Steady State Pipe Flow Modeling Software
AFT Fathom
What Is
AFT Fathom
AFT Fathom is a fluid dynamic simulation software for engineers, used to calculate pressure drop and pipe flow distribution in liquid and low-velocity gas piping and ducting system.
- Accurately simulate individual system components and interaction
Tightly integrates equipment characteristics, analysis and output with your system’s schematic representation - Provides a wide array of features without sacrificing your need for a short learning curve
- Frees you to focus on your system, not the mechanics of software manipulation
- Significantly improves the quality of systems engineering you can achieve, leading to less costly, more efficient and more reliable piping systems
How It Works
Modules
Validation Resources
How Does It Work?
AFT Fathom’s hydraulic solution engine uses the Newton-Raphson matrix iteration method plus proprietary methods developed by AFT to solve pipe flow and duct flow applications. AFT Fathom uses the Bernoulli’s Equation and Reynolds Number-based relationships for pipe friction calculation.
Settling Slurry
Models the effects of pumping fluids containing settling solids using the Wilson/GIW method.
Extended Time Simulation
Models dynamic system behavior and how critical system parameters vary over time
Goal And Seek Control
Identifies input parameters that yield desired output values and simulates control functions
Automated Network Sizing
Evaluates the complex interaction of system variables to reveal combinations of cost savings
Case Studies
Technical Papers
Fluids Supported
Water and Wastewater
Refined Products & Chemicals
Cryogens & Refrigerants
Low Velocity Gases
Modeling & Simulation
Typical Applications
Primary Features
Experimenting With
Operating Conditions And Scenarios
Easily change system input data, including valve positions, pump operation, control set points, pressures, temperatures, and more
Model a wide range of system components for both design and operational cases
Vary your system line-up: open/close pipes and valves, turn pumps on or off, set control valves to fail position
Specify design alerts that automatically highlight output values that are out of range for flow, pressure, velocity, pump efficiency, and more
Find pump data from online manufacturer catalogs
Compile libraries of your frequently used piping components and select them from a drop-down list
Address the viscosity and frictional changes associated with pumping non-settling slurries and a variety of other non-Newtonian fluids
Evaluate codes and industry standards applied in the model
Calculate the cost of system pipes and components as well as energy cost
- Import piping layouts from:
- CAESAR II® Neutral files supported by AutoPIPE®, ROHR2, TRIFLEX®, etc.
PCF Files supported by AutoCAD Plant 3D®, SmartPlant®, CADWorx®, and other GIS shapefiles supported by ArcGis, etc.
Import and export files in EPANET format
Clearly import Excel data into multiple scenarios and export with the Excel Export Manager
Export data to evaluate Flow Induced Vibration (FIV) according to Energy Institute Standards
Typical Applications Of
AFT Fathom
- Pipe and Duct Sizing
- Relief valve sizing and system calculations
- Compressor and Fan sizing and Selection
- Control Valve sizing and Selection
- Simulating System operation and component interaction
- Evaluating pipe insulation and heat transfer in pipes and heat exchangers
- Troubleshooting existing systems to determine the cause of operational problems
Primary Features Of
AFT Fathom 12
Track all your design variants and potential operating conditions in a single file with Scenario Manager
Use integrated, customizable graphing and reporting to make analysis visually intuitive
Evaluate Pump and System curve interaction including composite head and efficiency curve
Calculate the capital costs of pipes and components as well as operating energy expenses
Leverage built-in libraries of fluids and fittings to build your own database upon
Consider viscosity and frictional effects from non-Newtonian viscosity models or non-settling slurries
Model your centrifugal and positive displacement pumps to account for
- Shifting performance curves through variable speed control and impeller trimming
- Viscosity corrections using standards from the Hydraulic Institute
- Wire-to-water efficiency including pump, motor and variable frequency drive efficiencies, used to size motors and evaluate power usage
- Acceleration head loss for positive displacement pumps
NPSH evaluation
Size motors and evaluate power usage by considering wire-to-water efficiency (including pump, motor and VFD efficiencies)
Account for heat transfer effects in pipes and heat exchangers
Ensure a design adheres to industry standards such as API 526, ANSI/HI 9.6.3, API 610, or NFPA Standards
Import piping layouts from CAESAR II® Neutral files, PCF Files, and GIS shapefiles regardless of source
Integrate with Excel to import model data and export output data
Built-in libraries of fluids (including NIST REFPROP and ASME Steam Tables) and fittings which can be extended and customized
Optional Chempak add-on utility provides a thermophysical database of almost 700 fluids
Let's Get Started!
Want to learn more about AFT software and see if it's the right solution for you?