PIPE-FLO Stock calculates the friction losses and pressures in a fluid piping system conveying paper stock showing you how the entire piping system operates. Using the calculated results, you can determine the friction losses in each pipeline, the pressure at each pipeline junction, along with details on the operation of pumps, control valves, and components. This section describes the methodology used to derive these calculations.

Pipeline Pressure Drop Calculations

PIPE-FLO Stock performs all head loss calculations within a paper stock piping system using the method outlined in the TAPPI Technical Information Sheet (TIS) 410-14. This method provides accurate results for pulp suspensions with consistencies from 1% to 6%.

Engineering Data Tables

PIPE-FLO Stock accesses pipeline, fluid, and valve & fitting properties in engineering data tables. Users can customize the content of the engineering data tables using the supplied Table Manager program. You can create your own tables, modify existing data tables, or install manufacturers' tables.

PIPE-FLO Stock calculates the fluid physical property data using the method outlined in TIS 410-14, incorporating all the fiber types and coefficients for both metric and US units. The existing stocks can be changed to more closely reflect your mill's actual data. In addition, supplementary stocks may be added.

The program is equipped with a variety of pipe material tables typically found in pulp and paper mills, containing the pipe roughness, the available schedules (or thickness classes), and the available pipe diameters.

PIPE-FLO supports all valve and fitting types found in the Crane Technical Paper 410. Valve and fitting tables can be customized for various pipe materials and specifications.

System Calculation Methods

PIPE-FLO Stock calculates the pipeline head loss in each branch of the piping system for a given flow rate. The program performs calculations for both stock slurries (using the TAPPI method) and water (using the Darcy and Blasius methods). The program automatically sets up the equations for the system calculations by tracing the pipelines in the system.

Pump Selection & Evaluation

PIPE-FLO Stock uses the method outlined in the Hydraulic Institute Standards for Centrifugal, Rotary & Reciprocating Pumps when performing pump calculations. Manufacturers' supplied electronic pump catalogs provide the information needed for pump selection and evaluation. A list of the supporting manufacturers can be found at (http://www.eng-software.com/pml/). Pumps can also be modeled by manually entering the pump performance data supplied on a typical pump curve.

Control Valve Selection & Evaluation

Control valve sizing is performed using the method outlined in the Instrument Society of America Standard ISA S75.01 Flow Equations for Sizing Control Valves. Electronic control valve catalogs provide the information needed for control valve selection and evaluation. Control valves can be manually entered into the piping system model allowing any manufacturer's valves to be modeled.

Flow Meter Sizing

Flow meter and balance orifice sizing is performed using the method outlined in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Standard ASME MFC-3M Measurement of Fluid Flow in Pipes Using Orifice, Nozzle, and Venturi.

Detailed Program Methodology

A detailed method of solution is available at the following links: