AFT Arrow is a practical tool for simulating compressible fluid flow in piping systems.
- Understand the fluid dynamic and thermodynamic behavior of your system and predict how pipes, valves, compressors, fans and other components will interact with each other.
- Evaluate the performance of new designs and assure all design requirements are met.
- Identify and correct operational problems in installed systems.
- Produce less costly, more efficient and more reliable piping systems.
How does it work?
AFT Arrow’s powerful solution engine simultaneously solves five fundamental equations; mass, momentum, energy, state and Mach number. AFT Arrow uses a modified Newton- Raphson matrix iteration method plus proprietary methods developed by AFT so you can achieve a true and rigorous compressible flow solution.
With AFT Arrow you can…
- Model a wide range of system components for both design and operational cases
- Select ideal or real gases
- Choose between isothermal, adiabatic or generalized heat transfer conditions
- Vary your system lineup: open and close pipes and valves, turn compressors or fans on or off, set control valves to fail position
- Design and analyze critical flow conditions including flare and relief systems
- Conduct flow analysis with high velocities including sonic choking
- Compile catalogs of your frequently used components and quickly select them from a drop down list
- Assemble non-reacting mixtures and analyze dynamic mixtures resulting from intersecting flow streams
- Model rotating piping systems such as those found in steam and gas turbines
- Model effects of elevation changes such as in tall structures, subsurface mines and overland pipelines
Modeling Features
Pipes
- Specify diameter, length and roughness or select by material type and schedule from the built-in database
- Select friction modeling from an extensive list including:
- pipe roughness
- Panhandle method
- Weymouth method
- Model heat transfer and add insulation layers – predict insulation surface temperatures to ensure compliance with workplace safety regulations
- Use embedded fittings to reduce workspace complexity
Compressors & Fans
- Explore the interaction of your system with compressors and fans
- Model compressor and fan power and associated energy costs
- Select between fixed specified flow or modeling with a compressor or fan curve
- Model VFDs and pump control to maintain a set flow rate or head/pressure
Valves
- Model relief valves and check valves
- Determine control valve capacity and insure adequate pressure drop
- Simulate pressure and flow control valves to test system interaction in the design stage
- Display effective Cv and K factor values for all valves in the system
- Identify control valve position to ensure stable valve operation
Fluid Property Models
- Built in ASME steam tables
- Optional champak add-on with 600 gases
- Configurable interpolation models for equation of state and enthalpy
- Redlich-Kwong
- Three parameter method
Scenario Manager
- Evaluate “What-if” cases by comparing several scenarios
- Make data changes in one scenario which can be passed down to dependent scenarios
- Easily develop and switch between different operating conditions or configurations
- Evaluate new or expanding system configurations
Reporting Features
Output
- Display pipe and junction reporting sections all at once or individually
- Select output format, units and displayed items through Output Control
- Make changes to the format without re-running the analysis
- Export results to a file or copy/paste into Excel for additional reporting options
- View input and output data for multiple scenarios simultaneously
Visual Results
- Displays selected input or output parameters with your model schematic
- Vary pipe color in the model according to parameters you define based on pressure, temperature, flow and many others to see results in the context of your system
- Clearly illustrate individual lines in the context of your entire system using color mapping
Graph Results
- Graphs of flow, pressure, temperature and many other parameters are quickly and easily generated by pipe or along a flowstream
- Show compressor or fan vs. system curves
Viewer
Share your models with anyone who may not need a full version of AFT Arrow. The Viewer is a free application that lets you:
- Open a model and view any of the windows (Workspace, Model Data, Output, Visual Report, Graph Results)
- Run the model and graph output data
- Print and export data
- You cannot edit an existing model or create new models with the Viewer.
