Welcome to the Applied Flow Technology Blog where you will find the latest news and training on how to use AFT Fathom, AFT Arrow, AFT Impulse, AFT xStream and other AFT software products.
There is a similar story behind the naming of AFT Fathom™ and I told that story several months ago in my post entitled Where did the Name Fathom Come From? The story behind the Arrow name is rooted in the beginnings of Applied Flow Technology as a company. So let's go back to 1995.AFT Fathom was released in early 1994. While interest was immediate
Nuclear power has had a bumpy history. In recent years nuclear power has come to be viewed by some as a clean source of power with virtually no CO2 emissions. Different countries view nuclear power in different ways. France obtains over 75% of it's electricity from nuclear power. China is building many new nuclear power plants. New nuclear reactor
Let's start with my favorite my new feature. Well, actually it is a collection of new features - all related to graphing. New Graphing Features First, AFT Arrow now has the ability to display multiple graphs simultaneously. For example, see screen show below. Second, AFT Arrow can remember all the graphs in a new Graph List Manager. This replaces
According to science journal Nature, "Using the world's most powerful assembly of lasers, a team of researchers say they have, for the first time, extracted more energy from controlled nuclear fusion than was absorbed by the fuel to trigger it — crossing an important symbolic threshold on the long path toward exploiting this virtually boundless so
Today it is no longer necessary to take short cuts. But all too often we see engineers doing just that. AFT Arrow is AFT's gas flow simulation software and it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. Just last week I had a conversation with an AFT Arrow user from a well known engineering firm who was required by a client to use gas mode
AFT Arrow 5 was recently released and has several wonderful new features in store! One of the most powerful and largest time saving features is the new glorious “Search”. Located in the toolbar, “Search” allows for the quick locating of Junctions or Pipes much like a search engine finds a website. Where can I find it? “Search” has become a st
AFT Arrow solves all of the fundamental controlling equations governing gas dynamics. For more information about which fundamental thermodynamic equations are solved in AFT Arrow, here is an excellent article that discusses gas flow calculations in detail. The "stack effect" is simply one aspect of these equations, and is accounted for by th
In AFT Arrow, there are three types of fluids that can be modeled: AFT Standard, ASME Steam, and Chempak. The focus of this article will be on how to use the Chempak Database with AFT Arrow in order to perform dynamic mixing calculations. But first, I would like to briefly introduce each of the three types of fluids that can be mo
Eventually I gave up looking for published methods and set it aside to focus on AFT Fathom 2.0 - which was released in early 1995. I then spent the summer of 1995 focused on developing my own methods for compressible flow. I remember at one point spending six straight weeks reviewing compressible flow textbooks and papers and filling up pads of pa
Heat exchangers are some of the most expensive pieces of process equipment, so it is crucial that their pressure losses and heat transfer are well understood. AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow allow users to model heat exchangers within their piping systems. Pressure loss models include input K factors, resistance curves, or tube bundle information. When en
Among the many talents of AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow software is the ability to model heat transfer. While a major source of heat transfer is heat exchangers, this blog will address heat transfer that occurs in pipes. First, for the basics: Just what is heat transfer? Well, heat transfer occurs when there is a temperature difference between two objec
AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow both have the powerful ability to model heat transfer in pipes and heat exchangers, allowing you to represent these critical features of temperature-sensitive systems in your hydraulic model. However, without being able to see the affect heat transfer has on an entire system these features would be of limited usefulness. On
As the original developer of AFT Arrow, I consider it as one of my babies. This month it is all grown up and now 25 years old. Back in March we came out with the latest new version AFT Arrow 8 – just as the COVID-19 crisis was emerging.Those who have taken an AFT Arrow seminar which I have taught (at least fifty classes and counting!) have likely h
AFT has some good news for engineers who analyze gas transients. AFT is introducing the new AFT Arrow Extended Time Simulation (XTS) Add-on Module to help engineers better calculate compressed gas flow rate changes in piping systems. This time-based simulation software allows engineers who are designing or troubleshooting industrial
Learn how to use AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow to help calculate the Likelihood of Failure (LOF) for Flow Induced Vibration (FIV), Acoustic Induced Vibration (AIV), and Flow Induced Pulsation (FIP) in accordance with Energy Institute Guidelines to avoid vibration induced fatigue failure. Introduction to Vibration Induced Fatigue and Failure Repeat
We recently discussed the new features coming out in AFT Fathom 13 and AFT Impulse 10. Now let's talk about the compressible gas and steam side of the product launches. You may be more familiar with AFT Fathom, as it is our flagship incompressible steady state analysis product. AFT Arrow is its counterpart for compressible steady sta
There are three geometric situations which can lead to sonic choking and the Triple Choke example discussed here demonstrates each of the three. This technical paper I wrote explains the three sonic choking geometries in more detail. One interesting back story to this example is that soon after we put it together in 1996 a company called inquiring
What is GSC? GSC stands for Goal Seek and Control and is an add-on module for both AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow that automates the search for input parameters to achieve desired output. In other words, it allows the user to define a set of model input variables that are changed until a set of output goals are reached. The first step toward calibrating
There are several advantages to calibrating a model to multiple data sets. The primary advantage is of course the increased level of confidence you can have in your model calibration, especially if you use pressure and flow data from the system while it is operating in different configurations (i.e, with different valve positions, different
Here at AFT we are always looking for more ways to bring more convenience and accuracy to our model files. One of the ways we are doing this is with NIST REFPROP, the new fluids database that we have incorporated into AFT Fathom 10 and is coming soon in AFT Arrow 7 and AFT Impulse 7. Unlike Chempak, REFPROP is included at no additional cost to
The growing emphasis on sustainable business practices and environmental responsibility has impacted AFT software in several areas. In recent years we have added built-in capabilities to AFT Fathom and AFT Arrow to calculate energy usage and to estimate the cost to operate rotating equipment. This is available on the Analysis menu in the “Cost Sett
In early October, I conducted a 5-day training seminar in Lima, Peru. There were seven different companies represented from Peru and Chile. It is always interesting to see the variety of applications for AFT software and Peru was no exception where many of the engineers are involved in mining operations. Peru is a leading producer of copper, gold,
Flow direction arrows are for reference only, the actual direction being determined by the analysis and, if the direction is opposite the reference direction you've specified, values for flow, velocity and pressure drop will be negative. If you don't want negative values, simply select the pipe, press F3 to toggle the direction arrow and rerun your
Users regularly contact us asking for information to assist them in validating AFT software. The formality of the validation requirement ranges from customer's self imposed internal requirements to rigorous validation as required for work in the nuclear industry. Fortunately, AFT provides extensive reference material for validation and, what's more
You've probably modeled pumps using curve data from the manufacturer. In conjunction with specifying a name reflecting the pump make and model and saving pumps to your component database, selecting and using these pump junctions in your system models is fast and easy. Often, however, a make/model pump will have not one set of head/pressure, efficie
Under sub-sonic gas flow conditions, loss models can use the familiar K, Cv or resistance curve methods. At choked flow, however, the dynamics of compressible flow require a different method to characterize the loss, which AFT Arrow users will see as the optional 'CdA' input value on the valve and other junctions specifications window. The product
Filters and screens impose a pressure drop that varies with flow rate. The variation is non-linear, but manufacturers will often provide only one data point for pressure loss at the design flow rate. Using a single point, or constant pressure drop, can produce significant inaccuracies in your model. With this in mind, AFT offers the “Fill As Quadr
AFT Arrow can be used to model various types of choking such as restriction choking, endpoint choking, and expansion choking. A useful parameter in AFT Arrow’s output is the “Sonic Flow Area” and this is the flow area in which sonic choking will occur. Comparing the sonic flow area to the actual flow area can help determine the margin b
Many of our products have had no price increases for five or even ten years. Further, we will be bundling modules into AFT Fathom 8 and AFT Arrow 5 which in the past were offered at extra cost. US customers can see the new pricing. International customers should contact their distributors for new pricing information. Second and additional licenses
AFT Arrow can be used to model various types of choking such as restriction choking, endpoint choking, and expansion choking. A useful parameter in AFT Arrow’s output is the “Sonic Flow Area” and this is the flow area in which sonic choking will occur. Comparing the sonic flow area to the actual flow area can help determine the margin between not c
What does all of this mean for the future? The new, more modern look and feel of AFT Fathom 8 is based on a new underlying architecture. We will be working hard to move all of our other products to this architecture as quickly as possible. Our best guess is that AFT Impulse 5 will be available in first quarter of 2013 and AFT Arrow 5 will be avail
One of the many new features in Fathom 8 is the ability to show images in the annotation box. This simple feature will allow the engineer to easily and clearly communicate a vast array of information through the Workspace and Visual Report. To add an image to the Workspace or Visual Report, as seen above, select the Annotation tool from the
DuPont The first story talks about how AFT Fathom helped DuPont solve a serious operational problem in three newly designed slurry systems. I co-authored a technical paper along with DuPont's Dan Wood to describe this to industry. AFT Impulse Video NASA The second story is about how AFT Impulse has been used by engineers at NASA's Kennedy Sp
Jeff and I worked together at General Dynamics Space Systems Division in San Diego, California in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I worked there from 1986-1992 on cryogenic rockets on what came to be known as the Atlas I, Atlas II, Atlas IIA and Atlas IIAS. These Atlas rockets had an Atlas booster rocket which was fueled by room temperature RP-1
AFT Arrow uses Newton iteration to find a simultaneous solution for all junction pressures. Well, maybe not all junctions. When “Use Exhaustive Tolerance Criteria” is NOT selected, AFT Arrow will only check junction pressures that find their way into the solution matrix. The AFT Arrow solver builds a matrix of equations based on the number of flow
First is because 20 years in business means that AFT software is proven.Second is because of the prizes we are giving away this year. Twenty of them no less!Come along with me while I elaborate on what AFT has achieved in the last 20 years. And explain more about the two P's.A Vision for the VisualThe last 20 years has been a long and exciting jou
You have just finished designing your system and built a model of your system in AFT Fathom and have convinced your team and the client that the system will achieve all the desired pressures, flow rates, and temperatures. The next big question is, “How much will this system cost?” With AFT Fathom, you have the ability to answer that question in g
With the release of AFT Fathom 8 and AFT Impulse 5, there is an incredibly useful new feature available on the Workspace called the "Quick Access Panel". This feature allows you to quickly and easily work with several useful features of the software in one area such as the Scenario Manager, Pipe and Junction Inspection, Workspace Overview Map
AFT Arrow 4.0 and AFT Fathom 7.0 offer the ability to view text output across multiple scenarios simultaneously, greatly facilitating seeing the differences in results between scenarios. To view multiple scenario output, open Output Control either from the Analysis menu or, when the Output window is active, by clicking the toolbar button, and then
I apologize up front if the snappy title may have misled you, but there will be no discussion about the monetary impact of the world on AFT Software here! Rather, this article will point out some resources to help Users get the most out of their AFT products when our world is in a constant state of flux! One of the main aims of the team of Applicat
Congratulations to all the lucky winners! AFT has a hard earned reputation for excellence in our products and our technical support. For the next 20 years we plan to build on that reputation. Here are some things to keep an eye out for from AFT this year: The release of AFT Fathom 9 with a host of new features The release of AFT Impulse 6 with a
Then, do the same thing for the other heat exchanger (by linking back to the previous heat exchanger). Finally, the model can run and this will allow simulation of two sides of one heat exchanger and their associated flow loops in a single model file!! Figure 7 shows that the heat transfer FROM the hot oil shell side of the heat excha
It is well-known that valve closures and openings can cause waterhammer events. Because this is perhaps the most common cause of surge events, it is important to understand how to input valve transients and characteristics. Regarding both steady state characteristics and transient operations, there are some terms that we should clarify that may be
When dealing with a compressible gas system, heat transfer and thermal effects are very important to account for. When a gas is flowing down a pipeline, it will cool down as the gas expands due to the frictional pressure drop. Many would say that adiabatic or isothermal conditions will bracket the potential flow rates that are possible
But you can find extra time in other ways that do not depend an calendar adjustments. That time is found by accomplishing your assigned engineering tasks in less time. And that is where AFT software can and does help engineering companies in 70+ countries around the world. Below is a list of the top five ways AFT software saves engineers time: Top
Two summers ago I bought a new home in the Colorado Spring area. It has an air conditioning unit that only distributes air to the upstairs. Upstairs has only bedrooms and a bathroom. Colorado Springs is a beautiful city that sits at the base of the world famous Pikes Peak. The local elevation of the city is 6000 ft (1800 m) and my home is at 7200
Perhaps a good place to start is this video I highly recommend watching - "Guys build amazing 7-mile-long model of the solar system, to scale". As I watched the video it brought back vivid memories of grade school for me. My amazing teachers had the wonderful idea to setup a solar system on the playground where kids held a picture of each planet a
Recently, a customer calculated the mass flow rate of a fluid through an orifice using both the ASME standard MFC-3M-1989 and AFT Arrow. He was puzzled when this mass flow rate calculation differed by approximately 100 lbm/hr between the two methods, so he reached out to AFT for help in determining the reason for the discrepancy. The answer for the
One of the newest features of AFT Fathom 9 that will add a lot more efficiency to analyzing your results is the new Design Alert Manager! In addition to the new Design Alert Manager, it is also possible to add general Design Alerts for junctions such as inlet or outlet pressure, or perhaps the pressure loss across a junction. In previous versions
Engineers using AFT hydraulic software (Fathom, Arrow, and Impulse) know that they are utilizing powerful flow modeling tools capable of modeling real fluid behavior in simple and complex piping networks, but many are often unaware that our software also provides a vast array of customization options that can visually aid the user’s understanding o
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