Apparatus and method for creating scaled, three-dimensional model of hydraulic system to perform calculations

• US 20060052989A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Berwanger, Patrick C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/14 Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

A software application implementable on a computer system is used to create a model of a hydraulic system to perform calculations. The user visually constructs a two-dimensional (2-D) connectivity model in the computer system. The 2-D connectivity model has a plurality of node points defined at various elements (sources, outlets, equipment, and junctions) of the hydraulic system and has segments interconnecting the node points. The user visually constructs a three-dimensional (3-D) segment model for each segment so that each segment model has the 3-D layout of the piping and the fittings for the segment. A 3-D system model of the entire hydraulic system is visually created in the computer system by combining the 3-D segment models. The software application performs calculations using the 3-D system model, and the 3-D system model can be visually or automatically verified to determine whether the model substantially corresponds to the 3-D layout of the hydraulic system, and has been laid out without errors.

Claims

1. A method implementable on a computer system for creating a model of a hydraulic system to perform hydraulic calculations, comprising:

(a) defining nodes and segments interconnecting the nodes for the hydraulic system in the computer system;

(b) defining a three-dimensional layout for each segment in the computer system;

(c) creating a three-dimensional system model of at least a portion of the entire hydraulic system by combining the three-dimensional layouts for at least two adjoining segments; and

(d) displaying the three-dimensional system model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nodes include sources, outlets, equipment, and junctions of the hydraulic system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nodes further include changes in orifice dimension, enlargements, contractions, and changes in piping diameters of the hydraulic system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing hydraulic calculations with the three-dimensional system model in the computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and segments using a user interface of the computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the nodes and segments are laid out in two dimensions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises constructing each segment in three dimensions using a user interface of the computer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the segment in scale while visually constructing the model.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) comprises displaying visual representations of the segment in solid form.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein step (b) comprises allowing for splitting of the segment into two segments by inserting a junction into the segment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises combining the three-dimensional layouts at nodes intervening between the adjoining segments.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in scale.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the accuracy of the three-dimensional system model.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises automatically determining whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises visually determining using the displayed the three-dimensional system model whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

16. A method implementable on a computer system for creating a model of a hydraulic system to perform hydraulic calculations, comprising:

(a) constructing a two-dimensional model of the hydraulic system in the computer system, the two-dimensional model having a plurality of nodes and segments interconnecting the nodes;

(b) constructing a three-dimensional segment model for each segment in the computer system, each three-dimensional segment model having a three-dimensional layout for the segment;

(c) creating a three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in the computer system by combining the three-dimensional segment models for each of the segment; and

(d) verifying the accuracy of the three-dimensional system model by visually or automatically determining whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the nodes include sources, outlets, equipment, and junctions of the hydraulic system.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the nodes further include changes in orifice dimension, enlargements, contractions, and changes in piping diameters of the hydraulic system.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising performing hydraulic calculations with the three-dimensional system model in the computer system.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and segments using a user interface of the computer.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein step (b) comprises constructing each three-dimensional layout using a user interface of the computer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the three-dimensional layout in scale while visually constructing the model.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the three-dimensional layout in solid form.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) comprises allowing for splitting of the segment into two segments by inserting a junction into the segment.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein step (c) comprises combining the three-dimensional layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining segments.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in scale.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein step (d) comprises highlighting the occupation of the same or substantially the same location by the first and second portions.

28. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implementable on a computer system for creating a model of a hydraulic system in the computer system to perform hydraulic calculations, the method comprising:

(a) defining nodes and segments interconnecting the nodes for the hydraulic system in the computer system;

(b) defining a three-dimensional layout for each segment in the computer system;

(c) creating a three-dimensional system model of at least a portion of the entire hydraulic system by combining the three-dimensional layouts for at least two adjoining segments; and

(d) displaying the three-dimensional system model.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises performing hydraulic calculations with the three-dimensional system model in the computer system.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and segments in two dimensions using a user interface of the computer.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein step (b) comprises constructing each segment in three dimensions using a user interface of the computer.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the segment in scale while visually constructing the model.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein step (b) comprises displaying visual representations of the segment in solid form.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein step (b) comprises allowing for splitting of the segment into two segments by inserting a junction into the segment.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein step (c) comprises combining the three-dimensional layouts at nodes intervening between the adjoining segments.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in scale.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises verifying the accuracy of the three-dimensional system model.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises automatically determining whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises visually determining using the displayed the three-dimensional system model whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

40. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implementable on a computer system for creating a model of a hydraulic system to perform hydraulic calculations, the method comprising:

(a) constructing a two-dimensional model of the hydraulic system in the computer system, the two-dimensional model having a plurality of nodes and segments interconnecting the nodes;

(b) constructing a three-dimensional segment model for each segment in the computer system, each three-dimensional segment model having a three-dimensional layout for the segment;

(c) creating a three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in the computer system by combining the three-dimensional segment models for each of the segment; and

(d) verifying the accuracy of the three-dimensional system model by visually or automatically determining whether a first portion of the three-dimensional system model occupies the same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the three-dimensional system model.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the method further comprises performing hydraulic calculations with the three-dimensional system model in the computer system.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the three-dimensional layout in scale while visually constructing the model.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (b) comprises displaying the three-dimensional layout in solid form.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (b) comprises allowing for splitting of the segment into two segments by inserting a junction into the segment.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (c) comprises combining the three-dimensional layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining segments.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the three-dimensional system model of the entire hydraulic system in scale.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein step (d) comprises highlighting the occupation of the same or substantially the same location by the first and second portions.