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

• US 7,624,002 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Kamini S
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAY, HERNG DER
• Application Number:
  US10/935,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,904 Days
• Field of Search: 703/6, 703/9
• 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 implemented in a computer system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) system model of a hydraulic system, comprising:

(a) defining nodes and two-dimensional (2D) segments interconnecting the nodes in a 2D model having a 2D user interface for the hydraulic system in the computer system;

(b) generating a plurality of user interfaces, each user interface of the plurality of user interfaces respectively corresponding to one of the 2D segments in the 2D model and generated via a user selection of the corresponding 2D segment in the 2D model, each user interface comprising a dropdown adapted to provide a user-selectable list of pipes and fittings to define each corresponding 3D segment model and build a list of pipes and fittings in a fittings section for the corresponding 3D segment model, and each user interface also adapted to provide an orientation section that allows the user to select an orientation for each section of piping with respect to each of three displayed mutually perpendicular axes and further adapted to allow the user, via setting an axis using a 45 degree orientation button, to select compound angles for each corresponding 3D segment model with respect to said each of three displayed mutually perpendicular axes;

(c) constructing a 3D segment model respectively for each of the 2D segments in the 2D model via the corresponding user interface by defining a three-dimensional layout for the constructed 3D segment model and displaying a shaded realistic representation of a solid form of the constructed 3D segment model in the corresponding user interface;

(d) creating the 3D system model via an automatic combination of each 3D segment model constructed in step (c); and

(e) displaying the created 3D 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 3D system model in the computer system, wherein each dropdown further includes a user-selection of an ANSI contraction, ANSI enlargement, outlet, sudden contraction, tee, flange, and sudden enlargement.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and 2D segments using the 2D user interface of the two-dimensional model of the hydraulic system.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the nodes and 2D segments are laid out in two dimensions and the computer system is adapted to generate a warning responsive to a detected portion of a 2D segment that conflicts with a previously entered 3D segment model in the three dimensional system model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises displaying each 3D segment model in scale.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises splitting a selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models, upon receiving a user-selection of a position in the list of pipes and fittings in the fittings section of the user interface corresponding to the selected 3D segment model, by inserting a junction at a location in the selected 3D segment model corresponding to the position in the list to split the selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises combining all the three-dimensional layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining 3D segment models of the hydraulic system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises displaying the 3D system model of the hydraulic system in scale.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying an accuracy of the 3D system model.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises automatically determining whether a first portion of the 3D system model occupies a same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the 3D system model.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises visually determining, using the displayed 3D system model whether a first portion of the 3D system model occupies a same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the 3D system model.

14. A method implemented in a computer system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) system model of a hydraulic system, comprising:

(a) constructing a two-dimensional (2D) model of the hydraulic system in the computer system using a 2D interface, the two-dimensional model having a plurality of nodes and 2D segments interconnecting the nodes;

(b) generating a plurality of user interfaces, each user interface of the plurality of user interfaces respectively corresponding to one of the 2D segments in the 2D model and generated via a user selection of the corresponding 2D segment in the 2D model, each user interface comprising a dropdown adapted to provide a user-selectable list of pipes and fittings to define each corresponding 3D segment model and build a list of pipes and fittings in a fittings section for the corresponding 3D segment model;

(c) constructing a 3D segment model respectively for each of the 2D segments in the 2D model via the corresponding user interface by defining a 3D layout for the constructed 3D segment model and displaying a shaded realistic representation of a solid form of the constructed 3D segment model in the corresponding user interface, and splitting a selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models, upon receiving a user-selection of a position in the list of pipes and fittings in the fittings section of the user interface corresponding to the selected 3D segment model, by inserting a junction at a location in the selected 3D segment model corresponding to the position in the list to split the selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models;

(d) creating the three-dimensional system model of the hydraulic system in the computer system via an automatic combination of each 3D segment model constructed in step (c); and

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

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the nodes include sources, outlets, equipment, and junctions of the hydraulic system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the nodes further include changes in orifice dimension, enlargements, contractions, and changes in piping diameters of the hydraulic system.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising performing hydraulic calculations with the 3D system model in the computer system.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and 2D segments using the 2D user interface of the two-dimensional model of the hydraulic system.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises displaying each 3D layout in scale.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein step (d) comprises automatically combining all the 3D layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining 3D segment models.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the 3D system model of the hydraulic system in scale.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein step (e) comprises highlighting the occupation of the same or substantially the same location by the first portion and the second portion.

23. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implemented in a computer system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) system model of a hydraulic system, the method comprising:

(a) defining nodes and two-dimensional (2D) segments interconnecting the nodes in a 2D model having a 2D user interface for the hydraulic system in the computer system;

(b) generating a plurality of user interfaces, each user interface of the plurality of user interfaces respectively corresponding to one of the 2D segments in the 2D model and generated via a user selection of the corresponding 2D segment in the 2D model, each user interface comprising a dropdown adapted to provide a user-selectable list of pipes and fittings to define each corresponding 3D segment model and build a list of pipes and fittings in a fittings section for the corresponding 3D segment model;

(c) constructing a 3D segment model respectively for each of the 2D segments in the 2D model via the corresponding user interface by defining a 3D layout for the constructed 3D segment model and displaying a shaded realistic representation of a solid form of the constructed 3D segment model in the corresponding user interface, and splitting a selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models, upon receiving a user-selection of a position in the list of pipes and fittings in the fittings section of the user interface corresponding to the selected 3D segment model, by inserting a junction at a location in the selected 3D segment model corresponding to the position in the list to split the selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models;

(d) creating the three-dimensional system model via an automatic combination of each 3D segment model constructed in step (c); and

(e) displaying the three-dimensional system model.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises performing hydraulic calculations with the 3D system model in the computer system.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein step (a) comprises laying out the nodes and 2D segments in two dimensions using the 2D user interface of the two-dimensional model.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein step (c) comprises displaying each 3D segment model in scale.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein step (d) comprises automatically combining all the 3D layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining 3D segment models.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein step (e) comprises displaying the 3D system model of the hydraulic system in scale.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the method further comprises verifying an accuracy of the 3D system model.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises automatically determining whether a first portion of the 3D system model occupies a same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the 3D system model.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein verifying the accuracy comprises visually determining using the displayed 3D system model whether a first portion of the 3D system model occupies a same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the 3D system model.

32. A computer-readable medium having instructions to perform a method implemented in a computer system for creating a three-dimensional (3D) system model of a hydraulic system, the method comprising:

(a) constructing a two-dimensional (2D) model of the hydraulic system in the computer system using a 2D interface, the 2D model having a plurality of nodes and 2D segments interconnecting the nodes;

(b) generating a plurality of user interfaces, each user interface of the plurality of user interfaces respectively corresponding to one of the 2D segments in the 2D model and generated via a user selection of the corresponding 2D segment in the 2D model, each user interface comprising a dropdown adapted to provide a user-selectable list of pipes and fittings to define each corresponding 3D segment model and build a list of pipes and fittings in a fittings section for the corresponding 3D segment model;

(c) constructing a 3D segment model respectively for each of the 2D segments in the 2D model via the corresponding user interface by defining a 3D layout for the constructed 3D segment model, and displaying a shaded realistic representation of a solid form of the constructed 3D segment model in the corresponding user interface, and splitting a selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models, upon receiving a user-selection of a position in the list of pipes and fittings in the fittings section of the user interface corresponding to the selected 3D segment model, by inserting a junction at a location in the selected 3D segment model corresponding to the position in the list to split the selected 3D segment model into two split 3D segment models;

(d) creating the 3D system model of the hydraulic system in the computer system via an automatic combination of each 3D segment model constructed in step (c); and

(e) verifying accuracy of the 3D system model of the hydraulic system by visually or automatically determining whether a first portion of the 3D system model of the hydraulic system occupies a same or substantially the same location as a second portion of the 3D system model of the hydraulic system.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the method further comprises performing hydraulic calculations regarding the 3D system model of the hydraulic system.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein step (c) comprises displaying each 3D layout in scale.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein step (d) comprises combining all the 3D layouts at nodes intervening between adjoining 3D segment models.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein step (d) comprises displaying the 3D system model of the hydraulic system in scale.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein step (e) comprises highlighting an occupation of the same or substantially the same location by the first portion and the second portion.