Basic features:

• source code in Visual Basic 4.0, with both 16-bit (Win 3.1) and 32-bit (Win95-98) versions available; MS Access database used for pre-loaded product libraries; distributed through standard Windows setup disks (executable file and VB runtime libraries)

• uses either English or Metric units

• system components include:

• pressure losses through equipment (filters, valves, etc.)

• pumping station hydraulics (head, flow, power, efficiency, unit-water and annual pumping costs)

• pipeline hydraulics (pressure loss, diameters, length, flow)

• telescoping manifold designs with up to four pipe sizes in the design, plus provision for   irregular fields, any topography, minimum/maximum desired pressures

• hose/tape uniformity calculations

• system can be used for individual design components or to build a Project; Projects can include up to 10 sets of data for each of the design components (refer to Screen 1); any number of Project files can be created

• reports are available on-screen or printed; on-screen reports are scrollable within the report window (refer to Screen 4a/b)

• graphic reports are available for both hose/tape designs and manifolds (refer to Screen 5)

Screen Displays

Screen 1 - The Project screen (16-bit version)

Note the different project components of Equipment, Pumps, Pipelines, Manifold Designs, and Drip Hose/Tape Designs.   Up to 10 calculations for each component can be retained in a project data file.  The user can go directly to any one design set in any component class.  Project files are saved/retrieved in standard Windows fashion (note the menu-bar at screen top).  Standard Windows-type, context-sensitive help screens are available at any time.

Screen 2 - Pipeline Design screen (16-bit version)

Depending on what data is available the user can solve for pressure loss, flow, pipe length, or required minimum diameter.  Note that a pre-loaded library contains many sizes and types of the most commonly used pipes (the pulldown list next to "Pipe Type/Size===>").  The user chooses which variable to solve for when performing calculations for pump stations or mainlines (note buttons next to "SOLVE FOR==>").

The Pump Design screen is very similar allowing the user to solve for required power, flow, total dynamic head, or pumping plant efficiency.  If data is available, costs per unit water and total annual pumping costs are also calculated.

Screen 3 - Hose/tape Design Screen (16-bit version)

The system will calculate resulting flow uniformity or required inlet to achieve a desired flush velocity.  Note the boxes labeled "Inlet Positions" and "Inlet Pressures".   The system will calculate resulting emission uniformity for a variety of inlet positions (if the manifold was running through the field instead of along a field edge) and inlet pressures.  The user can define a single slope or use up to six station points to define topography along a manifold (note button marked "Elevations") or a hose/tape.  The system can calculate the  required inlet pressure necessary to achieve a desired flush velocity in hose/tape or just calculate the resulting Emission Uniformity from any single design.

The Manifold Design capabilities are similar.  Telescoping manifolds can incorporate up to five different pipe sizes.  The user specifies an inlet pressure and desired minimum/maximum pressure limits, the pipe sizes to use, outlet flows, and topography.  Provision is made for defining irregular field shapes and resulting unequal outlet flows.  A report from the Manifold Design section is seen in screens 4a and 4b below.

Screen 4a - Example report screen for a manifold design - note that the report can be printed from this screen (with or without a change in printers); also note that the report can be scrolled up and down on the screen (Figure 4b directly below  is a continuation of the above report).  Written reports can be viewed on screen or printed

Figure 4b - End of the report started in Figure 4a- demonstrating the scrolling capability of displayed reports.

Screen 5 - Example graphic report for a manifold design- note that the topography (thick red line), pressure distribution (dotted line), desired minimum/maximum pressures, outlet flows, and locations/sizes for pipe size breaks are seen on this graph

© Copyright 1998 - Peter Canessa, All Rights Reserved

Page last updated 11/20/99    -   Comments/Questions - PWCanessa@aol.com