, temperatures, heat emissions, pipe pressure-loss gradient
  • For the complete system: the required boiler/chiller output, circuit resistance, pump power of circuit, water content of pipework, identification of the index path, length of each pipe size required, length of lagging required for each pipe size, and an optional list of fittings used in the system
  • Pipework graphics can be exported in DXF format to any CAD system.
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PiscesPro Screenshot
PiscesPro Screenshot
PiscesPro Screenshot
PiscesPro Screenshot