About the Calculation of Pipe Route Dimensions
Explains the concept of model-based dimensioning calculation for pipe routes in the concept phase of a project.
Model-based dimensioning calculation for pipe routes makes it possible to determine the dimensions of supply routes and the system pipes they contain (e.g., heating, ventilation, or plumbing) early on in the planning phase. This calculation can be performed on the basis of room data without the need for detailed generator or consumer models. The routes can be pre-dimensioned using the existing supply topology and information on room usage and boundary conditions. The data from the dimensioning calculation can be easily reused in connection with room book-based planning.
There are different options for calculating demands in rooms for each trade. Detailed calculation results, e.g., from an air volume determination or a heating/cooling load calculation, can be used directly for dimensioning. If these values are not available in the concept phase, they must be calculated using the most basic information.
Objectives
The objective of calculating pipe route dimensions is to determine distribution topologies with broken-down media and coordinated routing of riser zones and distribution routes. Using the information about which pipes are available in which dimensions, cross-section definitions for each pipe route can be used to dimension these restricted zones, which can then be communicated to the building managers for further coordination. If necessary, the legend tool can be used to derive more detailed documentation in the form of plan views. Once coordination has been carried out, the underlying information on cross-sections and dimensions can be used to design pipe networks with individual media and suitable pipe classes. These are not collision-free and serve as an initial draft for the more detailed elaboration of the building services distribution networks. From here, you can continue with the familiar Desktop commands.
Requirements
Certain values must be known in order to calculate the dimensions of a pipe route, for example, the demands of rooms, specified boundary conditions, simultaneity factors, peak flows, distribution topology, pipe routes, transfer points, and the allocation of media to requirements. Systems with supply/return must be routed in parallel within the routes, and supply and exhaust air are added together to form outside and exhaust air.
The modeled pipe route network must be free of meshes and open. Each end of a pipe route must therefore be connected to feed-in or transfer points. The appropriate feed point of the planned network must be accessible from each transfer point via a unique path. Furthermore, the demands at the transfer points in the rooms must be clearly defined. This means, for example, that in the case of two heating systems, the respective partial coverages are correctly specified as a percentage and the associated route names do not conflict. There must also be a correct assignment of system classes.
From this information, pipe networks for the individual system classes and pipe dimensions can be derived.
Families Used
A room is connected to a pipe route via transfer points. These contain information about the demands to be covered and are connected to the pipe route. In order to calculate the dimensions for pipe routes and the pipes and ducts it contains, the routes must be connected to the feed points (generators) and transfer points (spaces with assumed demands). For this purpose, the LINEAR Solutions offer the corresponding families in the Feed and Transfer component group:
- Partial Network Start: Feed Point - In feed points, you define which system classes from the technical generator systems (boilers, potable water storage tanks, ventilation units) feed into the route. Several system classes can be fed into the route for each feed point. For the heating and cooling system classes, system information such as spread as well as flow and return temperatures for the respective route is also defined here.
- Partial Network End Transfer Point - In transfer points, you define the system classes that are fed to a room. Transfer points must lie in a MEP space. For each transfer point, you can specify the coverage of the corresponding systems, for example, heating 100% and cooling 50%.
- Partial Network End Collection Point - In collection points, you define which systems from the route are are connected to corresponding rooms. Collection points are essentially the same as transfer points, but collection points aggregate the demands of several MEP spaces. A collection point does not require a direct spatial reference, but connects to rooms using structural parameters, for example, all rooms with the property SanitaryCore=“SanitaryWest” or all rooms on the ground floor with the property HVAC-system=“HVAC-extension.” This allows you to map systems that are not directly connected to a supply route. In addition, this allows you to dimension riser zones in shafts at an early stage without planning the specific horizontal distribution.