New Release: Flownex SE 2016 – Smart just got smarter for thermo-fluid design and analyis engineers
June 13th, 2016
2016 has been an exciting year of expansion and development for Flownex, their development team continues to lead the way in systems thrmo-fluid simulation software development. With a major focus on software integration and complete turbine simulation capabilities, Flownex SE provides tremendous cost, time and risk savings to their users with a design and analysis accuracy that is unbeatable to date.
The Major Enhancements in Flownex SE 2016 include:
Nuclear Reactor
The advanced pebble bed reactor component has been changed so that it can simulate various kinds of reactors with different kinds of fuels. The ability has been added to specify the neutronics calculations using a script. This enables the simulation of a wide variety of reactors like molten salt reactors as well as solid fuel reactors. The Advanced Pebble Bed Reactor component was changed to the Nuclear Reactor component and Advanced Pebble Bed charts were changed to Reactor Geometry charts. Existing networks using the old Advanced Pebble Bed Reactor will still function, the component icons might change if the default icons were used. All the related charts will be moved to the required folders in the charts and lookup tables. Figure 1 contains screenshots of these changes. For more information see the nuclear chapter in the components user manual.
To allow for more customised heat transfer correlations an extra coefficient named A was added to the Dittus Boelter equation on the reactor geometry chart and the composite heat transfer element in order to be able to model molten salt reactor heat transfer. Figure 2 is a screenshot of the new geometry zone specification window with the new input field.
Postitive Displacement Pump
A positive displacement pump component has been added to the Flownex® component library. Both rotary as well as reciprocating pumps can be modelled via user defined performance characteristics for volumetric flow rate vs. rotational speed at various pressures. The component allows the user to define viscosity scaling characteristics as well. Additionally power and net positive suction head margin results are also calculated.
Reporting
A default report (called Results Overview in Flownex® SE) was added that is run after steady state and transient; this is done so users have a report without even setting up any reports. The default report is presented as a drawing page tab (Figure 5).
Excel® reports, input sheets and parameter tables are now shown on their own tree like other pages as depicted in Figure 6. Refer to the relevant sections in the user manual for detailed descriptions on how to use the tree.
Input Property Grid
Fields that are data transferred to or fields that are set from input sheets or parameter tables are now disabled on the property grid. This allows users to know which fields will be overwritten from somewhere else. E.g. in Figure 7 the length of Pipe – 1 can’t be changed because it is connected to the length of Pipe – 0 via a data transfer link.
Film Convection Component
The effects of film convection compounding have been added to the film convection component. The film compounding accounts for the effect of the upstream liner coolant films on the downstream liner coolant film effectiveness. Through selecting the associated upstream film convection components from a drop-down list, Flownex® applies the compounding equation to the affected elements resulting in more accurate film effectiveness prediction.
An option was added to use integrated film effectiveness based on the correlation type instead of the more conservative low effectiveness value at furthest position from the slot exit. The option is specified in the Film Convection Component inputs. (See Figure 9)
P&ID Drawing Mode
A P&ID like drawing mode was added. P&ID symbols were added for the relevant components and links are all black in P&ID drawing mode. The setting for this is located on the Settings ribbon and is shown in Figure 10. Flownex® also ships with a wide variety of P&ID symbols that can be used as images for components, they are found by selecting the master database from the image selector gallery.
Demonstration Networks
The demonstration (demo) networks have been updated and are set up to illustrate how Flownex® can be used to solve many different type of engineering problems. The networks shown range from simple networks such as determining the flow rate through a pipe connected to tanks at different elevations to more advanced examples such as a three shaft Brayton cycle used to produce compressed air.The demo networks begin with a problem statement accompanied by a physical representation of the problem and are followed by solution in the form of a Flownex® network. These networks are different to the tutorials as they do not include step by step instructions in building the network but are rather a good point of reference for intermediate users looking to better understand how to model particular systems using Flownex®. The demo networks can be found on the start page when Flownex® is opened as shown in Figure 11.
Rotor-Rotor and Rotor-Stator
A drag coefficient calculation option has been added for bolts on Rotor-Rotor and Rotor-Stator components. The drag coefficient can be selected for round, cylindrical, hexagonal, screw, flat and flush rivet bolt heads (See Figure 12). The Rotor-Rotor and Rotor-Stator components have been updated to allow inputs for multiple rotor and shroud speeds. This allows for modelling twin-spool engines. Figure 13 shows the changes to the inputs window.
Advanced Input Option for the Flow Elements
An advanced inputs option has been added to all flow elements to allow the user to easily recognise non-essential inputs – this simplifies inputs on all elements, especially on the pipe element.
Importing
Added a DWSim based fluid generator to replace the CoolProp generator. DWSim has many more compounds available as well as different user selectable property estimation methods. The DWSim import option is located on the Import ribbon as can be seen in Figure 15.
For more details and to discuss how Flownex can help transform your simulations, please contact us.
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