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PDMS PIPEWORK OVERVIEW

Pipe is an administrative element without position and orientation (direction) attributes. It however has
spec and control attributes. Pipes consist of branches which are different routes for fluid flow. A pipe can have
any number of branches in PDMS. A branch has two end points defined by Head and Tail. These are identified
as PH or PA for Head Ppoint and Tail Ppoint respectively. The Head point is the starting point of a branch and
fluid flow enters the branch at the Head point. The fluid flows from the Head point to the Tail point, which is the
end point of the branch. You should identify the Head and Tail points of a branch before attempting to connect
it. In drawings, a branch Head is indicated by a “HREF” label and a branch Tail is indicated by a “TREF” label.
HREF and TREF point to the items the branch end points are connected to. If a branch end is not set to “HREF”
or “TREF”, then the branch is open to the atmosphere through a vent or drain. The Head and Tail points have
branch attributes such as position coordinates, direction, bore size, and connection type. A branch can carry any
number of fittings and instruments. In PDMS, fittings and instruments are called components. Administratively,
a Pipe owns all its branches and a Branch owns all its components.
Many of the attributes of a Branch are set automatically if at the time of connection, the Head or Tail of
branch is set to an item on equipment, another branch Head or Tail, or component with known attributes. Such
attributes are inherited by the Head or Tail of a Branch. However, attributes such as position, direction, and bore
size, and connection type (flanged, butt weld, screwed, etc) needs to be set before components can be placed or
added to a branch. All components are added to a branch by placing them in appropriate positions from a
Reference Database. The attributes of the components are defined in the Reference Database which cannot be
modified by designers. Each component at the time of placement has “Arrive Point, PA” and “Leave Point, PL”
associated with it. Fluid flow enters a component at PA and leaves at PL. The PA and PL are assigned to Ppoints
on the components. Remember that Ppoints have direction attributes; hence the PL of one component and the
PA of an adjacent component must be in the same direction. The location or position of a component in space
when it is placed is defined by its origin point (Po).
A physical pipe in PDMS is created by “implied extrusion” operation. The software creates a pipe
segment between two components as one component is “moved” away to a new position. When a branch with a
Head and a Tail is first created, a “string” with a broken linestyle is displayed on screen between the end points:
see Fig. 1. Then the first component is placed at a Head or Tail position, depending on the chosen placement
direction of “Forward” or “Backward” mode respectively. An Auto (Automatic) connection feature allows the
next component being placed to be directly connected with the previous component. The new component is then
moved to its proper position. As the new component is being moved, the pipe segment is “added” by the
software. A pipe branch therefore, consists of a series of pipe segments separated by components; see Fig. 2. If
the branch end points are aligned or free from linear and angular misalignments and the bore sizes are the same,
a pipe is inserted between them. Components can then be placed as required. However, if two end points are
misaligned (linear or angular) or the bore sizes at the end points are different; no pipe segment is added at the
last portion of the branch. The error must be corrected before the pipe segment can be displayed. Some
components have more than two Ppoints, e.g. a Tee fitting. Hence when a Tee component is placed, one Ppoint
on it is not assigned: that is, one Ppoint is free. The free Ppoint can therefore be used to start or end another
branch; see Fig. 3.
PDMS reports incompatibility problems during pipe routing. For example, a flange joint normally
consists of two flanges and a gasket placed in-between them. Note that a nozzle is treated as a flange in PDMS.
Two flanges placed without a gasket between them is not allowed so PDMS will detect this as incompatibility
error. PDMS will automatically add a Fixed Length Tube (FLTUB) of 100 mm (4”) pipe between two
incompatible components. So watch out for such errors and study the report to decide if it is a “true” or “false”
error. Another common error is when olets are used. Olets are often used to connect instrument branch lines and
a FLTUB is needed between an olet and a component. If the FLTUB is not placed, the software will place it
automatically but reports it as error. It is import to examine the error report each time so as to understand the
problem and know how to fix it. Never dismiss an error report without reading it first!
A common cause of frustrations and hence delay during pipe routing in PDMS is that designers forget
their component placement mode (Forward or Backward). This causes the software to add a new component in
the wrong position which must be corrected before going forward. Since there is often a need to switch between
the Forward mode and Backward mode, it is easy to forget which mode was in operation previously. Attention
to details and full metal “engagement” during pipe routing cannot, therefore, be over emphasized.
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Design Explorer
The Design Explorer keeps the history of component placement. The first component is at the top of the branch
tree and is located at the head of the branch. Similarly, the last component is at the bottom of the branch tree and
is located at the tail end of the branch. Other components are arranged sequentially between the head and tail
locations of the branch. Take time to study the arrangement of components as they are being placed. This will
help to minimize conflict and thus increase productivity.

Head

Tail

Fig. 1: Creating a pipe branch

Nozzle Flange

Elbow

Gasket Nozzle
Flow Direction
Flow Direction
Elbow
Flange Gasket

Fig. 2: Head and Tail points on HREF and TREF

Tee

Branch1 Branch1
Head Branch2 Tail
Tail

Branch2
Head
Fig. 3: Pipe branch at a Tee
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Flow Chart for PDMS Piping Layout

Fig.1 Piping layout process Fig. 2 Component placement

Pipe Branch Head/Tail

• Can connect to standard component Create Pipe
• Can connect to first or last member
• Select Pipe zone
• Can terminate at first or last member
• Either a head or tail must be defined before • Main Menu > Create > Pipe (Type pipe name)
components can be placed • Select pipe spec; set attributes > OK
• Always remember your placement mode
(Forward or Backward) Create Branch
• Select pipe
Start Pipework
• Main Menu > Create > Branch
• Maim Menu > Design > Pipework
• Or Select Connect on Create Pipe form > OK
Create Site
• Select Head > Head component type > Apply
• Menu > Create > Site (Type site name) > OK
• Select Head component on equipment
Load equipment
• Select Tail > Tail component type > Apply
• Locate equipment > R-Click > 3D View > Add
• Select Tail component on equipment
• Change view to Iso 3

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Pipework Summary
• A site in PDMS is a database for a project that must be given a unique name.
• A pipe zone is a folder or database that contains all the pipes in a project.
• Pipework is a module in PDMS that is used to route pipes and place pipe fittings and instruments.
• The “Components Form” is used for pipe routing in PDMS.
• Pipe fittings and instruments in PDMS are called components.
• In PDMS, a pipe is an administrative object that is defined by giving it a unique name.
• A pipe can have several branches in PDMS.
• In PDMS, a pipe branch is defined by a head and a tail.
• When creating a branch, you must first select the pipe.
• A branch is displayed as a string of dash (hidden) line when it is first created.
• The flow of fluids in a branch is from the head to the tail.
• When a component is placed, the branch string must follow it for proper routing.
• The location of a component in PDMS is defined by the coordinates of the component origin or Po.
• A nuzzle is treated as a flange when placing components.
• A gasket is required between two flanges in PDMS.
• In PDMS, the physical space between two components is filled with an extruded pipe segment.
• A pipe is formed by extrusion as a component is moved to its position or when a branch is terminated at
a tail or head.
• Components are pulled from a “reference” database and placed in design model.
• Components can be placed in “Forward” or “Backward” mode.
• The “Components Form” may have to be closed to change from Forward mode to Backward mode, or
vise versa if no component exists.
• The “Auto Con” button allows the new component to connect directly with the last component.
• Every component in PDMS has an “arrive” point and a “leave” point.
• When a Tee component is placed, arrive and leave points should be checked and modified if necessary.