Problem:

How to correctly filter pipes when importing a PCF file into AutoPIPE?

Ex. Model has 3 pipe sizes:

• 15 (small)
• 40 (med)
• 80 (large)

Task, import only the large 80 mm pipe for analysis. but How?

Solution:

Note: this procedure assumes that you already know what pipe size(s) are to be filtered. 

Step #1: Open PCF translator, and ADD the PCF file(s) to be imported.

Step #2: Recall the objective, do not import any 15 mm or 40 mm piping.

Question What pipe size should be entered into the space for  Ignore OD < 

Answer: So I heard you say 40 mm, well let us try that..

Set Ignore OD < to 40

Note, the units for this filed will be updated in a future version, for now assume that the units match that selected on the Model tab.

Step #3: Assuming the Model tab Open With options was set to AutoPIPE Connect, press the Convert button and map items as needed. In just a moment AutoPIPE should start

When the model finishes importing, notice that only the small 15 mm pipe was filtered out, but the 40 mm medium pipe size was still imported. 

Question: Why was the 40 mm pipe not filtered out? The settings was < 40, is that not correct?

Answer: The OD of a 40 mm pipe is actually 48.3 mm according to AutoPIPE's pipe size library. Therefore the correct value to enter into the PCF translator should have been 48.4 (just to be sure)

Step #4: Set Ignore OD < to 48.4 

Step #5: Convert the model again. 

Ah haaaa,.... that did the trick. Notice that both the 40 (med) pipe and the 15 (small) pipe have been filtered out and only the 80 (large) piping was imported.

Example #2

Question: What value should be entered into the PCF translator's Ignore < OD for a 1 inch pipe in metric units? 25mm, 27mm, or other?

Answer: Best to open AutoPIPE, insert a pipe id (ex 1inch) that has the same size Nominal dimension of a pipe to be filtered out, convert to the correct units on the General Model options dialog, and again review the pipe properties to confirm AutoPIPE's library dimensions of a nominal pipe.

In this case, to filter out the metric equivalent of a 1 inch pipe enter Ignore OD< 33.8 (to be safe) into the PCF translator.

See Also

PCF Settings issues

PCF Translator Issues

Bentley AutoPIPE