CADRE Flow

CADRE Flow Hydraulics and fluid flow system analysis

New version 2.0 Feb 19, 2010

For hydraulic systems, fluid flow systems, and pipe flow networks, CADRE Flow provides for calculating:

	Flow rate
	Pressure
	Hydraulic grade lines, energy lines
	Power available, required and lost
	Forces on joints and fittings
	Pump requirements
	Turbine requirements, unit discharge
	Cavitation evaluation

System requirements:

Windows 7 and Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP, 2000 with Microsoft .Net 2.0 framework

Downloads

CADRE Flow evaluation version (fully functioning software) (~2 Mb)

Overview

CADRE Flow is a hydraulics engineering application for Windows.

CADRE Flow is developed using the basic principles of finite element method as applied to the hydraulics flow field. It is intended for solving incompressible fluid flow in piping systems, hydraulic systems, and fluid flow networks. There is virtually no limit to the degree of complexity (joints, lines, and line segments) that can be solved. Although limited to incompressible flow in pipes, CADRE Flow can be used to handle low speed air flow systems such as ventilation ducts where the overall pressure differential is small.

The piping system is the medium that forms the finite element analogy. In CADRE Flow, the elements are considered as pipes and the nodes are connecting points for the pipes or intermediate points in pipes where information such as pressure is desired.

The solution is conducted on a specific defined piping system which may be part of a larger system as long as the information at the defined boundaries are sufficient to solve the model.

Flow elements

The elements used in CADRE Flow to construct flow networks are based on a simple straight section of pipe with a constant diameter.

Although the element is based on a simple pipe, it is actually a container for devices and flow properties.

The pipes can be designated as one-way pipes to account for check valves.

The element can be assigned a device such as a pump (input) or a turbine (output).

The element can also be designated as a tank which is modeled and displayed as a very wide diameter pipe.

Element properties that are typically assigned are length, diameter, roughness, and discrete loss factors.

Element losses

	pipe friction losses are calculated according to the Darcy equation based on their assigned lengths and roughness or__
	or by discrete (minor) loss factors, or a combination of both factors and friction so that configuration and fitting losses can be included.

In establishing pipe friction, the full range of Reynolds number are considered from laminar, through transition, to turbulent so that a proper friction factor is automatically provided irrespective of the flow velocity.

pump turbine

Flow models

The models can be considered schematic (with assigned lengths for elements) or geometric (with element lengths determined by the coordinates of the system drawing) or a combination of both. Likewise, the elevation of nodes (for gravity effects) can be schematic with assigned elevations or simply use elevations determined by the coordinates of the system drawing.

The models can be full 3D representing a complete piping system for a 3D structure or simply 2D schematics of a flow system.

Models can be developed,

	From scratch by putting nodes and elements directly on the screen with the screen editors,
	by starting with the Quick Modeler that generates a basic template,
	by importing a text file list of nodal coordinates with the Nodal editor, then finishing by connecting elements and assigning properties with the pipe element editor, or
	by importing a simple model described by a text file,

3D fluid flow network for a multi-story building

Single line pumping situations

Develop pumping requirements and pipe sizes for typical single line pumping situations, accounting for losses from friction, reentrants, and pipe fittings..

Water distribution systems

CADRE Flow can solve any distribution network (e.g. area water systems, fire suppression sprinkler systems), enabling the determination of supply requirements, piping sizes. The system at the left could be a zonal system for a small town.

Develop load requirements for piping joints

Both pressure and momentum forces can be developed combined or individually.

Simulate low speed air duct systems

Graphical outputs

Plot hydraulic grade lines, energy lines, distributions of pressure head, velocity, flow rate, etc. over any selected path in a fluid flow network

Turbines and pumps

Output for turbines are total power available, net effective head, and unit discharge.

Hydraulic turbine

Help: The context sensitive help system provides basic instruction in fluid mechanics, help for using CADRE flow and help in getting started with several step by step practice exercises.

Administrative aspects:

License: Three simultaneous installations allowed on the standard license. All CADRE Analytic granted software licenses are perpetual. There are no maintenance fees.

Technical support: Reasonable technical support on engineering projects by practicing professional engineers is free of charge.

Software support: Support for installation and continued functioning is always free and provided by real people by telephone and by e-mail.

CADRE flow evaluation

Capability: CADRE Flow has virtually unlimited nodal and element capacity. Limits result from the allocation of memory by your computer and operating system.

Requirements:

Minimum:

250 MB of RAM
Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista
2 button mouse.
Hard disk with 20 megabytes of free space.
CD ROM Drive

Recommended:

Windows XP or Vista with 500M of RAM.

Prices

All upgrades and purchases include the CD and bound user manual.

Professors and students, inquire about the Educational Discount.

Order CADRE Flow

Contacts

CADRE Analytic home

This page updated: Friday, February 19, 2010