Flowmaster Software - Thermo Fluid System Simulation
Encyclopedia
Flowmaster V7 is thermo fluid simulation software for the analysis of fluid mechanics within pipe networks using 1D Computational Fluid Dynamics. By simulating pressure surge, temperature and fluid flow rates system-wide, engineers use Flowmaster to understand how design alterations, component size, selection and operating conditions will affect the overall thermal fluid system performance.
Over a 30 year period, research and development programmes were undertaken with the objective of improving the design of fluid systems and applying this knowledge to improve fluid related equipment and systems. The research included extensive studies to provide loss coefficient data for large flow systems and studies of fluid transients in pipeline systems. Model studies carried out on a wide range of flow systems across many industrial sectors provided insights into what engineers and designers required from an internal flow system guide.
Over the next ten years, D S Miller of BHRA gathered this wealth of information coupled with extensive data extracted from the literature to write the definitive reference book ‘Internal Flow Systems’ first published in 1978. The loss coefficient data included in the book was verified against experiments carried out at BHRA and the work of a number of groups around the world that had contributed experimental results over an extended period. Since publication the book ‘Internal Flow Systems’ has been used as the benchmark by fluid system engineers for the design and analysis of all Internal flow systems.
Early on in the writing of Internal Flow Systems D S Miller understood the importance of putting information and data into software in order for it to be in a more readily accessible to engineers. This resulted in a project led by Mike Papworth of BHRA to develop the world's first pressure surge analysis program that was useable by engineers called HYSMOP. This was not commercially available until the empirical data collated by D S Miller was embedded into the first Flowmaster software.
At its core Flowmaster has a versatile, rapid transient solver, which is combined with in-built empirical data from DS Miller, providing system engineers which an advanced Thermo-fluid System Modelling & Simulation solution. This enables them to:
Management of Simulation Data
The challenge for all engineering projects is how to manage design and simulation data in a way that upholds Quality Assurance processes without restricting the flow of information through the development process. This becomes harder when handling multiple projects with suppliers, generating large quantities of engineering data and work that crosses international borders.
Flowmaster uses an industry standard relational database to store all model and simulation data. Users can work with a local database or logon to a centrally served database which allows multiple users to access the same source of data at all the stages of product development or maintenance.
Co-simulation and software integration
Engineering projects often require multiple software tools throughout the development process, therefore the ability for these tools to communicate with and share data with one another becomes increasingly important. Flowmaster is based upon extendable open architecture and can integrate with other product development tools and systems, including optimisation codes ModeFRONTIER
and iSight Engineers can co-simulate with other leading CAE/CFD tools such as MATLAB
, STAR-CD
, ANSYS Fluent to optimise overall system performance and aid component development and selection.
, Embraer
, Siemens Power Generation
, Boeing
, General Electric
, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, Rolls Royce Marine
, BAE Systems
, BP
, NASA
, BMW
, VW.
Background
When Flowmaster was first released in 1987 it was the first commercial software to include inbuilt empirical data based upon the extensive research of Donald Miller (D S Miller) - Author (then of the BHRA Group & Author of the book ‘Internal Flow Systems’) which for the first time allowed systems engineers the ability to model complex system quickly without having to input additional data. Today this data is relied upon by engineers to govern the important choices they make that affect the safety of nuclear power plants, the vehicles we drive, the aircraft we fly in and the water we drink. This data is as essential today as it was when first published. Engineers who rely on this should be mindful of its origins.Heritage
In 1947 the British Hydromechanics Research Association (BHRA) later to become BHRA Group was established to undertake scientific research into the principles of fluid flow in pipeline systems and the application of these principles to the manufacture and use of hydraulic machinery.Over a 30 year period, research and development programmes were undertaken with the objective of improving the design of fluid systems and applying this knowledge to improve fluid related equipment and systems. The research included extensive studies to provide loss coefficient data for large flow systems and studies of fluid transients in pipeline systems. Model studies carried out on a wide range of flow systems across many industrial sectors provided insights into what engineers and designers required from an internal flow system guide.
Over the next ten years, D S Miller of BHRA gathered this wealth of information coupled with extensive data extracted from the literature to write the definitive reference book ‘Internal Flow Systems’ first published in 1978. The loss coefficient data included in the book was verified against experiments carried out at BHRA and the work of a number of groups around the world that had contributed experimental results over an extended period. Since publication the book ‘Internal Flow Systems’ has been used as the benchmark by fluid system engineers for the design and analysis of all Internal flow systems.
Early on in the writing of Internal Flow Systems D S Miller understood the importance of putting information and data into software in order for it to be in a more readily accessible to engineers. This resulted in a project led by Mike Papworth of BHRA to develop the world's first pressure surge analysis program that was useable by engineers called HYSMOP. This was not commercially available until the empirical data collated by D S Miller was embedded into the first Flowmaster software.
Technical capability
Building Complex Thermo Fluid System Models and Running Simulation AnalysisAt its core Flowmaster has a versatile, rapid transient solver, which is combined with in-built empirical data from DS Miller, providing system engineers which an advanced Thermo-fluid System Modelling & Simulation solution. This enables them to:
- Quickly build complex system models using the extensive catalogue of component models
- Carry out fast batch simulations (Steady State and Transient) of Incompressible and Compressible systems with Heat Transfer analysis
- Balance the flow and distribution around pipe networks optimising component sizes
Management of Simulation Data
The challenge for all engineering projects is how to manage design and simulation data in a way that upholds Quality Assurance processes without restricting the flow of information through the development process. This becomes harder when handling multiple projects with suppliers, generating large quantities of engineering data and work that crosses international borders.
Flowmaster uses an industry standard relational database to store all model and simulation data. Users can work with a local database or logon to a centrally served database which allows multiple users to access the same source of data at all the stages of product development or maintenance.
- Live project data - database search, user group management, audit trail, mass data update, flexible mobile working and data signoff
- Legacy data – instantly identify signed off systems to review design decisions, ensure clear traceability of past project data and safeguard expert knowledge by capturing procedures and methodologies.
- Extending data use – save sub-system templates, store additional component data such as mass and cost, use the open API’s to link with other data sources including CAE tools, CAD and PLM.
Co-simulation and software integration
Engineering projects often require multiple software tools throughout the development process, therefore the ability for these tools to communicate with and share data with one another becomes increasingly important. Flowmaster is based upon extendable open architecture and can integrate with other product development tools and systems, including optimisation codes ModeFRONTIER
ModeFRONTIER
modeFRONTIER is a multi-objective optimization and design environment, written to couple CAD/computer aided engineering tools, finite element structural analysis and computational fluid dynamics software. It is developed by ESTECO Srl and provides an environment for product engineers and designers...
and iSight Engineers can co-simulate with other leading CAE/CFD tools such as MATLAB
MATLAB
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. Developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages,...
, STAR-CD
CD-adapco
CD-adapco is a multinational computer software company that authors and distributes applications used for computer-aided engineering, best known for its computational fluid dynamics products....
, ANSYS Fluent to optimise overall system performance and aid component development and selection.
Application uses
Since it’s creation in 1987 Flowmaster’s use within engineering has spanned many system applications in a wide variety of industry sectors. These are summarised below:- Aerospace: ECS, Fuel systems, Hydraulics, Potable Water, Aero Engines,
- Automotive: Airside, Air Conditioning, Cooling, Exhaust systems, Fuel Injection, Lubrication systems,Vehicle Thermal Management
- Marine: Chilled Water, Potable Water, Ballast Systems, Heavy Duty, Diesel Engines
- Oil & Gas: Trim & Ballast, Venting, Inert Gas Distribution, Cargo Heating, Fire Protection, Offloading, Subsea Hydraulic Control
- Power Generation: Cooling Systems, Heavy Duty Diesel Engines, Gas Turbine Secondary Air
- Process: Flow Distribution, Pump Sizing, Cooling Systems, Heating Systems, Clean Room, Air Filtration
- Water: Potable Water, Rising Main, Flow Distribution
The Company
The Flowmaster software is developed by Flowmaster Ltd. Flowmaster Ltd is a UK company with its headquarters in Towcester Northamptonshire, a development centre in Pune India and over 20 distributors worldwide, serving OEMs and their suppliers worldwide. The reference list includes companies like Toyota, AirbusAirbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
, Embraer
Embraer
Embraer S.A. is a Brazilian aerospace conglomerate that produces commercial, military, and executive aircraft and provides aeronautical services....
, Siemens Power Generation
Siemens Power Generation
Siemens Power Generation, Inc is a power generation company based in the United States run by the German Siemens AG Corporation.SPGI was formed by the acquisition and merger of the non-nuclear energy divisions of Westinghouse Electric Company by the Siemens power generation division in 1997; the...
, Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
, Rolls Royce Marine
Rolls-Royce plc
Rolls-Royce Group plc is a global power systems company headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second-largest maker of aircraft engines , and also has major businesses in the marine propulsion and energy sectors. Through its defence-related activities...
, BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
, VW.