05. How to apply a specific pipe property to a Reducer in AutoPIPE?

Applies To
Product(s):	AutoPIPE
Version(s):	ALL;
Area:	Modeling
Date Logged & Current Version	Feb. 2019 12.00.00.14

Problem:

How to apply a specific pipe property to a Reducer in AutoPIPE?

Solution:

One must first consider, what is driving the decision on which pipe property will be used by a Reducer.

a. Is it going to be the PipeID on the large end of the reducer?

b. Is it going to be the PipeID on the small end of the reducer?

The best place to make changes to the Pipe Properties applied between 2 node points would be on the "Press / Temp / PipeID" tab of the Input Grids. On this tab find a column labled "Pipe ID". Select a cell at the intersection of the "Pipe ID" column and appropriate row (identified by "From" - "To" Node points), this action will show a drop down listing where one can choose the required PipeID setting as needed.

If this modification changes the Reducer to a straight pipe shape instead, this is expected behavior. As mentioned in on the AutoPIPE help page for reducer,

Over the length of the reducer, AutoPIPE assumes an average of the connecting pipes for the outside diameter (Do), wall thickness (t). This affects the reducer weight, pipe contents weight, and section properties. Material properties (E, a, and allowable stresses) from the pipe at the near end of the reducer are extended to the far end of the reducer.

Workaround:

The only workaround in which the Downstream / Far node point controls the Reducer pipe properties is to change the segment direction.

Example:

Scenario #1:

Given the following piping layout, change the pipe properties of the reducer to be the same as the large size piping

Revers the Segment direction (Reverse Segment(s) (Home > Operations > Segments > Reverse Segment(s))

Scenario #2:

Given the following piping layout, change the pipe properties of both reducers to be the same as the large size piping

In this case, both small sides of both reducer must be the Upstream side and the large side of the reducer must be the Downstream side. This cannot be done with a single segment. Only solution, use two segments. (insert a new node point on the large piping.split the segment into 2 segments, and use reverse command to reverse a segment's direction as needed.

Note the segment node point names and direction. Segment B is from Left to right, while Segment C is from right to left. Thus enabling both reducer small sides to be the upstream node point and ultimately controlling the reducers pipe properties.