FluidFlow Software

Specification Sheet

Full Product Name
Piping Systems FluidFlow (latest release v3.52)
Pricing per seat (annual)
Annual lease including SUM £3240 – £9990 per server seat per annum.
For perpetual licensing including SUM from 2 seats upwards contact us
License Installation
Network License Installation Instructions
License Activation
Provided by us either manually or automatically, see instructions above
License Use Permitted
Global use included
Company Profile
Since its formation in 1984, Flite Software Ltd has been recognized worldwide as a quality supplier of engineering applications and selection software products. The company has specialized products for solving fluid flow design problems and has developed a state-of-the-art component-based technology for developing fluid equipment selection and configuration products.

Our Mission Statement at Flite is to provide superior technology that enables engineers, specifiers, and designers to dramatically reduce design time whilst improving design quality.

Piping Systems FluidFlow is the company’s main off-the-shelf product and offers a complete design environment for the hydraulic design, analysis, and troubleshooting of fluid systems. This product is used by thousands of engineers and designers throughout the world and in many varied types of applications. Anywhere you need to move fluids by pipe you can use FluidFlow.

By combining engineering design skills with the latest software development techniques, Flite Software has created a flexible architecture of software components. The components can be easily utilized to produce complex rule-based product selections across a variety of platforms. This software architecture and modular design provide cost-effective, exact solutions for product selection “catalogs” and for integrating these solutions into existing workflow processes.
Location
Block E Balliniska Business Park, Springtown Road, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, BT48 0LY
Software Overview
Complete Pipe Flow Simulation Software
Model, design, or analyze any liquid, gas, two-phase, slurry or non-Newtonian pipe flow system from a single software solution.
  Ease of Use
  •  Intuitive user interface
  •  Short learning curve
  •  Save up to 80% of design time
  Calculation accuracy
  •  Proven calculation reliability 
  •  Tested and verified against published data & real-world systems 
  •   Library of 'Quality Assurance' test models included
  Automatic equipment sizing
  •  Powerful auto-sizing technology is included across all modules.
  •  Automatically size: Pumps, Safety Relief Devices, Fans, Orifice Plates, and Control valves to industry standards.
  Thermal energy transfer
  •  Heat Transfer functionality is included for all modules, as standard. 
  •  Ensure optimum energy efficiency on all of your designed systems.
  Customizable reporting
  •  Effectively communicate designs
  •  Create report templates & include your company logo
  •  Generate reports in PDF, Excel, and Word.
  •  Produce bill of materials
Type of Software
Hydraulic Calculation Software
Industry Applications
∙ Aerospace ∙ Automotive ∙ Aviation ∙ Aviation Fuel Systems ∙ Chemicals ∙ Educational Institution ∙ EPC ∙ Equipment Manufacturer ∙ Fire Protection ∙ FMCG ∙ Mining & Metals ∙ Oil & Energy ∙ Paper Processing ∙ Pharmaceutical ∙ Pulp & Paper ∙ Research Body ∙ Semi-Conductor Manufacturer ∙ Shipbuilding ∙ Space Exploration ∙ Standards Agency ∙ Utilities
Language
FluidFlow is available in French, Spanish, and English.
We can provide the tools to translate the interface to any language
Integration with other Engineering Tools
CAD PCF File Upload For Model Development
CAD DGX File Upload For Model Development
Licensing
Annual, Quarterly, Perpetual
Systems Modelled
Liquids
  via Liquid Module
Vapor
  via Gas Module
Non-Newtonian
  via Slurry Module
Two Phase Liquid – Vapor
  via Two-Phase Module
Two Phase Liquid – Solid / Slurries
  via Slurry Module
System Calculation
Simple Systems
Advanced Fluid Networks
Flash / Phase Change Calculations
Phase Change Separation Calculations
  (For Liquid-Vapor Mixtures)
Transient Analysis
Coming soon
Customizable Calculations
  via Scripting Module (For “Light” Dynamic Analysis), also via Multi Calc functionality from v3.52 onwards
Unit of Measurement (UOM) specification
  Two major selections only: SI and US Basic, there is an option to add preferred unit sets. Changing variable units is done individually per parameter in the Data Pallete and saving it as a new Environment.
Wide range of component and property databases
  FluidFlow contains a comprehensive database of 1,283 fluids enabling you to quickly model fluid transportation systems.
Customizable component and property databases
  Users can choose from five options when adding new fluid to the Database:
1) Simple Newtonian
2) Pure Newtonian
3) non-Newtonian Liquid
4) Gas (No Phase Change)
5) Petroleum Fraction or Crude

These fluids can be defined as single or Multicomponent via database mixing. The level of property correlations can be categorized as Basic or Detailed Liquids and Vapors, Homogenous and Heterogenous Non-Newtonian as well as Pulp and Paper Fluids.
Pipe Database
  FluidFlow contains a database of standard pipe sizes that can be used when building a network. FluidFlow supports the following pipe database:
1) Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene ABS Pipe
2) Aluminium Pipe or Duct
3) Asbestos Cement Pipe
4) Cast Iron Pipe
5) Concrete Pipe
6) Copper Pipe
7) Ductile Iron Pipe
8) Flexible Smooth or Corrugated Hose
9) Glass Pipe
10) Polyethylene (PE) Pipe or Duct
11) PolyVinylChloride (PVC) Pipe or Duct
12) PP or PFA Pipe or Duct
13) Stainless Steel Pipe or Duct
14) Steel Pipe or Duct
Customizable pipe database
  The user can also supplement the pipe database by adding new pipe size data for specific applications.
Heat Transfer Functionality
  FluidFlow includes heat transfer functionality on ALL modules. Engineers can study heat transfer effects at heat exchangers, pipes, and junctions. FluidFlow can model shell and tube exchangers, plate exchangers, coils, and autoclaves.

Users can choose from a range of heat transfer options:
a) Buried pipe calculations.
b) Pipe heat loss/gain calculation.
c) Fixed heat transfer rate.
d) Fixed temperature change.
e) Ignore heat loss/gain.
Losses in fittings Calculation Method
The fitting resistance K is calculated by FluidFlow using the following methods:
a) Idelchik (more accurate compared to Crane)
b) Miller (more accurate compared to Crane)
c) Crane
d) SAE

FluidFlow contains a database of General Resistance elements that can be used to represent any fitting or device when building a network. The user can also supplement this database by adding new resistance elements and values.
Input for pump curve function
  Pump performance data can be entered into a FluidFlow model by one of the following methods: 1) Manual data entry 2) Pump curve database based on multiple pump vendors.
Input for control valve Cv values/Cv curve function
Applicable to Factor Method
Applicable to Isometric Method
Scenario Manager
None. Users need to save an additional file to create a new case/scenario. V3.52 includes Multi-Calc
Calculation Results
  •  Configurable MS Excel results table
  •  Can generate Bill of Materials summary report
  •  Can generate reports in English, French, and Spanish
Calculation Alerts, Warnings, and Hints
  •  Up to 118 calculation design alerts, warnings, and hints
  •  Liquid, Vapor, and Two-phase Velocity limits (Minimum and Maximum) and Control valve opening (Minimum and Maximum) can be configured to generate warning criteria
Troubleshooting
FluidFlow’s Help Section discusses some useful modeling hints and tips to aid in troubleshooting.
Boundaries
  • Pressure
  • Flow
  • Tank or Vessel Reservoir (Either source or destination only)
  • Atmospheric Ends (Sprinkler or Customized atmospheric discharge ends)
  • Circulators to maintain pressure for closed-loop systems
Pipes
  • Pipes (Standard) can be modelled
  • Rectangular or Annulus can be modelled
  • Hose (Flexible or Corrugated) can be modelled
  • can automatically size pipe via established Criteria (Economic velocity (using Generaux equation), Standard velocity, or Pressure gradient)
  • pipe scaling can be applied to consider pipe degradation or current status of existing systems
  • Heat Effects on the pipe can be ignored or can be calculated
  • Heat Effects on the pipe can be modeled as fixed temperature change, fixed Heat transfer rate, or buried pipe
Junctions – Pumps
  • Can autosize pump based on desired flow or pressure rise
  • Pump curves from several vendors already available on the default database
  • Heat loss/gain models can be customized on the pump
  • Slurry pump solids derating can be modeled using Fixed Reduction, King or HI guidelines
Junctions – Compressor / Blowers / Fans / Turbines
  • Can autosize compressors or blowers based on desired flow or pressure rise
  • Compressor, Fan or blower curves from several vendors already available on the default database
  • Heat loss / gain models can be customized
Junctions – Fittings
  • Can model connectors (no resistance), bends, mitre bends, tees, symmetric Y-junctions, cross junctions
  • Bends and mitre bends can be modeled based on angle and defined as Idelchik, Miller, Crane, or SAE – R/D ratio for bends can be customized
  • Heat loss/gain across bends for these fittings can be modeled
  • Can model area size changes for reducers and expanders including abrupt size changes, venturi's, and in-line nozzles
  • In-line nozzle model can apply Long radius or ISO 5167 equations
  • Orifices can be modeled as thin or thick plates using ISO 5167 equations
Junctions – Valves
  • Default database enables modelling of butterfly, diaphragm, ball, gate, globe, ball float, plug, pinch, Y-globe, needle, slide valve, penstock, 3-way and fire hydrant
  • Default database also available for different check valve types: swing check, tilting disc, piston operated, spring loaded, foot operated
  • Valve % opening can be customized from 0 – 100% in infinite increments
  • Several valve models availabe in the valve database
  • R/D ratio for bends can be customized – Heat loss/gain across valves can be modelled
Junctions – Control Valves
  • Can model constant upstream and downstream pressure control valves via self-acting pressure reducer or sustainer element or via pressure control valve
  • Can model flow control valves
  • Flow or pressure control valve type can be selected when sizing
  • Separate element for Gas control valves
  • Default database available for several control valve vendors
  • Heat loss/gain can be modeled
Junctions – General Resistance
  • Can model pressure loss constants in "K", "Kf" or "Kv" values
  • Default elements for some specialized components such as Inline filter, Packed bed, cyclone, Labyrnth seal, Centrifuge, expansion join / stuffing box, cols, tube bundles, constant head loss are available
  • Generic element for user defined general resistance available for the model using a polynomial input
  • Heat loss/gain across can be modelled
Junctions – Relief Valves
  • Can model relief valve or rupture discs in Autosize on or Rating (Autosize off) mode
  • Relief device (valve or disc) calculations can be set to utilize either API RP 520 or ISO 4126-1 equations
  • Relief Valve set pressure can be be configured to MAWP of 10% (Sole Device), 16% (Multiple Device) and 21% (Fire)
  • Default database available for several Relief Valve vendors
  • Default values for Rupture disc Kd (Discharge coefficient) available for Sharp edge, bellmouth, in-projecting, API or liquid
  • Heat loss/gain across can be modelled
Junctions – Heat Exchangers
  • Can model hydraulic considerations for Shell and Tube (S&T) and Plate and Frame (P&F) Heat Exchangers
  • Pressure drop model HX can be determined using tube (S&T) or plate (P&F) details or via polynomial expression using Vendor pressure drop data or a fix value can be applied
  • Vaporization / phase separation can be modelled using Knockout pot element
  • Temperature increase can be modelling using jacketed vessel element – Heat loss/gain across can be modelled
Product Description
  • Delivers fast and accurate design for Newtonian fluids.
  • Determines system operating pressures, flow distribution, and fluid physical properties.
  • Allows for the modeling of a wide range of line equipment items.
Physical Property Correlation
User-defined Liquid properties can be fixed (for simple Newtonian), based on temperature correlation data or Pure Newtonian via various equations of state (Peng-Robinson, Lee-Kesler, and Benedict-Webb-Rubin-Han-Starling).
Pressure Drop Correlation

FluidFlow solves the fundamental conservation equations of mass, energy, and momentum. Users can choose from four pipe pressure loss models as follows;
1) Moody (Darcy-Weisbach)
2) Hazen Williams
3) Fixed Friction Factor (Darcy)
4) Shell – MIT

Calculates incompressible (liquid) network pipe systems.
Calculates systems that are pressure driven
Calculates systems that are gravity driven
Calculates systems that are pump driven
Product Description
  • Accurate for both low and high-velocity gas flow systems.
  • Solves the conservation equations and an equation of state ensuring an accurate solution.
  • Auto-detection of choked flow conditions.
Physical Property Correlation
  • User-defined vapor properties can be No phase change gases based on temperature correlation data or Pure Newtonian via various equations of state (Peng-Robinson, Lee-Kesler, and Benedict-Webb-Rubin-Han-Starling).
Pressure Drop Correlation

FluidFlow uses a calculation procedure that solves the conservation equations and an equation of state for small pressure loss increments. This means FluidFlow obtains a much more rigorous and accurate solution reflective of actual plant performance. Available equations of state include Benedict-Webb-Rubin-Han-Starling, Peng-Robinson, and Lee-Kesler.

Using the EOS the gas thermophysical properties such as enthalpy and density are calculated as the gas accelerates. FluidFlow makes no assumptions of gas ideality or adiabatic flowing conditions.

FluidFlow algorithm dynamically splits the pipe into segments based on an incremental density change. The method is a development of a paper originally published in The Chemical Engineer – Relief Line Sizing for Gases Part1 and 2. Dec 1979 – HA Duxbury.

Calculates compressible network pipe systems
Accurately models real gases
Accurately models heat transfer
Accurately models highly compressible (sonic and near sonic) system
Product Description
  • Automatically track fluid phase-state, performs flash calculations, liquid holdup calculations and develops flow regime maps for each pipe segment.
  • Highly accurate results were developed using a “marching” solution algorithm.
Physical Property Correlation
  • Users can perform Fluid mixing on the software using database fluids with Physical properties based on Standard Mixing Rules
  • Two-phase properties are determined for either Pure Newtonian or Fluid mix via estimate such as Heat of vaporization (can also be based on Literature) surface tension (via linear function or estimation)
Pressure Drop Correlation
FluidFlow can be used to model fixed or changing vapor quality systems with heat transfer included. The calculation method includes eight (8) two-phase correlation methodologies:
1) Whalley Criteria (uses Friedel, Chisholm, or Lockhart-Martinelli)
2) Drift Flux Model (2007 correlations)
3) Beggs and Brill (Extended Regions)
4) Friedel
5) Muller-Steinhagen and Heck
6) Chisholm Baroczy
7) Lockhart-Martinelli
8) Homogeneous Equilibrium Model
Flow Regime maps
Calculates two-phase flow network pipe systems
Calculates the change in vapor fraction across the piping length
Product Description
  • The Slurry Module can be used to model settling or non-settling non-Newtonian fluids as well as Pulp & Paper Stock flow systems.
  • Accurately model any slurry or non-Newtonian fluid system – Design concentrate pipelines, tailings, paste backfill systems, and more
  • The industry choice for The Design and modeling of efficient & reliable slurry flow systems.
Physical Property Correlation
  • Non-newtonian liquid properties such as density, specific heat, thermal conductivity, and vapor pressure can be defined as a fixed value or via temperature correlation
  • Viscosity definitions can be defined using constants or based on experimental tables classified as Bingham Plastic, Herschel Bulkley, Power Law, Casson
  • Default database for settling solids contains at least 11 common materials for metals processing, coal, and sands handling.
  • User-defined solids for settling slurries are characterized by Solid and Bulk Density, Specific Heat, Thermal Conductivity, Shape Factor and Bed Sliding Coefficient
  • Default database for Pulp and Paper solids contain at least 16 materials (TAPPI)
  • User-defined TAPPI Pulp and Paper solids are characterized by Velocity Limit and Numerical Constants, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Indexes
Pressure Drop Correlation
  • Pressure drop correlation of Homogenous non-settling fluids follow Darcy Model with Fluid viscosity based on the defined Non-Newtonian model

  • For Heterogenous / Settling Slurries, FluidFlow can apply any of these friction loss models:
    1) Durand
    2) Wasp
    3) Wilson, Addie, Sellgren and Clift (WASC)
    4) Sellgren, Wilson – Four Component Model
    5) Liu Dezhong

  • Calculation of Deposition velocity as maximum deposition limit or critical velocity can be made using any of these correlations:
    1) Wilson, Addie, Sellgren and Clift (WASC)
    2) As a function of particle size (RP King Method)
    3) Oroskar and Turian
    4) Schiller and Herbich

    Considerations on the effect of pipe inclination on friction loss and deposition velocity is also taken into account for applicable correlations.
FluidFlow Software - Pipe Sizing

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