User Interface - Chapter 1

PIPENET VISION
TRAINING MANUAL
USER INTERFACE
CHAPTER 1
USER INTERFACE OF PIPENET VISION
Revision 3.0, November 2015

PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL USER INTERFACE: CHAPTER 1
PAGE 1 OF 69 REVISION 3.0, NOV 2015
1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................................3
1.1 CREATING A NEW PROJECT ............................................................................................................................3
2. FILE MENU ......................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 AUTOSAVE .....................................................................................................................................................6
2.2 OPEN LIBRARY...............................................................................................................................................7
2.3 IMPORT LIBRARY ............................................................................................................................................7
2.4 PRINT ............................................................................................................................................................7
3. EDIT MENU .....................................................................................................................................................8
4. VIEW MENU ....................................................................................................................................................9
4.1 IMPORT GRAPHICAL UNDERLAY ......................................................................................................................9
5. LIBRARIES MENU ....................................................................................................................................... 11
5.1 LOCAL USER LIBRARY ................................................................................................................................. 11
5.2 SYSTEM LIBRARY ........................................................................................................................................ 12
5.3 OPENING AND IMPORTING OF LIBRARIES ...................................................................................................... 13
5.4 DATA STORED IN LIBRARIES ........................................................................................................................ 16
5.5 CONTROL VALVES LIBRARY ......................................................................................................................... 21
5.6 FLUIDS LIBRARY.......................................................................................................................................... 22
5.7 PUMPS LIBRARY.......................................................................................................................................... 23
6. OPTIONS ...................................................................................................................................................... 27
6.1 TITLE.......................................................................................................................................................... 27
6.2 MODULE OPTIONS....................................................................................................................................... 28
6.3 UNITS ......................................................................................................................................................... 30
6.4 FLUID ......................................................................................................................................................... 31
6.6 PIPE TYPES ................................................................................................................................................ 32
6.7 DISPLAY OPTIONS ....................................................................................................................................... 34
6.8 CALCULATION OPTIONS ............................................................................................................................... 35
7. COLOURATION MENU ................................................................................................................................ 39
7.1 SIMPLE RULES ............................................................................................................................................ 39
7.2 COMPLEX NODES........................................................................................................................................ 39
7.3 COMPLEX LINKS .......................................................................................................................................... 39
7.4 COLOUR SCHEMES ..................................................................................................................................... 39
8. CALCULATION MENU ................................................................................................................................ 43
8.1 INPUT DATA ................................................................................................................................................ 43
8.2 PIPE SIZING ................................................................................................................................................ 43
9. TOOLS MENU .............................................................................................................................................. 44
9.1 TAG SELECTED ITEMS ................................................................................................................................. 44
9.2 REMOVE TAGS ............................................................................................................................................ 45
9.3 MAKE PATH ................................................................................................................................................ 45
9.4 EXPORT CLIPBOARD ................................................................................................................................... 47
9.5 EXPORT HP-GL/2 ....................................................................................................................................... 47
9.6 EXPORT DXF FILE ...................................................................................................................................... 47
9.7 ADD MULTIPLE PIPES .................................................................................................................................. 47
9.8 UTILITIES .................................................................................................................................................... 50
10. SCHEMATIC INPUT REVISITED ................................................................................................................. 52
10.1 CREATING W AYPOINTS ........................................................................................................................... 52
10.2 REVERSING THE PIPE DIRECTION ............................................................................................................ 54
10.3 COPY/PASTE OF ATTRIBUTES .................................................................................................................. 54

10.4 SCALING OF THE SCHEMATIC................................................................................................................... 55
11. ZOOM/PAN TOOL ........................................................................................................................................ 56
12. AREA TOOL ................................................................................................................................................. 56
12.1 SELECTED ITEMS .................................................................................................................................... 57
12.2 COPYING SELECTED ITEMS ..................................................................................................................... 58
13. POLYGON TOOL ......................................................................................................................................... 58
14. TEXT TOOL .................................................................................................................................................. 59
14.1 MOVING AND EDITING TEXT..................................................................................................................... 60
15. NAVIGATION IN THE NETWORK ............................................................................................................... 60
16. SCHEMATIC UNDERLAY ............................................................................................................................ 62
17. SCHEMATIC OVERVIEW WINDOW ........................................................................................................... 63
18. OTHER USEFUL FEATURES OF PIPENET ............................................................................................... 64
18.1 GLOBAL AND LOCAL EDIT ........................................................................................................................ 64
18.2 SORTING IN COLUMNS IN THE DATA W INDOW ........................................................................................... 66
18.3 COPY/PASTE TO A SPREADSHEET ........................................................................................................... 67
19. CLOSING REMARKS .................................................................................................................................. 69
1. Introduction
The PIPENET VISION suite of programs has been designed to enable the accurate
simulation of the flow of fluid through a network of pipes and other components. The full suite
of programs consists of the following modules:
Standard Module For the analysis of the single-phase flow of liquids and gases.
Spray Module For the analysis of fixed fire-protection systems employing
water.
Transient Module For the analysis of transient flow in all types of network
employing a liquid.
The PIPENET VISION user interface is common to all three modules, making it easy to move
from one module to another. There are a number of specific parts in the user interface, which
are as follows:
Initialisation,
Libraries,
Network and attribute data (graphical or text),
Calculation controls,
Viewing results.
The purpose of this section of the training manual is to provide a thorough grounding in using
the user interface. Once this skill is mastered, the user can concentrate on the engineering
aspects of using PIPENET VISION.
This chapter is predominantly based on the PIPENET VISION Standard Module. However,
most of the features and facilities are common to all modules of PIPENET. It is essential,
therefore, that users of any of the three modules of PIPENET read this chapter.
1.1 Creating a New Project
When the user wants to start a new project in PIPENET VISION, he can access the program
through either (a) the PIPENET VISION icon on the desktop or (b) the Windows Start Menu
(namely, by selecting Start | All Programs | PIPENET | PIPENET Vision 1.7 | PIPENET
Vision 1.7).
Once PIPENET VISION has been started, the top of the PIPENET window is as follows.
To start a new project, select File | New. Next, choose the required module (namely,
Spray/Sprinkler, Standard, or Transient) from the list of licensed modules.
When an existing file is opened using File | Open, the file is opened with the appropriate
module of PIPENET VISION.
For illustration purposes only, the Standard Module is used in this chapter. Once the Standard
Module has been selected, the environment for this module is used. Two screen shots from
the Standard Module are shown below for reference purposes. The format for the other
modules of PIPENET is similar. The actual appearance of the screen depends on the display
options that have been chosen, and the arrangement of the windows.
PIPENET allows complete flexibility in how the screen is arranged. For example, during the
input of the schematic drawing, the user might prefer to close the Data Window, Properties
Window and Schematic Overview Window, to allow the maximum area for the Schematic
Window.
Drawing
area
A typical arrangement of the desktop is shown below.

Drawing Properties
area Window
Schematic
Overview
Data
Window
2. File Menu
The File Menu contains various options; for example, New, Open, Close, Save, Save as.
The following options are the additional ones for PIPENET VISION. Some of the menu
options are described below.
2.1 Autosave
This option enables the data that has been entered into PIPENET to be saved automatically,
with the time interval specified by the user.
2.2 Open Library
This option is used to open a library, which is used to store, for example, user-defined pipe
schedules, user-defined fittings, control valves, user-defined fluids and pump performance
curves.
2.3 Import Library
This option is used to import a library file. A system or old-format library file (e.g., a .pmp
pump library file) is opened, and its definitions are imported into the local user library.
2.4 Print
This option is used to print the schematic or the grid. Exactly which of these is printed
depends on which of the two windows is selected. If in doubt, click in the desired window
before selecting Print. If the grid is selected then the current grid page will be printed;
whereas, if the schematic is selected, a dialog box is displayed through which the user can
select the scaling and, hence, number of pages on which the schematic is printed.
3. Edit Menu
This menu contains a number of edit-related functions.
4. View Menu
The View Menu can be used to control the overall appearance of the windows.
4.1 Import Graphical Underlay
A graphical underlay can be imported from a Windows metafile (.WMF), a Dxf file (.DXF) or
an enhanced metafile (.EMF). Many CAD products and graphics programs can produce these
files. Vector graphics file formats are used because they admit easy scaling of the underlay
drawings.
Initially, the imported graphic is displayed near the centre of the window, and is scaled to fit
the current size of the window. The scaling does not have to depend on that of the PIPENET
schematic. This is accessible either from View | Manipulate graphical underlay or clicking the
‘U’ on the display toolbar.
5. Libraries Menu
Libraries are used for storing items that can be used several times in the same network or in
different networks.
Two types of library are used in the PIPENET VISION modules; namely, the Local User
Library and the System Library. Both are described below.
5.1 Local User Library
This library is associated with the data file and is opened when the data file is opened. In the
Standard module, it can contain the following:
Pipe Schedules,
Fittings,
Control Valves,
Fluids,
Pumps (Coeffs. known and Coeffs. unknown),
General Pressure Losses,
Lagging.
There is only one local user library. PIPENET VISION automatically creates and saves the
library file when the “Sunrise Data File” (or .sdf) is saved. The filename of the library file is
chosen to be the same as the name of the Sunrise Data File, but with a “.slf” suffix. It is
created in the same folder as the Sunrise Data File.
Local and system libraries have the same format; the only difference lies in their relationship
to the data file.
The library editor is provided with a uniform screen, which enables the user to navigate easily
to the next component.
5.2 System Library
Whereas a local user library is considered to be under the control of the user who opens the
data file, and is for all intents and purposes part of the data file, a system library is an external
library, and is generally considered to be under the control of the central administrator.
System libraries can be referenced by a data file, and are not normally edited whilst a data file
is open. System libraries must be edited using an External System Library Editor.
The concept of separate system libraries introduces extra flexibility in that a user can have
more than one source for schedules, fluids, etc. Further, it is possible to impose central
control over some (system) libraries, whilst allowing users to have their own private library
definitions. System libraries also enable a network to use library definitions from multiple
files.
5.3 Opening and Importing of Libraries
5.3.1 Opening Libraries
Libraries opened from the File Menu are always considered external system libraries. Only
the new format libraries (namely, those with a .slf extension) can be opened.
To create a system library, the user must simply enter the name of a new file in the Open
Library Dialog. The .slf library file will be created when it is first accessed.
Data from an external .slf library file can be accessed by the current data file (.sdf), and is not
copied into the local .slf library file, unless the user explicitly chooses to do so (see “Importing
libraries” below).
5.3.2 Importing Libraries
Imported libraries are merged into the single local user library. Therefore, the data from the
“imported” library is saved in the corresponding library file (.slf), which is automatically
created.
Libraries - example 1: new data and library file
In this example, it is assumed that a new data file is being created and that no library files
exist.
1. Create a new project.

2. Define the library items using the Library Editor dialog.
3. Create the network.
Libraries - example 2: new data file using old style (i.e., PIPENET Classic) library files
In this example, it is assumed that a new data file is being created, but old library files are
imported (with such library files created using a version of PIPENET that was released prior to
the launch of PIPENET VISION).
1. Create a new project.
2. From the File Menu, select the option “Import library”.
3. Use the file dialog to select the library to be opened; for example, a .PDF or .PMP
file.
4. Open the file. Note that the file is imported into the local user library.
5. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for each old-style library that is to be imported.
6. Create the network.
Libraries - example 3: old data file using old style library files
When an old style .Dat file is opened, any old-style library files referenced by the .Dat file are
automatically imported as well.
5.4 Data Stored in Libraries
5.4.1 Pipe Schedule Library
PIPENET VISION has an extensive list of pipe schedules in the built-in library. Users can
extend this list by adding their own pipe schedules to the library.
The dialog box for a user-defined pipe schedule contains a built-in list of nominal sizes. The
user can extend this list by adding non-standard sizes, in which case the user may specify
nominal sizes and inner diameters.
After a pipe schedule has been set up, it must be saved in a library by clicking “OK”.
5.4.2 Fittings Library
The PIPENET VISION Standard Module contains the complete range of fittings that are
available in the Crane Manual as well as Sunrise Systems proprietary fittings. The user can
add fittings for which the K-factors are known, or, alternatively, use PIPENET VISION to
calculate the K-factor for fittings whose K-factor values are not known.
Fitting can be used to model components like heat exchangers and filters. For such items,
the pressure drop is known at rated flow-rate values, and PIPENET VISION can automatically
calculate the pressure drop at other flow-rate values.
Fittings are added to the library using the following dialog boxes.
Making fittings available or unavailable
In the top left-hand window is a list of the available fittings and in the bottom left-hand corner
is a list of those fittings that are excluded from selection. To make a fitting in the top window
unavailable for selection, highlight the fitting in the upper window and select the “-“ button. To
make an unavailable fitting (in the bottom window) available for selection, highlight the fitting
in the lower window, and select the “+” button.
Exclude
button
Excluded
fittings
Adding a fitting
A new fitting can be added using following procedure.
1. Select the New button.
2. Enter the name of the fitting (most fittings require a numeric name).
3. Enter an optional long description for the fitting.
4. Select the type of fitting from those listed.

5. Supply the required parameters (depending on the fitting type) in the edit boxes
provided. Note that the number of boxes provided and the label for each box
change according to the type of fitting selected.
6. Select the Apply Button to add the fitting.
Deleting a fitting from the library
Highlight the desired fitting in the top left-hand window and select the Delete Button. Note
that this button is disabled for built-in fittings.
Delete fitting
button
After the user-defined fittings have been set up, they must be saved in a library by clicking on
the OK Button.
5.5 Control Valves Library
Control valves can be defined with respect to either (a) setting versus flow coefficient or (b)
setting versus K-factor. Both options are available in PIPENET VISION, and they enable
control-valve models to be generated easily.
To access the Control Valve library dialog:
1. From the main menu, select the Libraries Option.

2. Select Control Valves from the drop-down menu.
3. The dialog for the control valve library appears.
4. Enter the required data, and then save it by clicking on Apply or OK.
To add a new control valve:

2. Provide a unique name for the control valve, and an optional description.
3. Select the valve type.
4. If K-factor is selected for the valve type, enter a value for the area.
5. Supply at least two entries in the grid.
Valves of type K-factor consist of a valve setting (between 0.0 and 1.0), a K-factor
(which must be positive) and a value for the gradient at each point, (which
must be less than or equal to zero).
Valves of type flow coefficient consist of a valve setting (between 0.0 and 1.0), a flow
coefficient (which must be positive) and a value for the gradient at each point,
(which must be positive).
6. Select the Apply button to add the control valve to the library.
To view a library control valve, select the required control valve from the left-hand window; its
properties are displayed on the right-hand side.
To delete a control valve, select the control valve in the left-hand window, then select the
Delete button.
The control valves can also be generated directly in the schematic.
5.6 Fluids Library
To view a library fluid, select the required fluid from the top left-hand window. Its properties
are then displayed on the right-hand side. To delete a fluid, select the fluid in the left-hand
window, then select the Delete button.
To add a new fluid:
2. Provide a unique name for the fluid, and an optional description.

3. Select the fluid class from the bottom left-hand window, and the required properties
appear on the right-hand side.
4. Enter the required parameters (which depend on the fluid selected).
5. Select the Apply button to add the fluid to the library.
5.7 Pumps Library
5.7.1 Pumps - Coefficients Unknown
In the PIPENET VISION Standard Module, data for pumps and fans can be created in a
library. A curve is fitted through the data, and the coefficients that define the curve are used
in PIPENET calculations. The input data must be in the form of data pairs, which are taken
from the performance curves.
Typically, the pump curves are not supplied in the same units as the units in which pressure-
drop calculations are to be made. For instance, it is usual to specify the pump curve in head
of fluid, rather than psi. For this reason, the pump/fan module accepts data in its own units.
The dialog box for inputting a pump curve is shown below.

PIPENET VISION takes into account the fact that the head generated by a pump is
independent of the density of the fluid, and so makes an appropriate density correction when
converting it into a pressure. Similarly, the pressure generated by a pump depends on the
fluid, and when the pump curve is defined in terms of pressure, an appropriate density
correction is applied. For this reason, the performance curve is interpreted to be that of water
when it is defined in terms of pressure.
Creating a new pump
1. Select the New button, and then provide a name and description.
2. Select the desired flow-rate and pressure-head units from the drop-down lists at the
top left-hand corner of the dialog box.
3. Provide a minimum and maximum flow rate.
4. Supply at least three points for the curve, in the top right-hand corner of the window.
Enter values for the flow rate and Head (input). The values for Head (curve) and
Head (calculation) are automatically calculated.
5. Select Apply to add the pump to the library.
6. The calculated coefficients are displayed, along with the pump curve.
Note that the definition of the pump curve will be accepted only if at least three points are
provided, and if the slope of the calculated curve is negative everywhere between the
minimum and maximum values.
Type of fitted
function
Editing an existing pump
1. Select the name of the pump from the drop-down list (to the right of “Name”).
2. Make the required changes to the pump parameters.
3. Select Apply to commit the changes.
Deleting a pump
1. Select the name of the pump from the drop-down list (to the right of “Name”).
2. Select the Delete button.

5.7.2 Pumps - Coefficients Known
This capability is hardly ever used. However, it can be used if the pump coefficients (which
define the performance curve) are available from the manufacturer.
Unless there is a compelling reason to do so, it is better to use the coefficients-unknown

option.
6. Options
6.1 Title
This dialog can be used to enter a title for the PIPENET problem. A title may consist of up to
four lines of text, with each line containing no more than 65 characters. The first line of the
title will be displayed on each page of a printed schematic.
6.2 Module Options
The options page contains a number of modelling and calculation options for the Standard
Module.
Naturally, the options for the Spray/Sprinkler and Transient Modules are different, and they
are described in the relevant chapters.
6.2.1 Elevations
There are two ways of specifying how node heights are determined.
Use pipe/duct elevations
Each pipe or duct is assigned a change in elevation (rise) from its input node to its output
node. A reference node is selected, and is assigned a reference height. The height of each
node is then calculated relative to the reference node. This option can result in height
inconsistencies, particularly if a network contains one or more loops. In a loop, the sum of the
elevation changes must be zero. However, if a rise is incorrectly entered, the elevation sum
will not be zero, and a height-check error will be reported. Height-check errors can be difficult
to locate, especially in large loops.
Use node elevations
The elevation of each node is directly entered as an attribute of the node. Height-check
errors cannot occur with this method.
6.2.2 Warnings Control
There are two types of diagnostic in PIPENET.
Error: This type of diagnostic indicates to the user that a calculation cannot be
performed.
Warning: This type of diagnostic is for the user’s information, and it might still be
possible for a calculation to be performed.
Generally, a calculation can be performed if there is a warning.
6.2.3 Orifice Plate Model
Select one of the available options. Generally, for restriction orifice plates, the recommended
option is “Crane”.
BS1042
If the BS1042 model is used, the restrictions of that standard are applied, so plates
may only be used in pipes with diameters in the range 2–14 inches (50.8–355.6mm).
Furthermore, for larger pipes, the ratio of the orifice diameter to the pipe diameter must
be in the range 0.1 – 0.748.
This standard is intended mainly for modelling flow-metering orifice plates, and it is
very accurate in cases where the pressure loss is low. However, it is not suitable for
restriction orifice plates.
Heriot-Watt
If the "Heriot-Watt Orange Book" orifice plate model is used, the ratio of the orifice
diameter to the pipe diameter should be less than 0.8 (see also the section on
“Modelling - Orifice plates”). This is proprietary Sunrise Systems data.
Crane
Orifice plates are modelled according to the Crane Technical Paper 410. This
approach is suitable for restriction orifice plates.
6.2.4 Pressure Drop Model
There are two options for the Pressure Model; namely, the Colebrook–White equation or the
Coulson and Richardson equation. There will be small numerical differences (in the calculated
pressure drop in a system) between the two approaches.
6.3 Units
A large selection of unit systems is provided, including the following:
 SI,
 Metric,
 British,
 US,
 Imperial,
 User Defined.
The user can also set the precision (by specifying the number of decimal places) for general
display, and for display on the schematic drawing.
6.4 Fluid
The user can use a fluid from the built-in library or from the user-defined library. The fluid
used by a system can be either compressible, incompressible or steam. Either fixed-
temperature or variable-temperature fluids can be used in the system.
Once the fluid is selected for the system, PIPENET VISION prompts the user to input the
required data. For the same network or the schematic, the fluid can be changed in order to
investigate the effects on the system. This modification may be helpful in examining the hydro
testing for the network.
6.6 Pipe Types
Firstly, it is important to explain the difference between a pipe schedule and a pipe type. A
pipe schedule is data that can be present in the built-in library or the user defined library; it
contains the pipe inner diameters and roughness values. A pipe type, on the other hand, is
the pipe schedule that has been selected for use in a network.
There are three ways in which the user can determine diameters:
1. Input the pipe internal diameters directly into the pipe attributes properties window. The
pipe type should not be specified.
2. Specify a pipe type, and choose one of the diameters prescribed by that pipe type.
3. Specify a pipe type, and use PIPENET’s design capability to determine appropriate
pipe diameters. PIPENET will calculate the pipe diameters using either the maximum
velocity or the pressure drop per unit length (as input by the user). The user must
select the design mode, and also define the pipe type as shown below.
4.
Design
Mode
Once the pipe diameters have been determined, the user can perform further analyses in
Analysis Mode.
Analysis
Mode
Both the Design Phase and the Analysis Phase can be performed in succession.
Both
6.7 Display Options
All schematic-related display options are displayed on the Display tab. If this option is
selected, the following dialog box will appear.
6.7.1 Label Options
The label options allow nodes to be labelled, components to be labelled, component

directions to be indicated, and any fittings on pipes to be indicated.
An arrowhead pointing from the input node towards the output node indicates the direction of
a component. The component direction, which does not necessarily correspond to the
direction of flow, is used mainly to indicate the direction of flow after a calculation. If the
direction of flow is the same as the component direction then the flow rate and velocity will be
positive; if it is in the opposite direction, the flow rate and velocity will be negative.
The presence of one or more fittings on a pipe is indicated by a blue diamond symbol, centred
along the length of the pipe.
6.7.2 Tool Tips
Selecting this option will cause tool tips to be displayed when the cursor is on or near a
component. The tool tip will display the component type, its label and the current parameter
selected from the Options toolbar. The information is displayed for a few seconds and then
disappears.
In the above example, the calculated velocity is displayed via the tool tip.
6.8 Calculation Options
Calculation-related options are displayed on the Calculation tab. If this tab is selected, the
following dialog box is displayed.
6.8.1 Number of Lines per Page
This value is the number of lines per page in the file containing the output from the calculator.
6.8.2 Maximum Number of Iterations
The default value of 50 iterations should be sufficient for almost all circumstances.
6.8.3 Convergence Accuracy
The value of this parameter is used to determine when two iterations are sufficiently close to
assume that a solution has been obtained.
6.8.4 Height Check Tolerance
If pipe elevations are used, this value is the acceptable error in resolving node heights in
loops.
6.8.5 Phase
The calculation phase can be selected here.
6.8.6 Temporary Path
This path is the directory that is to be used for storing all intermediate temporary files required
by the calculator.
6.8.7 Hydraulic Gradient Calculation
This option is only available when the fluid is a liquid and there are no properties present in
the network. In order to calculate the hydraulic gradient at every node in the network,
PIPENET must be supplied with the absolute elevation of one reference node with respect to
a datum line.
Given the reference node label and its height, the hydraulic gradient calculation can be
performed. The hydraulic gradient, H, at any point in a fluid is defined as
where
is the gauge pressure at the point,
is the elevation of the point with respect to the datum line,
is the acceleration due to gravity,
is the fluid density at the point.
In order to calculate the hydraulic gradient at every node in the network, the user must supply
the absolute elevation of one reference node with respect to a datum line.
If is less than at any node, the network is unfeasible, and an appropriate warning
message is issued.
Hydraulic-gradient calculations may only be performed when the fluid in the network is a
liquid.
6.8.8 Ambient Pressure Correction
This option is only available when the fluid is a gas and gauge-pressure units are being used.
To use the ambient pressure correction facility, the user must specify the absolute
atmospheric pressure and temperature at a reference node. This option is typically used in
nuclear installations where a draught can be created by the height of a chimneystack.
Although PIPENET VISION performs its calculations using absolute pressure units of
Pascals, it is possible to use a variety of units for pressure, including gauge units such as Bar
G and psi G. Normally the program converts pressures in gauge units to absolute units by
adding a constant value of one standard atmosphere (which is equal to 101325 Pa).
In networks with large elevation changes, users may wish to take account of the variation in
atmospheric pressure with height, when converting from gauge pressures to absolute
pressures.
The atmospheric pressure, Pi, at a height hi above a datum point is given by the equation
where
is the absolute atmospheric pressure at the datum point,
is the acceleration due to gravity,
is the fluid density.
To use this correction facility, the user must simply supply the absolute atmospheric pressure
at a given reference node.
Ambient pressure correction is permitted by PIPENET only when gauge-pressure units are
being used and the fluid in the network is a gas.
Notes
1. The use of a default value for Pipe/Duct Roughness is particularly useful when most or
all of the pipes/ducts in the network have the same roughness.
2. Some of the lines in this box may be greyed out when they are not relevant, and so
they cannot be edited. For example, it is not possible to set default values for Duct
Height or Width when the fluid in the network is a liquid (as ducts cannot be used with
liquids). Also, a default elevation cannot be set if Node Elevation has been selected in
either Options | Defaults or Init | Defaults.
7. Colouration Menu
This menu contains three items that can be used to define the colouring of nodes and/or
pipes and ducts, based on the value of one or more attributes.
7.1 Simple Rules
This option is used to define the colouring of links and/or nodes based on the value of a single
attribute or result; for example, node elevation, pipe length, or velocity of fluid through pipe.
7.2 Complex Nodes
This option is used to define more complex colouring rules for nodes, based on the values of
more than one attribute or result.
7.3 Complex Links
This option is used to define more complex colouring rules for pipes and ducts, based on the
values of more than one attribute or result.
7.4 Colour Schemes
7.4.1 Simple Colour Schemes
With simple colour schemes, the user selects a component attribute or result (for example,
pipe length, pressure difference, or node elevation) and then creates a scheme by associating
the selected attribute or result with a set of intervals. The intervals are defined by five values,
v1, v2, v3, v4, and v5. The intervals are as follows.
≤ v1 RED
> v1 & ≤ v2 ORANGE
> v2 & ≤ v3 GREEN

> v3 & ≤ v4 CYAN
> v4 & ≤ v5 BLUE
> v5 MAGENTA
If the intervals are not defined, they will be provided automatically, based on a suitable scaling
of the known values for the attributes or results. In the case of results, the intervals are
calculated on completion of a calculation.
Colour schemes are displayed and edited via the Classes dialog.
This dialog box contains two columns, one for nodes and the other for pipes/ducts. At the top
of each column is a combo box for selecting the colour scheme. These two combo boxes
have a dual purpose, as they also specify which attribute is displayed above a component in
the schematic.
Below the combo box are five editable boxes for defining the six intervals. The coloured
boxes alongside the editable boxes define the colours for the six intervals. The editable boxes
are greyed out if the selected colouring scheme does not involve intervals.
Immediately below each column of five editable boxes are three check boxes:
Colours on is used to enable/display colours. If this box is unchecked then the default
colouring scheme will be used. However, the selected attribute will still be displayed when the
Display Attributes buttons are selected.
Auto classify is used to enable automatic calculation of ranges following completion of a

calculation. If this box is checked then the five values defining the six intervals will be re-
calculated each time a calculation is performed.
Use modulus will, if selected, cause the classification to ignore the sign of the velocity. This
option might be selected, for example, if the user is interested in the magnitude of the
velocity, rather than whether it is positive or negative.
The final three buttons are used to determine how the intervals are coloured, the default being
the six colours in the order RED, ORANGE, GREEN, CYAN, BLUE and MAGENTA. The
ordering of the colours may be reversed, by selecting the “Reverse colours” button. As an
alternative to the six colours, a single colour may be represented in six shades. Selecting the
Graduated button displays a pop-up window through which the colour can be selected.
The two combo boxes for selecting the colour scheme (and, hence, the attribute to be
displayed on the schematic) are reproduced on the Options toolbar. The Options toolbar can
also be used to display legends (one for nodes and one for pipes/ducts) on the schematic.
For example:
The user can move the legends by clicking and dragging with the mouse.
Values are displayed with the correct sign for directional components: negative if the flow is in
the opposite direction to the component direction, or positive if it is in the same direction.
7.4.2 Complex Colour Schemes
Complex rules allow the user to define a colouring rule in a more flexible manner. They are
best described by referring to the dialog for entering a complex colouring rule (in this case, for
complex links).
In the above dialog box, a complex rule for a pipe is entered. The procedure, which is similar
for a node, is as follows.
1. Enter a name for the rule.
2. Supply up to three conditions (only two are used in this example) consisting of an
attribute or result name (selectable from a drop-down list), a relational operator
(again, selectable from a drop-down list), a value, and a Use modulus check box (if
the box is checked then the absolute value of the attribute must satisfy the
condition).
3. Enter logical ‘And’ or ‘Or’ operators that relate to the required conditions.
4. Choose the colour to be used for display.
In the above example, each pipe with a bore greater than 400 mm, in which the calculated
velocity exceeds 4 m/sec, is to be coloured red.
As is the case with simple rules, the legend window can be displayed. For the above
example it would appear as follows.
8. Calculation Menu
This menu contains a number of calculation and output-related commands, including the
following.
8.1 Input Data
This option is used to run a validation in the calculator, producing an output browser file.
Validation does not consume a calculation for those users with metered licenses.
8.2 Pipe Sizing
In this case, only the pipe-sizing phase of the calculation is run. In this phase, the bore of any
pipes with an undefined bore are calculated. Validation does not consume a calculation for
those users with metered licenses.
9. Tools Menu
The Tools Menu provides a number of useful tools.
9.1 Tag Selected Items
This option is used in colour coding to tag or mark selected components as being significant
in some way, so that they can be colour coded. For example, selected items can be coloured
cyan as follows.
Setting tags automatically changes the colouration rule to colour according to tagging, so the
effect of the tag is immediately visible. If tags are subsequently turned off, it is advisable to
also reset the colouration rule.
9.2 Remove Tags
This option is used to mark all tagged components as being untagged.
9.3 Make Path
Make Path is used in the construction of a pressure and elevation profile to build a path
between two selected nodes. Firstly, select the relevant nodes by holding down the Ctrl
button and clicking on the relevant nodes.
Next, select “Make path” from the Tools Menu.
The path is then indicated in red in the Schematic Window.

The path found is the shortest path, in terms of the smallest number of nodes. Once a path is
created, the elevation profile for the path can be viewed through View ¦ Data Window ¦
Graphs. The elevation profile will be displayed with the nodes plotted from the leftmost of the
two nodes to the rightmost node. The vertical axis contains an elevation scale in the user-
selected units, and the horizontal axis is the distance from the starting node.
If a specific path is required then it is necessary to hold the Ctrl button down and click on
more than two points that define the path.
Graphs tab
selected
9.4 Export Clipboard
This option is used to copy the schematic to the clipboard, from where it can be pasted into
other applications.
9.5 Export HP-GL/2
The schematic can be exported as an HP-GL/2 file, containing instructions for off-line plotting.
The exported schematic may be used with other graphical or CAD programs. Currently, the
only export format provided is HP-GL2. Support for other formats will be provided in future
versions of PIPENET VISION.
HP-GL/2 is a widely used format that is suitable for off-line plotting. It can also be input to
some graphical and CAD programs, resulting in an HP-GL2 file being created in the
temporary directory with the name temp.hpgl.
9.6 Export DXF File
This selection will enable the network and the results (if displayed on a schematic) to be
exported as a .dxf file. The resulting file can then be imported into programs that can read
.dxf files.
9.7 Add Multiple Pipes
The left-hand window contains the attributes that are to be set for each pipe when the OK
button is selected; the right-hand window contains the set of distance-elevation pairs. Above
this right-hand window is the number of pipes to be created, which can be changed using the
up-down buttons to the right of the displayed value. The distance is incremented automatically
by the length of the pipe specified in the left-hand window. Values in the right-hand window
can be edited.
The check box at the bottom of the dialog indicates that the pipe run will be displayed in a
profile, with pipes being drawn to scale according to their lengths. If this box is unchecked
then the window appears thus:
Here, the pipe run is displayed in plan at a specified angle of inclination, with angles being
measured anti-clockwise from the horizontal. Selecting the option Use proportional lengths
draws the pipes to scale, according to their lengths.
Data can be copied from a spreadsheet and pasted into the right-hand window, the number of
rows being set automatically from the number of data pairs copied. This facility must be used
with caution, since the data from the spreadsheet must be arranged in the same column order
as that used in the right-hand window, also the units must agree with those in the column
headings. Undo/redo is available with this facility.
9.8 Utilities
The Utilities section provides shortcuts to commonly used standalone utilities included with
PIPENET.
9.8.1 PIPENET XML to Excel
When a calculation is performed, a .XML file is produced containing the calculation results.
The PIPENET XML to Excel utility can be used to generate an Excel spreadsheet from such a
file.
Simply select an input file and an output file and click the Convert button to create the Excel
file. The file can be immediately opened in Excel by clicking the View converted Excel file
button.
Note that in the Standard Module, no .xml will be generated if the user does not have write
access to the directory containing the .sdf file.
9.8.2 PIPENET RES file to CSV
Transient Module calculations store results in a .RES file which is usually opened using
PIPENET’s graph viewer. The PIPENET RES file to CSV can create a .CSV (Comma
Separated Values) file from a .RES file.
Simply open a .RES file by clicking the Open.res button and create the .CSV file by clicking
the Create .csv button.
9.8.3 Convert a Model to Transient
This utility can be used to create a PIPENET Transient Module data file from a PIPENET
Standard Module or PIPENET Spray/Sprinkler Module data file.
Simply select an input file and an output file and click the Convert button to create the
PIPENET Transient data file.
10. Schematic Input Revisited
10.1 Creating Waypoints
Waypoints can be used to prevent pipes and other items from being superimposed on the
schematic diagram. They are also useful for drawing the network as it appears on the plant
(i.e., in isometric view), and so make the schematic clearer.
In the above diagram, the pipe has 6 waypoints. There are two ways to create a waypoint in
PIPENET VISION.
Method 1
While you are inputting the pipe, hold the shift key down and click the left-hand button
of the mouse. Next, move the cursor in the new direction of the pipe, to create a
change in direction (or waypoint).
Method 2
An alternative approach is to move the cursor to the point on an existing pipe where
you wish to create a waypoint. Then, click and hold down the mouse button and move
the cursor. This move will create a change in direction on the pipe.
10.1.1 Deleting an Item
Point the cursor to the item you wish to delete, click the right-hand mouse button, and click on
Delete.
Alternatively, you can select one or more items with the Selection Tool, then use either Edit |
Cut or Ctrl-X.
10.1.2 Creating an Additional Node
Sometimes, as an after-thought, it is necessary to create an additional node on a pipe. In this

case, just point the cursor to the point where you wish to create the additional node, right-
click, and choose “Insert Node”.
One of the two pipe sections that are created retains the attributes of the original. However,
one pipe is coloured blue to remind the user that the attributes might need to be changed.
10.2 Reversing the Pipe Direction
In networks that consist of ring mains or contain closed loops, the flow can be negative,
indicating that flow is in the opposite direction to the pipe. Note that the direction of a pipe is
from its input node to its output node. The “Reverse” command can be used change the
direction of a pipe, and can be accessed by right clicking on the component and selecting
“Reverse”.
Note that reversing the direction of a pipe or a duct will negate the elevation change.
10.3 Copy/Paste of Attributes
This command can be useful if more than one item has the same or similar attributes. It is
possible to copy and paste attributes from one item to another (and, if necessary, edit them).
Point the cursor to the item whose attributes you wish to copy, then right-click. Click on “Copy
properties”. Move the cursor to the item to which you wish to paste the attributes and right-
click. Finally, click on “Paste properties”.
10.4 Scaling of the Schematic
Place the cursor on the schematic, but away from the network, and click the right-hand mouse
button. Then select the required scaling (namely, a specified percentage between 25 and
300, or “Scale To Fit”).
11. Zoom/Pan Tool

This tool can be used to zoom the network to a required size, or to pan across the network.
 To zoom the network, hold down the left-hand mouse button and drag the cursor until
the network is at the required size.
 Dragging to the right will enlarge the network; dragging to the left will minimize it.
 To pan across the network, click the left-hand mouse button in the schematic window
and move the mouse in the direction you wish to pan. Click the left-hand mouse button
again to stop panning.
 If, while panning, the cursor is moved to the edge of the window, the network will scroll
along until the end of the scroll bar is reached.
12. Area Tool
The area tool is used to select and manipulate a number of components at the same time.
Area tool
With the Area Tool, it is possible to perform the following operations by clicking the right-hand
mouse button.
 Select a group of components.

 Copy/paste a group of components.
 Delete a group of components.
 Mirror (left-right) a group of components; i.e., mirror the components about a vertical
centre line.
 Invert (up-down) a group of components; i.e., flip the components about a horizontal
centre line.
To use the Area Tool, click the left-hand mouse button at the point that is to be the top left-
hand corner of a rectangular area. Whilst holding down the mouse button, move to the point
that is to be the bottom right-hand corner of the rectangle, and release the mouse button. A
dashed outline of the defined rectangle is drawn, and all nodes and components that lie
completely within the rectangle are selected.
Using the Edit Menu, or by right clicking, the selected items can now be deleted, mirrored,
inverted or copied. Full undo and redo functionality is available for all operations associated
with this tool.
12.1 Selected Items
The items marked as selected are: -
 Each node contained within the rectangle.
 Each link component whose input and output nodes are both within the rectangle; i.e.,
components crossing the boundary are not selected.
12.2 Copying Selected Items
Items selected within the rectangle can be copied to the clipboard, from where they can be
pasted onto the same network, or into another network in a separate instance of the same
module. Copying and pasting can be performed via the Edit Menu or the Copy and Paste
buttons on the toolbar.
13. Polygon Tool

This tool is similar to the area tool, but is used where the shape of the components to be
captured do not lie within a rectangle.
Polygon tool
This tool can be used in the following cases.
The Area Tool is not suitable for the purpose.
Captured area
Pipes that do
not need to
be captured
With the polygon tool, it is possible to capture only the pipes that need to be selected.
Captured area
The area to be captured is created by using the left-hand mouse button and keeping the shift
key pressed.
14. Text Tool
The Text Tool is used to place text (such as, for example, titles and additional labelling
information) on the schematic. To place a text item on the schematic, click the left-hand
mouse button at the point where the first character is to appear. The following dialog box is
then displayed.
Enter the text that is to appear in the text field, then select OK to accept the text, or Cancel to
abort. Text options can be specified in the Properties Window, and include type face, font
size, style (i.e., normal, bold, italic or bold and italic) and colour.
14.1 Moving and Editing Text
Once a text element has been added to the schematic, it can be selected, edited and moved,
as follows.
1. Click on a text element to view its properties, which can also be edited.
2. Move a text element by first clicking on it, then dragging it.
3. Delete a text element by right clicking on it, then selecting Delete from the pop-up menu.
15. Navigation in the Network
To view the properties of several elements in the network, use the left-hand mouse button to
click on each component in turn and look at the Properties Window. Alternatively, all
components of a given type can be viewed in the tabular Data Window. Here, clicking on a
row will highlight the corresponding component in the schematic window. Also, selecting a
component in the schematic window will result in the corresponding component in the Tabular
View being highlighted. Yet another way is to use the two arrow buttons in the bottom right-
hand corner of the Properties Window to select the next component of the same type (using
the right-facing arrow) or the previous component of the same type (with the left-facing
arrow).
Another way of moving around the network, highlighting components in turn, is to use the four
arrow keys on the keyboard. This approach is best illustrated by the following example. Here,
Pipe 2 is the currently selected component, and all component directions are from left to right.
Selecting the right arrow key moves to Pipe 3, and selecting the left arrow key moves
backwards, to Pipe 1.
Now consider what happens when we are on Pipe 3.
Selecting the right arrow key will move to the uppermost component on the right, i.e. Pipe 4.
To move to Pipe 5 from Pipe 4, simply select the down arrow key.
Selecting the down arrow key again will move to Pipe 6, whilst selecting the up arrow key will
move back to Pipe 4.
If the component is reversed (e.g., the input node is to the right of the output node) then
selecting the right arrow key will move to the link on the left. Similarly, selecting the left arrow
key will move to the link that lies to the right of the current link. So, selecting the right arrow
key is interpreted as a move in the direction of the component, and the left arrow key, as a
move in the reverse direction.
16. Schematic Underlay

It is possible to import a graphic to underlay the main pipe network. Such a graphic must be
an Enhanced metafile (with a file extension .EMF), a Windows metafile (.WMF), or a Dxf File
(.DXF).
The image is loaded and the underlay is displayed. Once loaded, the underlay may be
zoomed to establish the relative scale between the underlay and the network. In general, the
procedure is as follows:
1. Load the underlay (using View | Import graphical underlay…).
2. Establish a suitable scaling for the underlay (using View | Zoom | Underlay).
3. Start drawing the network over the underlay.
The display of the underlay can be turned on or off via the View Menu. When it is turned off,
the underlay will track any changes to the scale of the network, retaining the correct
relationship.
Zooming the underlay is independent of the network, whereas zooming the network also
zooms the underlay (to maintain relative scales).
17. Schematic Overview Window

This window provides an overall view of the schematic, with a rectangle indicating the part of
the network that is currently displayed in the schematic window. Changes in size and position
of the main schematic window are tracked by the rectangle. Also, the rectangle in the
schematic overview can be dragged to affect the scroll of the main schematic window.
The Schematic Overview Window, which is not shown when PIPENET VISION is started, can
be displayed using View | Schematic overview.
18. Other Useful Features of PIPENET

No description of PIPENET would be complete without coverage of the following features.
18.1 Global and Local Edit
This functionality is applicable to the Data Window. It is best illustrated by an example.
Change the roughness of all pipes from 0.06 mm to 0.08 mm.

A local edit can be performed in a similar manner. In this case, the user must select the pipes
to which the copied value is to be pasted.
18.2 Sorting in Columns in the Data Window
This invaluable feature can be used, for example, to determine the pipe with the maximum
velocity or the maximum pressure. This sorting can be performed in the data window.
Select the Results

display tab
Click on the heading

to sort the column
18.3 Copy/Paste to a Spreadsheet
This section shows how to use Excel for editing PIPENET when a user finds it more
convenient. This is a two-way process where data is copied from PIPENET into Excel, edited
in Excel and pasted back into PIPENET.
18.3.1 Copy from PIPENET and paste to Excel
From the PIPENET data window, the full table including headers can be selected by clicking
the icon at the top left. Alternatively, a subset of complete rows can also be edited in this
manner as long as the structure is preserved.
Select All
This can be copied and pasted directly into Excel.

18.3.2 Pasting edited data from Excel into PIPENET
Once the data is edited in Excel it can be copied and pasted straight back to the PIPENET
data window. To do this, select everything minus the headings in Excel and copy it.
Then in the PIPENET data window click and drag to select the necessary cells and then
paste.
Caution:
If the rows are reordered in Excel, the following warning message will be produced when this
is pasted back into PIPENET in this format.
The result of this is the original order of the rows in the PIPENET data window is preserved
but the other information is reversed.
It is also important to note that if a pipe diameter not included in the schedule is pasted into
the data window, it will appear as unset.
The same rules apply for other parameters selectable via combo box rather than typed.
19. Closing Remarks

This part of the training course is intended to provide an introduction of the user interface for
the Standard Module of PIPENET VISION. The user interface for the other modules is
similar.
At this point, it is recommended that users become familiar with all aspects of the PIPENET
VISION user interface before moving onto subsequent chapters of the training manual.

User Interface - Chapter 1

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PIPENET VISION

USER INTERFACE OF PIPENET VISION

Revision 3.0, November 2015

10.3 COPY/PASTE OF ATTRIBUTES .................................................................................................................. 54

1.1 Creating a New Project

A typical arrangement of the desktop is shown below.

2.2 Open Library

2.3 Import Library

4.1 Import Graphical Underlay

5.1 Local User Library

5.2 System Library

5.3 Opening and Importing of Libraries

5.3.1 Opening Libraries

5.3.2 Importing Libraries

Libraries - example 1: new data and library file

1. Create a new project.

2. Define the library items using the Library Editor dialog.

3. Create the network.

1. Create a new project.

2. From the File Menu, select the option “Import library”.

5. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for each old-style library that is to be imported.

6. Create the network.

5.4 Data Stored in Libraries

5.4.1 Pipe Schedule Library

5.4.2 Fittings Library

Making fittings available or unavailable

A new fitting can be added using following procedure.

1. Select the New button.

3. Enter an optional long description for the fitting.

4. Select the type of fitting from those listed.

6. Select the Apply Button to add the fitting.

Deleting a fitting from the library

5.5 Control Valves Library

To access the Control Valve library dialog:

1. From the main menu, select the Libraries Option.

To add a new control valve:

1. Select the New button.

The control valves can also be generated directly in the schematic.

5.6 Fluids Library

To add a new fluid:

1. Select the New button.

2. Provide a unique name for the fluid, and an optional description.

4. Enter the required parameters (which depend on the fluid selected).

5. Select the Apply button to add the fluid to the library.

5.7 Pumps Library

5.7.1 Pumps - Coefficients Unknown

The dialog box for inputting a pump curve is shown below.

Creating a new pump

3. Provide a minimum and maximum flow rate.

5. Select Apply to add the pump to the library.

Editing an existing pump

2. Make the required changes to the pump parameters.

3. Select Apply to commit the changes.

2. Select the Delete button.

5.7.2 Pumps - Coefficients Known

Unless there is a compelling reason to do so, it is better to use the coefficients-unknown

6.2 Module Options

Use node elevations

6.2.2 Warnings Control

There are two types of diagnostic in PIPENET.

Generally, a calculation can be performed if there is a warning.

6.2.3 Orifice Plate Model

6.2.4 Pressure Drop Model