August 30, 2006
Platinum Pipe Award 2006
We're pleased to announce our third annual Platinum Pipe Award to recognize excellence in piping and ducting system modeling using AFT software. The deadline for entries is October 31, 2006 and winners will be announced November 30, 2006.
A winner will be selected from each of three categories:
- Use of software features
- Model creativity/appearance
- Correlation to test/field data
Two software licenses will be awarded to the winner in each category. Licenses will be of the same type used for the entry. For example, a category winner based on an AFT Fathom model would receive two AFT Fathom licenses. One license will be awarded to the company owning the license and a second license to the individual making the entry.
AEX - Automating Equipment Information Exchange
AEX, or the Automating Equipment Information Exchange Project, is developing and deploying eXtensible Markup Language (XML) specifications to support automation of information sharing associated with design, procurement, delivery, operation and maintenance of engineered equipment. Of particular interest to piping system modeling engineers are standards supporting data exchange of centrifugal pumps and heat exchangers and, later, centrifugal and reciprocating compressors and control valves. Applied Flow Technology, in conjunction with Dupont, Flowserve and Fiatech, has been instrumental in a proof of concept pilot program for electronic transfer of pump selection data.
In this pilot program AFT Fathom reads in the initial rated pump specification from an electronic pump datasheet and loads the data into a Fathom model. Results from AFT Fathom's analysis is then written back out to the electronic datasheet so it may be forwarded on to the pump vendor for pump selection. Once the pump is selected the pump performance data is added to the datasheet, and that information is then brought into AFT Fathom for analysis to verify that the pump selection is correct.
AFT is supporting this important project because of the significant benefit it will provide to our many customers. Once standards are completed and adopted, electronic data that can be readily used in AFT models will be available for a variety of equipment. More than just providing a source of electronic data for pumps and other equipment, AEX will provide a platform for easy exchange of data between your AFT system models and equipment suppliers. The day is not far off that electronic data will be available from virtually all pump, control valve, heat exchanger and other equipment manufacturers, not just those subscribing to proprietary subscription services.
Additional information on AEX will be found at Fiatech's website. including a list of the many project participants and contributing suppliers, including AFT.
AFT Named Duke Energy Qualified Supplier for Nuclear Stations
Many customers are concerned about verification and validation, perhaps none more so than those in the nuclear industry. Widely used in the nuclear industry, AFT's documentation, software maintenance and notification is a significant benefit to the V&V efforts of these customers in meeting their nuclear quality control requirements.
Duke Energy operates three nuclear power stations, McGuire in North Carolina and Oconee and Catawba in South Carolina. Recently one of Duke Energy's senior auditors visited AFT for the purposes of surveying our source code control related to supplying AFT software to Duke Energy's nuclear stations. The standard NUPIC (Nuclear Procurement Issues Committee) Survey Checklist was followed as applicable. We're proud to announce the results of the survey were the addition of Applied Flow Technology to the Duke Energy Qualified Supplier List.
AFT understands the importance of the work our software is used in by our customers whatever the industry. Whether you're designing/operating a nuclear power plant or the service water to a commercial office building, flow modeling software you can count on is critical to you and you can count on AFT software to meet and exceed your requirements.
Tip of the Month - Applying a Default Unit System
AFT software supports ISO and English units and provides a variety of ways to select the units to be used. For example, in the Output window you can change units 'on the fly' for a specific parameter by double clicking an output column header and selecting the desired unit from the Change Units window.
To globally change the unit system, go to the Options menu and select Parameter and Units Preferences. Select the Unit Preferences tab, choose the Default Unit System then click the Apply Default Units button. This will both apply the default units for the selected unit system and change the preferred units.