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AFT Fathom - Incompressible Steady State Flow in Pipe Networks
Windows
AFT Fathom 7.0 provides comprehensive, incompressible pipe flow
analysis and system modeling capabilities combined with ease-of-use. Addressing
open and closed loop systems, AFT Fathom includes a built-in library of fluids
and fittings, variable model configurations, pump and control valve modeling and
much more. With the optional Chempak add-in, a thermo-physical database of over
600 fluids is available to further expand the envelope of your analysis and
design. AFT Fathom goes beyond the boundaries of traditional pipe flow analysis,
with thermal analysis capabilities including piping heat transfer, heat
exchanger modeling and varying fluid properties.
 AFT
Fathom employs a robust solver using proven matrix methods to solve the
governing equations of pipe flow. The full power of this technical
sophistication is readily accessible through an advanced visual interface. From
the powerful drag-and-drop model building features to the fully customizable
output, AFT Fathom becomes an extension of the engineer’s mind, freeing him or
her to focus on their system, not the mechanics of software manipulation.
Scenario Manager raises the what-if potential of system modeling to a new level.
Multiple system configurations varying by any modeling parameter are easily
managed within a single model file with a familiar hierarchical interface.
Changes in the base model are automatically inherited by dependent design cases.
More than just pipe flow analysis, AFT Fathom lets you build your piping system
in software. Vary pipe sizes, pump curves, valve settings, fluid properties,
operating lineup... virtually anything you can do with the real system can be
done within AFT Fathom, accurately simulating the individual system components
and their interaction. Whether you're designing new systems, modifying existing
ones or analyzing system operations, The ability to analyze alternates and the
insight provided by an AFT Fathom model significantly improves the quality of
systems engineering you can achieve, leading to less costly, more efficient and
more reliable piping systems.
AFT Fathom has been used on thousands of pipe flow and duct flow applications
ranging from chemical to petrochemical to power to pharmaceutical to facilities
to aerospace and more. Systems applications range from power plant cooling
systems to small bore hydraulic tubing.
AFT Fathom's hydraulic solution engine is based on the Newton-Raphson matrix
iteration method plus many proprietary solution methods developed by AFT over
several years that increase solution speed and robustness for solving pipe flow
and duct flow applications.
Four solution methods are available:
* Constant fluid properties
* Variable fluid properties - user may specify differing fluid properties on a
pipe by pipe basis
* Heat transfer with energy balance, single fluid - modeling heat transfer
through pipe boundaries and heat exchangers along with fluid property variations
with temperature
* Heat transfer with energy balance, multiple fluids - modeling heat transfer
between multiple hydraulic circuits thermally linked through heat exchangers
Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are supported.
The Workspace
AFT Fathom models are built in a graphical environment, displaying the model in
a familiar schematic format. AFT Fathom models contain two constructs, pipes and
junctions. Junction types included are:
* Reservoir (up to 25 pipes may be connected to each)
* Branch (up to 25 pipes may be connected to each)
* Pump (as fixed specified flow or pump curve and single or multiple
configurations)
* Heat exchanger
* Assigned flow
* Assigned pressure
* Area change
* Bend
* Tee/wye (uses the Idelchik and Miller loss relationships)
* Valve
* One way valve (check valves and relief valves)
* Control valve (pressure reducing, pressure sustaining, constant pressure drop,
flow - may be specified as fail open or close and fail upon reverse flow)
* Dead end
* Orifice
* Venturi
* Screen
* Spray discharge (single or multiple outlets [sparger])
* Eductor/jet pump
* Volume balance (differing fluids interface)
* General component (user defined component)
An AFT Fathom model is 'assembled' by dragging the junctions to be included onto
the Workspace and connecting them with pipes (this can be done in any order and
pipes and junctions can be added and deleted at any time). The resulting system
schematic clearly displays the connective relationship between system components
and pipe runs in the same way traditional schematics and diagrams do.
 Each
item on the Workspace is described through a Specifications window, opened by
double-clicking on the object. In the case of pipes, for example, the diameter,
length and roughness are specified (pipes may also be selected by material type
and schedule from the built-in database and friction modeling may be selected
from an extensive list including, absolute roughness, hydraulically smooth,
frictionless and others). In the case of pumps, one selects between a fixed
specified flow or modeling with a pump curve. If the latter is selected, data is
input for the flow vs. head (or pressure) curve and Fathom calculates a curve
fit to characterize the head curve (and, optionally, the NPSHR and efficiency
curves). In addition, multiple pump configurations may be specified within a
pump junction; e.g. data for a range of impeller diameters and speeds for a
particular pump model, as well variable speed pumps and controlled pressure and
flow pumps.
A summary of an object's specification may be seen by right-clicking on it to
open the Inspection Window.
System lineup can be easily and quickly varied by opening and closing pipes and
valves, pumps turned on or off, control valves set to fail position.
AFT Fathom includes numerous tools for arranging and editing models that
significantly reduce the time required to develop a model and change it
incluiding global editing, powerful selection tools to select objects by a
variety of input and output parameters, junction type, named group and more.
Drawing tools provide great flexibility in developing your model diagram how you
want quickly, including an automated orthogonal pipe drawing mode.
Model Data
The Model Data window provides a tabular listing of the pipes' and junctions'
input data. This is a great aid for some types of input review. For example,
knowing that your pipe lengths are the range of a few feet to several tens or
hundreds of feet, a scan down the pipe length column will quickly reveal an
input value with an extra digit or two or a length unit mistakenly specified as
miles instead of feet. Double-clicking on an item within the Model Data window
opens its Specifications window for editing.
With multiple scenarios Model Data may be configured to display input data for
the current scenario and its ancestors clearly illustrating how the scenario
differs from higher order scenarios and which parameters are linked and will
automatically inherent changes made to higher order scenarios.
Output Window
A tabular display of calculated results, the Output window is organized into
General, Pipes and Junctions sections, which can be displayed all at once or
individually.
 Additionally,
the General and Junctions sections have tabbed sub-sections to quickly view
specific categories. For example, the General section provides tabbed summaries
for pumps, valves and heat exchangers, displaying output parameters specific to
these types of junctions. The Junctions section has tabs to view the output
results of all junctions as well as a tab for each type of junction in the
model.
The Output window provides extensive control by the user for such items as; what
objects and parameters are displayed, units, order (including sorting), as well
format controls for viewing and printing, all of which may be changed and the
revised output viewed without re-running the model. Parameters may also be
displayed simultaneously with multiple units allowing, for example, to display
flow in gal/min and m3/hr side by side.
Visual Results
Working in both Input or Output mode, Visual Report displays selected input or
output parameters with your model schematic. Visual Report can vary the color of
pipes in the model according to a user defined color map based pressure,
temperature, flow and many other parameters.
Graph Results
Graphs of flow, pressure, temperature and many other parameters are quickly and
easily generated by pipe or along a flowstream as well as system curves and pump
vs. system curves. For multiple pump systems, the various compound pump curves
for different combinations of pumps in operation can be shown in one pump vs.
system curve providing a clear indication of how system performance will vary
with the number of pumps in operation.
Scenario Manager
A powerful aspect of modeling software is the ability to change the system and
study the effects - 'what if'. AFT Fathom's Scenario Manager raises this 'what
if' capability to new levels by, first, allowing the user to define variations
of a model and save them within one model file and two, automatically keeping
common attributes between scenarios synchronized.
Scenarios may vary by almost modeling parameters; pipe sizes, fluids, pump
curves, valve settings, indeed, scenarios may differ by the elements present.
For example, a variant of a model may have an additional branch or loop than its
'parent'.
Changes in higher order scenarios are automatically passed downward to their
'children' for the parameters that are linked. Consider, for example, having a
base scenario with several variants each with different pump curves. To change,
say, the size of the pump discharge line on all variants, the Base can is
selected, the change made and automatically passed to the 'children', both
saving time and ensuring the variants remain synchronized in their common
attributes.
Customization
AFT Fathom provides extensive customization features including:
* Workspace appearance (colors, line widths, fonts, junction sizes and
appearance, location of pipe numbers and names, notation).
* Preferred unit specification - English and SI units supported
* Apply design factors to pipe and junction losses, pump head and heat transfer
* Vary pipe thickness (with pipe diameter if desired)
* Fluid, Component, Material and Insulation Databases - AFT Fathom comes
standard with a database of ~70 fluids and pipe dimensions and roughness for
several types of steel, cast iron and PVC pipe, but you can readily add your own
items. Work frequently with copper tubing? Input the data for the sizes you
normally work with and they appear in drop down lists along with the standard
database items. Fluids can be specified as a single point or with temperature
dependent data and AFT Fathom does the work of curve fitting the data to an
equation. Specified a pump that you will use again? Click on 'Add Component to
Database' and it's readily available from a drop down list. In fact, you can
easily compile catalogs of pumps, valves, heat exchangers...virtually any kind
of piping component to be quickly and easily selected within AFT Fathom. Better
yet, database files can be shared either by copying between stand alone
computers or across a network.
AFT Fathom Add-on Modules
Extend AFT Fathom's modeling capabilities with three, available Add-on Modules:
* XTS-eXtended Time Simulation to model dynamic system behavior
* GSC-Goal Seek and Control to automate the determination of input parameters
that will yield desired output values and simulate control functions within
systems
* CST-CoST calculations of pipes and components
If you have any further queries concerning this
software, please drop us a note
and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Purchase Online
We have a number of purchase options available in our
store. Our goal is to ensure that you feel comfortable in buying our
software. We therefore employ the highest level of security for online
transactions and accept all major credit cards as well as various options
to purchase such as electronic fund transfer (EFT) or bank draft. Should
you prefer not to provide your details online, we understand and ask that
you send us an email
requesting a pro-forma invoice for the
software in question. Please include relevant company details should you
decide on this option.
We have been selling software via the internet for many years, and
have a list of satisfied customers from across the globe. Should you require references from
some of these companies and individuals please let us know.
  
Purchase Online
| AFT Fathom |
$ |
2500 |
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| XTS Add-on Module |
$ |
1200 |
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| GSC Add-on Module |
$ |
600 |
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| CST Add-on Module |
$ |
500 |
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Should
you like to download a demo of this software, it is available by
clicking the link below.
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