Fluid Flow Simulation Software for Pipe Network Analysis
Model pressure drop, pump sizing, gas networks, slurry flow, and two-phase systems across any connected pipe network — steady-state, before you build or before you change.
Engineering context
Fluid flow simulation software calculates pressure, flow rate, velocity, and temperature across a pipe network under steady-state operating conditions. A pipe flow simulator solves the pressure-balance and flow-distribution equations across the whole network simultaneously — every node, every branch, every equipment item at once — rather than treating each pipe run in isolation.
Engineers use flow modelling software to size equipment before construction (pump and valve selection, economic pipe sizing), troubleshoot underperforming plant (locate excessive pressure drop, diagnose cavitation, check pump operating point against the installed curve), and test what-if scenarios without touching live equipment.
FluidFlow is a 1D steady-state pipe network simulator covering five fluid types — liquid, gas, two-phase, slurry, and non-Newtonian — in a single modelling environment.
Product overview
A short walkthrough of how engineers build pipe network models, size pumps and control valves, and review pressure drop across every branch — in one simulation environment.
Build your first network before the trial goes cold
Use the trial with the Knowledge Base guide to build a simple connected network from a blank workspace to a calculated model. Start with the guided first-network article, then move into the workflow that matches your job.
Two engineering situations — one pipe flow simulator
Validate the design before construction
Build the hydraulic model early, size every pump and valve in the context of the full connected network, and deliver a design backed by a simulation. FluidFlow solves the whole network simultaneously — operating-point conflicts surface before equipment is specified.
Diagnose without touching live plant
Recreate the network in FluidFlow, calibrate against measured data, then safely test changes — higher throughput, a different fluid, a rerouted branch — before anyone opens a valve. Replace the spreadsheet that only one engineer maintains.
One flow modelling package for every fluid type your plant handles
Five fluid categories in a single modelling environment. Build the network once; FluidFlow handles the physics for each fluid type and each branch simultaneously.
Pressure drop and flow distribution for water, hydrocarbons, and viscous process liquids. Darcy-Weisbach (Moody), Hazen-Williams, Shell-MIT. Economic pipe sizing built in.
Subsonic, sonic, and choked-flow in gas distribution and process networks. EOS: Peng-Robinson, Lee-Kesler, BWRHS. Joule-Thomson effects across every branch.
Deposition velocity, blockage risk, and pump derating. Non-Newtonian rheology — Power Law, Bingham Plastic, Casson, Herschel-Bulkley. Used in mining, red-mud, and tailings applications.
Gas-liquid systems across eight correlations — Beggs-Brill (Extended), Friedel, Lockhart-Martinelli, Whalley, Drift Flux (2007), and more. Suited to production pipework and flash systems.
Size pumps against the network resistance curve, determine operating points, model series and parallel configurations. NPSH analysis to flag cavitation risk. Viscosity correction to HI 9.6.7.
Control valve sizing to ISA/IEC 60534 (Cv and Kv) against the real network resistance. Orifice plate sizing to ISO 5167. Fan auto-sizing built in.
Try FluidFlow on your own network
Free trial — no credit card required. Use the included example networks or follow the first-network guide to get a calculated model running during evaluation.
Used across the industries where pipe network analysis matters most
FluidFlow is used by 1,000+ companies in 21 industries — wherever engineers need a pipe network model they can defend in a design review or use to diagnose underperforming plant.
- Mining & Metals — settling slurry pipelines, pump station sizing, tailings networks
- Utilities — water distribution, district cooling, pressure management
- Oil & Energy — gas distribution, offshore topsides, fuel-gas and production pipework
- Chemicals & Petrochemicals — reactor cooling loops, solvent distribution, process network analysis
- Pharmaceutical — WFI loop design, CIP/SIP, sterile process piping validation
- Shipbuilding — ballast, fuel, firefighting, cooling, and cargo pipework
Common questions
What is fluid flow simulation software?
Fluid flow simulation software calculates the pressure, flow rate, velocity, and temperature distribution across a pipe network under steady-state conditions. Engineers use it to size equipment, identify where pressure drop is concentrated, and verify that a network meets its design intent before construction or modification. It replaces disconnected line-by-line calculations with a single connected model where every branch is solved simultaneously.
What is a pipe flow simulator?
A pipe flow simulator models fluid movement through a network of pipes, fittings, valves, pumps, and other components. It solves pressure-balance, flow-distribution, and energy equations across the whole network in one pass — giving results at every node and branch, not just the worst-case line. FluidFlow is a 1D steady-state pipe flow simulator covering liquid, gas, two-phase, and slurry/non-Newtonian systems.
What does flow modelling software do that a spreadsheet cannot?
A spreadsheet calculates one pipe run at a time. FluidFlow solves the entire network simultaneously — pressure at every node, flow in every branch, pump operating points, valve positions — accounting for the interactions between branches that line-by-line calculations miss. It handles multi-loop topologies, parallel and series pump configurations, and lets engineers change one input and see the effect propagate across the whole system in seconds.
Can FluidFlow model non-Newtonian and slurry fluids?
Yes. The Slurry module handles settling slurries (deposition velocity, blockage risk, pump derating) and non-Newtonian fluids using four rheology models: Power Law, Bingham Plastic, Casson, and Herschel-Bulkley. Friction factor is calculated using Darby (1992), Chilton-Stainsby, or Converted Power Law. Used in mining, red-mud, tailings management, chemicals, and pulp & paper applications.
Is FluidFlow steady-state or transient?
FluidFlow v3.54 is a steady-state analysis tool — it solves for the stable pressure and flow distribution when the system has settled. Transient hydraulic analysis (water hammer, surge) is a roadmap capability for FlowDesigner, the cloud platform launching in 2026. For steady-state pipe network analysis across five fluid types, FluidFlow is the production software.
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Start modelling your pipe network today
Free trial — no credit card required. Start with example networks, follow the first-network guide, or use Free Basic Training to get your first model reviewed faster.
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