Arrow

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Accurate Compressible Modeling

Predict pressures, temperatures, velocities, and Mach—subsonic through choked—across pipes/ducts, fittings, valves, and heat transfer for designs you can defend.

Energy Optimization

Evaluate fans/blowers/compressors with curve-based models, compare damper vs. speed control, and quantify power to meet delivery targets at minimum energy.

Visualization & Reporting

Diagnose issues with color-mapped results, ΔP/energy breakdowns, and choke flags, then export configurable reports and Excel data for fast, defensible reviews.

Compressible Flow Solver & Heat Transfer

Model gas and steam networks with accurate compressible-flow physics.

Subsonic to choked flow through pipes, ducts, fittings, valves, orifices, and nozzles
Tracks pressure, temperature, density, velocity, Mach number, and Reynolds number
Heat transfer along pipes/ducts and across equipment with temperature-dependent properties
Real-gas property support and user-defined fluids for specialty applications

Fans, Blowers & Compressors

Evaluate equipment performance and operating strategies across system states.

Curve-based modeling with variable speed, control points, and staging (series/parallel)
Predict delivered flow, head/pressure rise, power draw, and operating efficiency
Compare operating scenarios (e.g., damper vs. speed control) to reduce energy use
Identify operating limits, such as the approach to choke or insufficient head/pressure rise

Valves, Regulators & Relief Devices

Size and analyze control and safety components in compressible systems.

Time- or condition-based control valve actions; characterize Cv/K vs. opening
Choked-flow evaluation through valves, orifices, and restrictions
Pressure-regulating and back-pressure devices for stable setpoint control
Relief device capacity checks and setpoint trade-offs under multiple scenarios

Workflow, Reporting & Integration

Build, compare, and share models efficiently across teams.

Scenario Manager to track alternatives in one file; inherit and compare cases
Excel import/export for model data and results; configurable reports and graphs
Import piping/duct layouts from PCF, CAESAR II® Neutral files, and GIS shapefiles
Design alerts for allowable pressures/velocities and color-mapped result visualization

Network Balancing & Distribution

Balance flows and pressures across branching gas/steam networks to meet equipment and process setpoints.

Tune dampers, orifices, and regulators to hit target flow/pressure in each branch
Assess parallel-path interactions and recirculation; verify minimum delivery at users
Compare damper vs. speed control strategies for distribution and energy impact
Identify bottlenecks with ΔP breakdowns, color-mapped results, and sensitivity checks

Goal Seek & Control (GSC Module)

Automatically adjust inputs to meet engineering goals and constraints.

Solve for fan speed, damper position, regulator setpoints, or nozzle area to hit flow/pressure/velocity/temperature/Mach targets
Link multiple controllers with priorities, bounds, and constraints to avoid infeasible solutions
Run multi-case what-ifs in one file and capture results as scenarios
Prototype control strategies without manual iteration

Extended Time Simulation (XTS Module)

Simulate time-dependent behavior in compressible networks.

Model startup/shutdown, purge/pressurization, and blowdown with scheduled events and ramps
Track time histories for pressure, flow, temperature, and Mach; animate network response
Sequence equipment staging (fans/compressors) and control actions over time
Check operating limits under transients and evaluate recovery to steady targets

Automated Network Sizing (ANS Module)

Optimize pipe/duct sizes and equipment selections to meet constraints at minimum cost or power.

Constrain flow, pressure, velocity, Mach, and ΔP at critical nodes and branches
Minimize capital cost, weight, or operating power using configurable cost models
Pick from standard size catalogs or continuous diameters with constructability rules
Output a sized bill of materials and compare alternatives with Scenario Manager

Results

Emissions Energy Reduction

25–30% power reduction

Modeling showed VFDs with open dampers cut fan power 25–30% across states.

Wastewater Aeration Upgrade Avoids Blower Surge

$200k–$600k saved

Verified lower setpoint increased flow and avoided upgrades.

Gas Distribution Expansion

+15 MW capacity confirmed

Field-correlated model confirmed the capacity for new customer commitments.

Digester Gas Expansion

Validated Pressure Safety Margin

Worst-case analysis kept pressure below relief

Who We Serve

Datacor Pipe Flow Modeling is built for professionals who design, analyze, and operate complex fluid systems.

From plant engineers to consulting firms, Datacor Pipe Flow Modeling Solutions empowers users to optimize performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure safe, efficient operations. If your work depends on understanding and improving piping and fluid flow systems, Datacor is your trusted partner.

FAQ

Arrow is easy to learn and can quickly be adopted by individuals or teams. Here are a few common questions.

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Does Arrow handle sonic choking?

Yes, Arrow accurately models sonic choking at all three geometric conditions in compressible networks.

Can Arrow be used to model liquid systems?

No—Arrow is for gas/steam systems; it’s built on a gas equation of state. It can, however, model incompressible gas flow found in vents and many HVAC applications.

How does Arrow account for real-gas effects and heat transfer?

Real-gas behavior is handled via a compressibility factor from an equation of state or property database, and heat transfer is modeled along pipes/ducts, across heat exchangers, and in compressors/fans with energy balances at junctions.

What is the practical limit to model size?

Arrow supports up to 10,000 pipes and 10,000 junctions; before that, RAM typically becomes the constraint, roughly 32 × (branches + tees)² bytes are needed (e.g., ~32 MB for 1,000 branches/tees).

Can Arrow model a turbine?

Not directly; model it with a Heat Exchanger junction by entering the turbine’s pressure drop vs. flow and specifying a heat rate out to capture both the pressure drop and enthalpy reduction.

How does Arrow calculate losses at tees and wyes?

It uses Idelchik-based correlations that account for flow split, area changes, and branch angles to compute pressure losses accurately.

How do I model a relief valve (and choked flow through restrictions)?

Use a Relief Valve junction (normally closed; Arrow opens it when cracking pressure is reached) or a regular Valve if you know it’s open; for choked-flow checks through valves/orifices, enter CdA on the junction’s Optional tab.

How do I create gas mixtures or model dynamic mixing?

Create mixtures using NIST REFPROP or the optional Chempak database (the Standard database doesn’t mix); assign gases/mixtures to sources and Arrow carries composition through the network via species mass conservation.