Flowmaster‟s GUI

2.4.6 Surface Data

Surface plots are 3-D curves which are used to define component/fluid properties based on three values.
These can be entered in Flowmaster as either x, y and z data or as a 3-D equation over a particular range
of values. (Example 4 shows a surface created from an equation.)

With all surfaces, Flowmaster reads in the X and the Y value and outputs the Z axis value.

2.4.7 Equation Editor

Flowmaster has a flexible tool to enable you to create equations. You can choose between creating a 2D
or 3D equation. Depending on your choice, a 2D Equation or 3D Equation window will open.

The Properties pane is used to enter the properties data, such as the Equation Title, X and Y Titles, Units
and Scale Factors. The pane shown on the right is used to enter the equation data. At the top of this pane
are a row of buttons which enable you to perform a range of editing functions.

You can see what the buttons do by passing the mouse over a button to display a tooltip. The lower pane
shows compilation information, such as whether it was successful or not. The pane to the right displays
the completed equation. The equations are entered in CSharp (C#).
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

Exercise 4

To practice, you can now create the following equation:

z = Math.Pow(x,4)-Math.Pow(y,4)
The axis properties can be taken as normalized values for the purposes of this example. In the example
screenshot below the X and Y axis range was taken to be from 0 to 5.

Tip: If you type “math.” in the equation editor you get a list of options for things like pi, sin, cos, abs, etc

2
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

2.4.8 Simulation Type Filter

You can use the Simulation Data Filter to keep processing time to a minimum. You can select the filter of
your choice from the drop down menu in the bottom of the lower pane of the Network Views window:

2.5 Running Simulations

2.5.1 Simulation Types and Options

The upper pane lets you choose the simulation type, ambient conditions, etc:

The information in this pane adapts to the type of simulation you are running. For example, if you choose
to run a transient simulation, fields for time step, simulation start and end time will appear.
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

To run a simulation, click Run.

While the simulation is running, you have the possibility to Abort, Pause and Disable Feedback. Once the
simulation is done, you will get a message in the bottom right hand pane informing you about the
simulation‟s success or failure:

If you now click the Result Sets/Audit tab, you will see a list of all simulations that have been run for this
network:

Directly under the simulations list, you will find a set of icons (seen below) enabling you to delete a
simulation, view the error report, view the warnings report, create a custom result report or view the ph
diagram (only for AC networks):

To view the data for a specific result set, double click on it (or single click, go to the Data tab and select
the Results instead of Data radio button):

4
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

Exercise 5

In this exercise you can now practice what we‟ve just learnt by inputting data into the example we created
in Exercise 1.

Upstream Pressure Source

Total Pressure: 2 bar

Pipes: Cylindrical Elastic

Length: 20m
Absolute Roughness (Friction Data sub-form): 0.025mm
Diameter: 0.1m
Wave Speed: 1000m/s

Pump Radial Flow

3
Rated Flow: 0.85 m /s
Rated Head: 50m
Rated Speed: 1000 r.p.m.
Rated Power: 200kW
2
Pump Inertia: 0.5kg m
2
Motor Inertia: 5kg m
Speed Ratio: 1
Friction Torque: 200N m
Initial Speed: 1000 rpm
Initial Logic State: Running at Constant Speed

Suter Head Curve: Use curve created in exercise 3. For now, use the provided Suter Head
Parameter – Radial curve.

Valve: Swing-Check
Diameter: 0.1m
Characteristic Operation Time: 0.1s
Minimum Velocity: 1m/s

Downstream Pressure Source

Total Pressure: 1.5 bar

Run a Steady State simulation.

 Flowmaster‟s GUI

2.5.2 Errors and Warnings

Errors will stop your simulation running, for example missing data.

Warnings provide important information but won‟t stop your simulation running, however they may affect
your simulation results.

2.6 Viewing Results

You can view results directly from Network Views. When you run a simulation the Results Set are loaded
into the Results Set/Audit form. You can see these Results Sets by clicking on the tab. The sets are
arranged in the order that the simulations were run.

If you have already run a simulation, click the Results Sets/Audit tab to see all the results sets and select
the required set.

Click on the Data tab to see all the components in the list and select the Results „radio‟ button.

2.6.1 Viewing Component and Node Results

Flowmaster offers you a wide range of interface facilities for looking at the results of an analysis run. You
should always ensure that the results for any network are realistic and, as far as possible, as expected.
Otherwise, you should use a combination of the results and either the Errors or Warnings reports to point
you towards the problem in either the data or the model.

The Network Views dialog shows details about all the analyses that you have run. If you click the
'Results/Audit' tab, you can see in the top pane, the analyses in the order that they were run. It is divided
into three columns and shows the following information:

Analysis number
Analysis type (e.g. Incompressible Steady State)
Description

When you select an analysis, its properties are shown in the lower pane. These include:

1. Analysis Type - shows details of the analysis type

2. Description - shows a brief description of the analysis
3. Owner - shows the name of the person 'owning' the analysis
4. Data and Time - shows the data and time that the analysis was run

6
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

5. OK? - shows the status of the analysis which can be:

a. Yes
b. No
c. Crash
6. Observations - allows you to enter details about the analysis. To do this, click in the adjacent cell
to display a button. Click the button to display the Result Observation window. Enter the details
and select OK.

There are circumstances where the analysis will fail to achieve a converged solution and will successfully
store the unconverged results. The status will be reported as 'NO'. When this occurs, you should examine
the network to ensure that the data is set correctly and examine the log file as stated above.

You can also use the appropriate Reports form to print out warnings and error messages.

2.6.2 Drawing Results

Select the components that you want to interrogate (Hold CTRL down to multi-select)

Draw

Select the type of result and click on draw.

 Flowmaster‟s GUI

Diagram shows the flow rates through each component, Arm 1 flow rates in the case of Pressure Sources
and Arm 2 for all others.

It is possible to draw multiple results onto the schematic. Select the type of result and click on Draw, tick
the append box and this will keep the previous drawn results.

8
 Flowmaster‟s GUI

2.6.4 Report Generation

Reporting buttons can be found in the Result Sets/Audit Tab

 Flowmaster‟s GUI

Reports include:
Error Report
o Written to if analysis fails
o Error messages point to problem
o Empty if run is successful

Warning Report
o Contains assumptions made
o Non convergence warnings
o Parameter out of range and curve extrapolation warnings

Customized Result Report

o Can select types of results to be reported
o Can select which components and nodes to output results for
o Personalize Report format, including company logo header.

Input Data Audit Report

o Report on the difference between two result sets

10
 Appendix – Results

Chapter 4: Steady State Examples

The objective of this section is to provide you with the opportunity to reinforce the interface training already
completed.

There are four examples given. All the necessary data is given for the models.

For all components requiring curves to be set, use the default curves unless other data is given.

Tip

Apply incompressible steady state data entry filter to eliminate all data entry fields
that may not require data set for an incompressible steady state analysis.

Steady State Example 1

 Appendix – Results

UPSTREAM RESERVOIR (Constant Head) DOWNSTREAM PIPE : CYLINDRICAL RIGID

Pipe Diameter 0.3 m Length 200 m
Liquid Level Above Base 2m Friction Option 1
Base Level Above Reference 0m Absolute Roughness 0.05 mm
Surface Pressure 1 bar Diameter 0.3 m

RADIAL FLOW PUMP DOWNSTREAM RESERVOIR (Constant Head)

3
Rated Flow 0.15 m /s Pipe Diameter 0.3 m
Rated Head 25 m Liquid Level Above Base 9m
Rated Speed 1,495 r.p.m. Base Level Above Reference 0m
Rated Power 45 kW Surface Pressure 1 bar
Initial Speed 1,495 r.p.m.

SWING-CHECK VALVE NODE DATA

Diameter 0.3 m Elevations for nodes left to right on schematic:

UPSTREAM PIPE : CYLINDRICAL RIGID ID Level in m

Length 800 m 1 0
Friction Option 1 2 1
Absolute Roughness 0.05 mm 3 2
Diameter 0.3 m 4 10
5 8

SIMULATION DATA
Default Materials: Liquid Type Water
Ambient Conditions: Ambient Temperature 20 ˚C
Atmospheric Pressure 1.013 bar

12