PIPE-FLO has no limitation on the size of the projects that can be modeled. As such, many PIPE-FLO users have created very large and complicated piping network models with numerous control valves. Once the project design is completed in PIPE-FLO and the control valves are set to their design conditions, the user is then faced with the task of creating different operating scenarios. Conventional methods would have the user create a new “Lineup” and then change the control valve settings one by one. This task could take quite a bit of time, and begs for a simpler solution.

By using X-Link in conjunction with PIPE-FLO, a user can read enormous amounts of project data into a spreadsheet. X-Link also allows the user to write design data back to the PIPE-FLO project. This can be very useful when dealing with large projects having a multitude of control valves. One such user had a closed loop system with over 800 control valves distributing flow (see Figure 1 below). Some of these valves were set to automatic flow rates, while others were set to fixed positions. Some were even set fully open. The task then was to create two different operating scenarios, one with all the control valves set to 75% open, and the other with all the control valves set to 50% open.

Figure 1:  PIPE-FLO Model

Because resetting each valve position individually would take an undue amount of time, this user decided to make use of the X-Link features to change all of the valve positions simultaneously. This involved setting up a spreadsheet which would serve as the data read/write document. Referring to Figure 2 below, the columns A, B, and C were set up to query the control valves’ names, their current types, and their current settings respectively. These columns are shaded in pink. Columns D and E were set up as the assignment columns for control type and set value. These are the user controlled columns in which the user writes in the type of control valve desired, and that valve’s new desired set value. Excel’s interface allows for the easy copying and pasting, or dragging of values so changing all of the control valves to 50% is as simple as typing 50 in the first cell, and dragging that value to the bottom, thus changing all of the cells. Columns F and G (shaded in blue) were set up as the assignment codes for the control types and set values. They instruct PIPE-FLO to set the control valves to the types and settings listed in columns D and E.



Figure 2:  Excel Spreadsheet using X-Link

Once the spreadsheet has been created, it can be used for the life of the PIPE-FLO model. After the user created this spreadsheet, they went back to PIPE-FLO and created two new lineups. One lineup was for all flow control valves set to 75%, and the other was for all flow control valves set to 50%. Then, it was simply a matter of selecting the “50% Flow” lineup in PIPE-FLO, filling column D with a value of 2 (set position control) and filling column E with 50 (50%). A quick click of the read/write button  in Excel writes the new valve positions into the PIPE-FLO model. This was then repeated for the “75% Flow” lineup. Now, if the user wants to check the system flow at any other valve positions, it can be done in mere seconds.

This is one example of how X-Link was used to solve the problem of making multiple system adjustments in a few short steps. And valve positions is just one of many settings which can be changed through the use of X-Link. You can also change flow demands, boundary pressures, tank pressures and levels, and many other design parameters as well.