INSTRUCALC VERSION 9 January 2015

QUICKSTART GUIDE

1.0 START MENU

On opening InstruCalc Version 8 you will be presented with the following Main Menu giving you access to the four modules of the program:

Clicking [More] displays the various sub-modules.

Selecting the individual modules by clicking the header button shows the following start-up panes for each.

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CONTROL VALVE SIZING PROGRAM
RELIEF VALVE SIZING PROGRAMS
FLOW ELEMENT SIZING PROGRAMS
PROCESS DATA CALCULATIONS
Each module has a New Calculation
option at the top of each pane. A selection
here may take you immediately to a data
entry dialog (eg Control Valves) or to
another menu from where you select the
desired routine (eg Flow Element Sizing).
After this selection routine you will be in the
appropriate data entry dialog where first you
must make your selection of units and other
options.
For instance try:
Control Valve Sizing
Liquid
[New calc]
To return to the module menu use
File | Program menu.
To return to the Main Menu use
File | Exit
Now try:
Flow Elements
[Gas flow]
ISO Orifice Plates
Concentric Flange Taps
[OK]
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2.0 UNITS AND CALCULATION OPTIONS SELECTION

Once any of the four modules is activated, you need to preset your units and other data using the [Change setup] button which appears bottom right on all modules
- as shown by the red arrow in the image below. It is recommended not to use the buttons on the calculation screen itself (see below) to set your initial units of
choice. These buttons are for fine tuning each line after initial units selection is made on the [Change setup] screen.

The Calculation form setup options shown below includes: operating pressures, liquid density options, available calculations, liquid or gas unit options, local or

base conditions, pressure tap location, drain hole, etc. Options vary depending on the calculation screen you are working from. Click to display the
dialog below:

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Once you have selected your desired units for calculation on this screen, you may fine tune the individual input units on the calculation screen using the
line item buttons as shown below.

Note: you can save your units selection as your default, but you will still have to access this dialog to set other conditions for the individual calculations.

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Use these buttons on the Calculation screen for fine tuning after you have made your base unit selection from the Change setup options screen.

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3.0 CONTROL VALVES

The Control Valve module operates via an interaction between the two dialogs shown below, the Valve Sizing dialog and the System Pressure Drop dialog.
Limited data is first entered into the Valve Sizing dialog (Normal data column), with the valve pressure drop being estimated if not known. InstruCalc allows for
Normal, Minimum and Maximum flow situations to be analysed, based on a proportion of the nominal flow. It always starts with Normal flow which defaults to 50%
of nominal flow.

The objective of the calculation is to first size or select a valve for Normal flow usually considered to be 50% of a nominal flow. The software then allows for the
rangeability of the selected valve to be tested, ie its effective performance with flowrates greater or less than the Normal flow. This requires the System Pressure
Drop dialog to be utilised since the inlet pressure to the valve will vary with different flowrates.

VALVE SIZING DIALOG

OUTLINE

Once the first estimate of Normal flow conditions is made in the

Valve Sizing dialog, the fluid and type of valve selected, and the
[Normal] conditions calculated, this data is transferred to the
System Pressure Drop dialog where the pressure drop along the
upstream and downstream connecting pipes is determined
taking into account any additional fittings. Pipe start/end
upstream and downstream pressures are defined. This data is
then transferred back to the Valve Sizing Normal dialog where
the inlet pressure to the valve may be modified to take into
account upstream pipe flow conditions.

The link is via the menu option [Other options] on the Valve
Sizing dialog ...

After this stage the [Maxim] and [Minimum] flow conditions can
be analysed.

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SYSTEM PRESSURE DROP DIALOG

Data enter into this dialog determines upstream and

downstream pipe conditions and may amend the valve inlet
pressure accordingly. Calculation is via the [Normal] button at
the top of the data column.

Calculated data is returned to the Valve Sizing dialog via the

buttons shown below.

and returns to the Valve Sizing dialog where the

[Normal] calculation needs to be repeated. Here the valve inlet
pressure will be amended dependent on the defined connecting
pipe flow conditions.

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 Once the Normal conditions have been re-calculated, the scroll
bars become active. Move them up or down to calculate
various percentages of Normal.

The System Pressure Drop dialog is now automatically linked,

so that variations in flowrate and system properties for both the
valve and the adjoining pipework are simultaneously calculated
providing a guide the rangeability of the selected valve.

Note always move the Minimum scroll bar first, the Maximum
scroll bar second.

SUMMARY

The objective of the calculation is to first size or select a valve for Normal flow usually considered to be 50% of a nominal flow. The software then allows for the
rangeability of the selected valve to be tested, ie its effective performance with flowrates greater or less than the Normal flow. This requires system pressure drop
dialog to be utilised since the inlet pressure to the valve will vary with different flowrates. Finally, valve closing time may be analysed.

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3.1 CONTROL VALVE: EXAMPLE 1, STEAM FLOW: STEP-BY-STEP EXAMPLE

The steps described below must be followed precisely.

STEP ACTION IMAGE COMMENT

NORMAL FLOW VALVE SIZING - START

1 Select Control Valves from the
Main Menu and then select:
Gas, steam or vapor
[New calc]
2 Select units. Mass SI units will be used throughout this
QuickStart Guide.

[OK]

3 Enter a Tag Example 1.

4 Input in the Normal data Pressures may be precisely known at this stage
column - or may be refined later via the System Pressure
Gas flow rate Drop dialog.
Pressure drop (best guess)
Flow temperature
Inlet pressure (best guess)

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5 Define your Normal flow fluid. Select superheated steam and appropriate
properties will be displayed.

6 Enter Valve Data This may be from the valve database as shown -
Standard or Lo Flow - or directly entered.

Note: If selecting a valve from the database, you

do not specify Size, Rated Cv or Fd as the
software will determine this. Usually the valve
selection will be one size less than the specified
pipe nominal size.

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7 Enter pipe data or leave blank. Leave blank

8 Calculate using the [Normal] Initial output data is calculated.

button at the top of the data
column. Do not use scroll bars at this point.

Note this dialog must be completed before

attempting to test the rangeability of the selective
SYSTEM PRESSURE DROP valve via the

and buttons.

9 Access the System Pressure

Drop dialog.

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10 Enter the piping configuration This sets up the pipe system in which the valve
data in the left hand side sits and allows for the accurate calculation of inlet
panes. pressure to the valve for the three calculations.

We are assuming no pipe fittings and accessing

accurate pipe size data from the underlying
database. Or pipe size can be entered directly.

11 Enter the Source and The Normal flow value is carried over from the
Destination pressures for Valve Sizing dialog.
Normal flow only.

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12 Enter any additional Inlet and None
Outlet equipment losses
13 Calculate the system for normal Use the button at the top of the data column.
flow.
Precise Normal output data is now calculated for
transfer back to the Control Valve dialog

14 Transfer the Normal flow data This will update the inlet pressure to the valve.
back to the Valve Sizing dialog.

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15 Re-calculate the Normal values.

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16 Now activate the scroll bars using Always activate the Minimum scroll bar first.
the Minimum data column first. Scroll up on the Maximum data column to find the
maximum flowrate the selected valve can take

Scroll the Minimum data column for the minimum

allowable flow.

17 Test the rangeability of the valve At 76% of the nominal flow, the selected valve is too
by increasing the Maximum flow small.
to a maximum.
[Cancel]

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18 Add some identifying data in the
Notes rows and plot the valve
charts.

Select different charts for the

menu options at the top.

19 Save your work Not available on the demo version.

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3.2 CONTROL VALVE: EXAMPLE 2, WATER FLOW

1 Input in the Normal data

column -
Liquid flow rate
Pressure drop (best guess)
Flow temperature
Inlet pressure (best guess)

As shown in the image

opposite.

2 Select water as the liquid and

a butterfly valve.

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3 Calculate [Normal] flow to get
the image shown in Step 1.
4 Enter upstream and
downstream pipe data.

5 Re-calculate Normal, Note that InstruCalc has selected an

maximum and Minimum appropriate valve size for the conditions
conditions. shown.

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6 Increase the Maximum flow to InstruCalc shows that the valve is too
70% of nominal. small. Select the choice to use a larger
valve

[Yes]

Note the valve size has increased to

100mm.

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4.0 ORIFICE PLATE CALCULATION - LIQUID FLOW

1 Select the Orifice

Calculation shown
opposite.

2 [Change setup] Note the options here, particularly the

choice of three calculations available:

Calculate differential range

Calculate flowrate
Calculate orifice size

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3 Enter the data as
shown then select
water.

4 Specify the pipe

material, ID and
element material and
calculate

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5.0 RELIEF VALVES

The Relief Valve module offers a variety of relief valve type calculations for determining the appropriate area of flow, viz:

The Relief Valve module operates via an interaction between the two dialogs shown below, the Area Sizing dialog on the left and the Pipe Loss dialog on the right.

The link is via the menu

option [Pipe losses] on
the Area Sizing dialog

and the Transfer

button on the Pipe Loss
dialog.

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The step-by-step process described below must be followed precisely and specifically applies to a Steam Relief Known flow.

STEP ACTION IMAGE COMMENT

AREA SIZING
1

2 Select units

3 Input Text entry.

Tag
Fluid Name (Steam)

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4 Select ASME Section 8, Balanced
Bellows and no Rupture disk

5 Enter initial data. Note Percent Overpressure and Valve discharge

coefficient have default values. These can be over-
written.

6 Calculate to display valve area.

7 ...and Output Data Note: InstruCalc calculates the Valve Capacity its on
this value that the valve is sized.

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 PIPE LOSS
8 Access the System Pressure Drop
dialog.

9 Enter the piping configuration data Note: The Valve capacity is carried over
and calculate and transfer back to and used for the pipe loss calculations.
the

10 Transfer data back to the Area

Sizing dialog.

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11 Re-calculate.

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