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PIPENET is a software for the steady-state and transient analysis of complex pipeline networks, developed by the British company SUNRISE and originating from Cambridge University. It boasts powerful functions for simulating and optimizing engineering pipeline systems, and is widely used in various fields such as petrochemicals, power generation, offshore engineering, and water resources across the world. It enables more scientific design of pipeline systems, improves design efficiency, increases project profitability, and reduces the incidence of accidents. 1. Basic functions of the PIPENET software: The PIPENET product series includes standard modules, fire protection modules, and transient analysis modules, with each module being a software application that operates independently. 1.1 Standard module: The PIPENET standard module is used for numerical calculations and simulation in the steady-state design of industrial piping networks. Its specific functions include: calculating the required pipe diameter based on the designed flow velocity or the specific friction loss of the pipe ； Flow field calculation (calculating parameters such as pressure at each node in the piping network, flow rate and velocity in each pipe, as well as pressure losses) ； Calculate the parameters at the pipeline network inlet (i.e., the pump outlet) to determine the pump ； After entering the pump curve, calculate the pump’s operating point ； Simulation calculations for pump series connection, parallel connection, and variable-speed pumps ； The valve opening is calculated based on the flow rate requirements of the branch, in order to regulate the flow rate in that branch ； Orifice plate calculation: Determine the pressure drop generated by the orifice plate size, or determine the orifice plate size based on the desired pressure drop ； Simulation of abnormal operating conditions (blockages, leaks, etc.) ； Simulation of pressure stabilizing valves and flow stabilizing valves ； Square tube model, used for ventilation system calculations. Standard modules are suitable for fluids such as liquids, gases, hydrocarbon mixtures, and fluids with variable properties, and are applicable to complex network structures including tree-shaped piping networks, ring-shaped piping networks, and multi-source systems. The standard modules of PIPENET software are primarily used for hydraulic balance calculations of circulating cooling water systems, as well as ventilation system calculations in industries such as refineries, chemical plants, power plants, offshore platforms, ships, and factories ； Urban water supply networks, heating networks, building water supply systems ； Hydraulic calculations for complex fluid piping networks such as cooling tower water distribution systems. 1.2 Fire protection module: Hydraulic calculation tasks for fire protection systems – optimize the parameters of the piping network so as to ensure uniform flow within the system, thereby achieving energy savings and reduced consumption, all while meeting the requirements of fire safety regulations. The PIPENET fire protection module is used for numerical calculations and simulation in the steady-state design of fire protection piping networks. It can handle fire protection systems by dividing them into a deluge system and a main fire protection network, or it can be used for calculating the entire piping network as a whole. Calculate the pipe diameter based on the design flow rate or the specific friction loss of the pipe ； Comply with NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), FOC (Commonwealth Fire Code) and GB standards ； The flow distribution in the fire protection piping network (resistance balance) involves calculating parameters such as the pressure at various nodes in the fire protection system, the flow rate and velocity in the pipes, as well as the pressure losses, to verify whether they meet the design requirements ； Apply the most unfavorable operating condition algorithm, mass balance algorithm, and user-defined algorithms to calculate the pressure and flow rate at the inlet of the deluge system ； Calculate the nozzle flow rate based on the pressure or flow rate parameters at the inlet node of the rainwater sprinkler system ； Calculate the parameters for the entrance of the main fire protection network, and then select the fire pumps ； Simulation analysis of fire pump series connection, parallel connection, variable-speed pumps, and booster pumps ； Verify whether various fire protection operating conditions meet the design requirements ； Generate internationally recognized fire protection calculation reports such as NFPA and FOC. The fire protection module of the PIPENET software is primarily used for hydraulic analysis of fire water systems and foam systems in refineries, chemical plants, power plants, offshore platforms, ships, factories, buildings, and spherical tank areas, including complex fire protection piping networks such as water spray systems and main fire protection networks. 1.3 Transient Module: The PIPENET transient module is used for the dynamic analysis, simulation, and numerical calculation of industrial piping networks and fire protection piping networks. Its specific functions include: analyzing water hammer (steam hammer) caused by actions such as stopping and starting pumps, as well as opening and closing valves; calculating the maximum and minimum pressure values in the piping network along with their locations; determining whether the maximum pressure in the system exceeds the design pressure of the pipes; and checking whether there is negative pressure in the piping system ； Simulation analysis of water hammer prevention measures, such as the response analysis of components like pressure relief valves, safety valves, burst discs, vent valves, buffer tanks (closed, open, with overflow), and siphon tanks; determining the size of these devices to meet the design requirements ； Simulation analysis of pipeline PID control system ； By using sensors to collect pressure, flow rate, and pressure difference signals, and by applying a combination of control principles such as proportional control, integration, and differentiation, the system automatically adjusts the parameters of components such as valves and pumps, ensuring that the system remains in a stable state. This enables automatic control and adjustment of the piping system, avoiding any delays resulting from manual adjustments ； Numerical calculation of dynamic forces ； Simulation of liquid level fluctuations in fire tanks and forebays of pump houses, and calculation of discharge time ； Simulate phenomena such as cavitation, erosion, and slug flow ； Analysis of the water filling and draining processes in simulated pipe networks allows for the calculation of the water filling time for the pipes ； Simulation analysis of the fire protection interconnection system is conducted to calculate the response time of the fire protection system. The PIPENET software can be used for air hammer analysis and calculation of air hammer forces in the main steam pipes and hot section pipes of thermal and nuclear power plants, for steady-state hydraulic calculations and air hammer analysis of circulating water systems, for transient analysis of related process pipes, and for hydraulic calculations of fire protection systems in power plants ； In the petrochemical industry, it can be used for water hammer analysis in cooling tower water distribution systems, circulating water systems, LNG receiving station process systems, marine platform circulating water systems, fire protection water systems, long-distance oil transportation systems, and oil field water injection systems. In the water industry, it can be used for calculating water hammer during pump shutdown in long-distance water transmission systems (multi-stage pumping stations), as well as for calculating water hammer in heating and water supply networks. 2. Features of PIPENET software 2.1 Professional engineering design software PIPENET is a professional engineering design software. Its main clients are design institutes in industries such as petrochemicals, power generation, offshore engineering, shipbuilding, and water resources and hydropower. Therefore, its interface design, built-in models, application processes, and functional features are all tailored to meet the needs of engineering designers, facilitating its use. 2.2 Powerful ring network calculation capabilities: The PIPENET software is renowned for calculating and simulating complex pipeline networks; it can handle various complex pipeline systems as well as ring network systems, and its calculation capabilities are not limited by the number or complexity of the ring networks. 2.3 Professional fire hydraulic calculation software: Currently, the PIPENET fire module is the only fire hydraulic calculation software in the international engineering community. Compared with other hydraulic calculation software available on the market, the PIPENET fire module uses special resistance calculation formulas based on fire safety codes, meets the professional algorithms and layout requirements for fire system design, and generates calculation reports in a professional format (NFPA format). 2.4 Schematic model: The PIPENET model uses a schematic model similar to a process flow diagram, and employs the lumped parameter method. Pipe components or devices such as elbows, tees, gate valves, and butterfly valves that do not involve any operational actions are used as resistance parameters for the pipes. When modifications are needed, only the parameters need to be altered, without having to modify the model itself, which significantly improves design efficiency. 2.5 Calculation of dynamic force: Dynamic force is an instantaneous unbalanced force that propagates along the pipe as a result of the water hammer (steam hammer) phenomenon; it is commonly referred to as water hammer force (steam hammer force). The momentum of this force is extremely high, enough to damage pipeline systems or structures. PIPENET can calculate dynamic forces and generate time-and-force results, which are then saved in.FRC files to be passed on to pipeline stress analysis software for structural analysis and damper design. 2.6 TURBO PUMP model: The PIPENET transient module includes a TURBO PUMP model that can simulate not only the normal operating conditions of the pump but also all conditions related to pump shutdown and reversal. 2.7 INERTIAL PUMP model: Since the TURBO PUMP model requires parameters such as the SUTER CURVE, which are difficult to obtain, the PIPENET transient module has developed a unique INERTIAL PUMP model that can utilize the parameter information available from the manufacturer to simulate pump startup, shutdown, and normal operating conditions. 2.8 Interface with other engineering software: The PIPENET software has an interface with the PDMS software. Through the interface, the 3D model of the pipeline can be directly read into a PIPENET model, and calculations can be carried out after adding the required boundary conditions. It has expanded the application scope of the PIPENET software. The PIPENET software has interfaces with software such as Caesar II, allowing it to transfer the results of dynamic force calculations performed by PIPENET to structural analysis software for the design of supports and hangers, as well as dampers. 2.9 Dynamic equipment selection: The PIPENET transient module enables dynamic equipment selection for critical devices that operate under dynamic conditions, such as safety valves, vacuum break valves, pressure vessels, condensers, and overflow weirs, thereby resulting in more accurate, safer, and more economical device models. 2.10 Pre-commissioning simulation: The PIPENET transient module can simulate various control systems commonly used in engineering, as well as the dynamic response of these control systems within the entire pipeline network system. This allows a large amount of pre-commissioning work to be carried out during the design phase, thereby reducing the commissioning time required for project construction. 2.11 Siphon tank overflow weir model: The PIPENET software includes models for siphon tanks and overflow weirs, enabling accurate representation of parameters such as the water level in the siphon tank and the water level at the top of the overflow weir. This provides a reliable basis for simulating siphon tanks and overflow weirs. 2.12 The Channel Cavitation algorithm: In actual petrochemical, nuclear, and thermal power plant design, phenomena such as cavitation shock waves often occur in the pipelines due to large height differences and negative pressures; therefore, it is necessary to conduct simulations of cavitation effects as well as simulations of solutions to eliminate them. The PIPENET software can perform such simulations. The PIPENET software features a Channel Cavitation algorithm that enables the simulation of complex hydraulic phenomena such as water column breakage, hammer effect, cavitation flow, and underflow, as well as the calculation of changes in the volume of gas within pipes. 2.13 Pipe network and main/wet pipe models: The PIPENET software provides pipe network simulation capabilities, allowing for the modeling of special hydraulic phenomena such as pipe filling or drainage. 2.14 Gravity flow simulation: The PIPENET software can simulate gravity flow water supply and calculate the changes in the liquid holdup within the pipes.