To simplify construction of pipes and channels, all drawing, moving and copying of pipes and channels initially defaults to the horizontal Edit Plane, regardless of the orientation of the view screen. To assist the user further, pipes and channels being drawn or moved will automatically ‘click’ and join to objects under the mouse cursor, even if at different elevations or distances away.
Hint: To quickly change the view from horizontal plan view to vertical section view, press the F2 button
If pipes and channels are drawn in isolation (not connected to others), they will use the default settings specified in the Settings form. If objects are drawn connected from other objects, they will inherit the settings from the objects from which they are drawn. Objects can be drawn from another object's end (node) or from any other point along an object's. Pumpsim™ will create a new node (or junction) if none already exists.
Hint: Pumpsim™ can detect whether an object being constructed crosses the paths of other objects. For example, if a long pipe is drawn from one point to another, over which it crosses the paths of existing pipes, Pumpsim™ will join this object into the crossed pipes with new nodes. This will only happen in the drawing mode. If objects are imported (from a DXF for example), crossed junctions will not automatically be detected.
To draw in the third dimension (up or down in elevation) where there is not objects above or below to click to, first draw the object to the desired horizontal (plan) location, then press the Shift key. The Edit Plane will turn semi-transparent, and further movements of the mouse will occur in a Vertical Plane parallel to the computer screen.
To draw a straight vertical pipe start drawing and press the alt key.
The Edit Plane will follow the vertical movement, assisting in showing where the cursor is in relation to other object elevations. In addition, the numbers in the lower left status bar will show the elevation and coordinates of the point.
Fig. 3.1.1: A pipe that has been drawn in a vertical plane.
Pipes and channels can be manually added, moved or copied by selecting a manual coordinate entry system. To activate this system while in draw mode, click on an object end or somewhere in empty space. To activate this system every time an object is drawn (to allow manual adjustment or entry of object ends) select the pull down arrow on the ADD button and choose the Coordinates sub-option from the button.
To activate the system, when moving or copying, simply click an existing pipe or channel end while in the Move or Copy mode. A coordinate window will show and the coordinates (or offsets) of the object can be entered.
The coordinate entry allow the ends of objects to be manually adjusted, or by using a vector polar coordinate or a physical offset of the easting’s, northing's and elevation. End coordinate values are adjusted in real time as offsets or polar coordinates are adjusted. To apply the change, simply click OK when completed.
Moving Pipes
Depending on where the object is clicked with the mouse in Move mode, either end, or the entire object may be moved. If the ends (nodes) of the object are connected to other objects, they will be stretched to accommodate. An object can be ‘broken’ away from a node by selecting it a small distance back from the node, and ‘dragging’ it away with the mouse. Multiple objects can be copied or moved by Selecting the objects (with the Select button, or by drawing a Fence around the objects while in Move or Copy mode), and then dragging the selected objects or clicking one with the mouse coordinates. If a fitting is clicked and is not selected, the linked pipes will move with it.
Fig. 3.1.2: A model before pipes have been moved.
Pipes and node are selected and then moved simultaneously. |
Pipe is ‘broken away' from node and pulled away with mouse. |
Pipe junction is moved with all attached pipes. |
Moving Nodes
If the mouse is on the node only, it will move only the node. If at least one pipe is selected, the pipes will move to stay connected. Pressing the control key allow the tank to move away form pipe.
Junction is moved with all attached pipes |
Fitting is moved away without the pipes |
Copying Pipes
Objects can be copied, much in the same way as the Move function. A pipe can be ‘grabbed’ with the mouse and ‘dropped’ in a new location, or the pipe can be clicked and manually copied with new coordinates. In addition, a group of pipes can be selected with the Select button, or by drawing a fence around the pipes, and then clicking or dragging one of the selected pipes.
Fig. 3.1.3: A copied pipe.
Channels
Pumpsim™ allows the user to simulate channels in the network. Channels are created with an open top, hence there is no pressure built. The flow entering a channel will be the flow exiting.
Rules for building channels
- Entry and exit
Channels are simulated in sections; water will enter the channel section from a pipe, a fixed flow pump or an overflowing tank and exit by a drain, a tank or an open end. If water is flowing directly from a tank and the channel is at the tank water level, the tank will overflow into the channel. If the water level is higher than the channel connection, the flow will be calculated based on the flow through an orifice with the same size as the channel.
Caution: The flow in the channel cannot be fixed at the exit. There should not be any fitting at the end or in the channel.
- Direction
The direction of the flow in a channel is based on the elevation. Pumpsim™ will make all channels flow down, except for a channel considered flat. To make the drawing easier, channels with a small slope will be considered flat. The minimal slope can be changed in the "Settings" panel. The water depth in a channel will be calculated using the minimal slope.
Caution: Even though Pumpsim™ can handle flat channels, it is advised to have at least one channel with the right slope per segment.
Shapes
The shape of a channel will influence the water depth, hence the velocity of the water. Pumpsim™ allows four different channel shapes:
- Triangular
- Rectangular
- Trapezoidal
- Semi circular (as based on a circle, the width cannot be greater than twice the depth)
These shapes are defined by their width at the top and their depth (and bottom width for trapezoidal channel shapes).
Drain hole
Pumpsim™ make possible simple simulation of drain. If a pipe is set as a Drain Entry, the water capacity will be limited by how much water goes into the drain and by the maximum capacity of the drain ( flow considering than the drain is full and at atmospheric pressure on the drain hole). Two type of flow can develop:
- The flow entering the drain is lower than the maximum capacity. The pipe will then not be full, the flow is assume constant along the pipe and the pipe have no pressure.
- The flow entering the drain is higher than the maximum capacity. The drain will behave like a normal full pipe. A warning will show as there will be an overflow at the entry of the pipe.
Caution: Only one pipe or channel can be connected to a drain hole. If several sources exist, simply add a small pipe or drain connecting on one side the several connections and the drain on the other.
Editing Pipes And Channel
Fig. 3.1.2: The window for editing pipes.
Pipe Names and Coordinates
Sets the pipe and node names, pipe coordinates. To set new names or coordinates, simply type the information into the relevant text boxes. Names are optional and are not required for the simulation. To avoid mistake, changing the coordinate of a node connected to a tank is disabled. The height of the connection con be change in the Tank Connection section.
Pipe Size
Sets the physical size and shape characteristics of the pipe.
- Material – Filter the different pipe type by material.
- Class – Filter the pipe type by the pipe class.
- Type – Allows a preset type of pipe to be specified, which will automatically set the pipe profile, dimensions and friction factors. Pressing the TYPE ‘T’ button will open the PRESET form where pipe preset types can be entered or modified. If a pipe type is modified, all pipes set to that type will be automatically modified during subsequent simulations.
- Shape – Sets the profile of the pipe or channel.
- ID ( Inside Diameter ) , for pipe – The size displayed on screen is based on the ID.
- OD ( Outside Diameter ), for pipe
- Width, for channel
- Depth, for channel
- Water depth, for channel – Calculated after simulation, knowing the flow.
- SDR – Standard dimension ratio.
- Roughness – Pipe roughness. Used to calculate the Darcy Friction factor. Manning roughness of the channel.
- PN – Pressure nominal. Maximum pressure before the pipe breaks, a warning will show if, after simulation, the pressure is higher.
- Leakage – Amount of leakage per length. The leakage is specified by how much flow goes out of the pipe for 1bar of pressure per length of pipe.
- Area – The calculated area, derived from the ID and shape for pipes and from the width, water depth and shape for channels.
- Obstruction – Assumes a continuous area obstruction along the pipe (for example a duct, services or compartment) and removes this value from the available area of the pipe. Note that this should not generally be used for short fixed objects (such as a vehicle); in this case the orifice function may provide a better simulation result.
- Length – The calculated length of the pipe. The calculated length is automatically derived from the pipe coordinates. To change the length, click on the Check Box, and type in the new length. This may be required if the model is drawn as schematic if a pipe is moved to allow easier viewing, but the true original pipe length still needs to simulated in the model.
Pipe Options
Controls various attributes relating to the pipe behaviour and identification within a model.
- Open – Connects the pipe to the surface, allowing it to freely exhaust and intake water from the surface atmosphere. The pipe end which is not connected to any other pipe is assumed to be the end connected to the surface. If both pipe ends are connected, this item is ignored by the simulation. The exit to the surface is assumed to be at the elevation of the pipe end. Barometric pressures at this point will be adjusted for any difference in height between the pipe elevation and the defined surface elevation in the settings.
- Close End – Allows Pumpsim™ to assume the pipe is a ‘dead end’ without connecting to other pipes or to the surface. Examples of this may include a dead end, blind developing heading or undeveloped heading. The simulation process will assume this path is blocked, and allow no flow along the pipe. If this settings is not used, a simulation will report a ‘no entry’ or ‘no exit’ error.
- Group – Groups any selected pipes into a single selectable group that can be selected with a single Select click. Individual pipes can still be individually edited by clicking on them directly with the EDIT button instead of using SELECT first, or by holding the <CTRL> key down while selecting. Grouped pipes are a convenient way to collect pipe systems together (for example shafts or decline sections), so they are easier to select and edit simultaneously. It has no effect on simulation.
- Exclude – Excludes the pipe from the simulation process. Any errors or problems with the pipes are ignored during simulation and no flow is allowed through the excluded pipes. Any non-excluded pipe which joins with an excluded pipe will be assumed to be blocked. This function is handy for excluding sections of a model design which have yet to be mined, or perhaps removing old sealed of filled sections of a site which no longer flow. Excluding pipes will speed up simulation for the remaining pipes.
- Fix Direction – Prevents Pumpsim™ from changing the pipe’s flow direction during simulation. An error is displayed after simulation if an attempt to reverse is made. This function is useful to ensure critical flow locations underground are not arbitrarily changed without first warning the user.
- Show Data – Always shows text data for this pipe when the LIMIT view option is set.
- Gradient – Specifies the gradient of the pipe as a percentage. For example a gradient of 10% results in a pipe increasing 1m in height for every 10m in horizontal length. If a group of selected pipes needs to be change simultaneously, use the TOOL > APPLY GRADIENT option in the EDIT form menu. Note that the first selected pipe clicked with the EDIT button will be the pipe from which the gradient is applied.
- Orifice – Places a sudden restriction in the pipe, with an open hole equivalent to the specified area. The resulting shock loss and resistance of the orifice will be added to the resistance of the pipe. Orifice settings are normally used to simulate the effect of regulators, holes in wall, partly open doors or other sudden restrictions which may occur in underground headings. It can also be used to simulate the effect of large equipment blocking a pipe by entering the ‘remaining’ area around the equipment as the ‘orifice’ size.
- Fix Height – Height difference between entry and exit of the pipe. If checked, the simulation will use the value entered instead of being calculated from the position.
- Fluid Type – Sets the type of water the pipe is carrying, for example fresh, dirty, slurry etc. The fluid type will change the physical parameter of the fluid in the pipe, such as viscosity or density. The fluid type can be shown as a separate colour on screen by selecting water type under the favourites menu on the Display Manager.
- Primary Layer – Sets the primary layer type of the pipe. Once set, primary layers can be independently displayed using the Display Manager. The name of the primary layer can be changed by clicking the Primary Layer button, and entering a new name or colour in the Preset spreadsheet.
- Secondary Layer – Sets the secondary layer type of the pipe. Once set, secondary layers can be independently displayed using the Display Manager. The name of the secondary layer can be changed by clicking the Secondary Layer button, and entering a new name or colour in the Preset spreadsheet.
Tank Option
- Height – Distance between the pipe entry and the bottom of the tank. Changing this value will adjust the pipe position
- Connection shape – Shape of the connection between the tank and the pipe. It adds a resistance coefficient depending on the shape. More shapes can added in the presets.