About Pipelines
Spec-Driven Pipelines
You begin designing Spec-Driven Piping systems by creating Spec-Driven pipelines using the
Create Pipe command. You create each pipeline in a piping assembly by using the
Create Pipeline dialog box, and the
Rigid Pipes and
Fabrication groups.
Non Spec-Driven Pipelines
Piping defines a pipeline as a set of pipe segments that can be straight or flexible. A piping system typically has several pipelines composed of non-branching chains of pipe segments. You may declare necessary pipelines in advance, and then select one for routing.
Piping stores pipelines in an assembly as assembly features. You can route and modify them in subassemblies, referencing components from any level of the current simplified representation. You can create and delete subassemblies using the same functionality available in Assembly mode.
To define a piping system, you assign characteristics such as line stocks, pipeline parameters, allowable line shapes, and corner types.
• When you assign a line stock to pipe segments, you define material, outside diameter, line shape and corner types, and other pipe parameters. The system can write line stock parameters to a file for storage in libraries.
• Each pipeline has a set of parameters that define the pipe name, the type of fluid or gas to be carried, and user-defined parameters such as flow direction and pressure.
The following restriction applies to the use of parameters in Piping: In report relations, you cannot use piping report parameters that are longer than 64 characters.
• The line shape of pipe segments varies. It can be straight (that is, rigid), flexible, or composed of alternating straight and flexible segments. You would typically use alternating segments only when you are routing a hose and need to control tangency for a short section, as when leaving a fitting or going through a bulkhead.
• Specify a corner fitting. Corners can be fitted, mitered, or bent.
To Create a Non Spec-Driven Piping System
1. Open a piping assembly or create a new one.
2. Click
Applications >
Piping.
3. Click
Create Pipe. The
Enter PIPE LINE name dialog box opens.
4. Type a name for the pipeline and press ENTER.
5. Select an option from the LINE STOCK NAMES menu.
◦ Create—Prompts to create a new linestock.
◦ Existing line stock—Choose an existing line stock from the menu.
◦ Read—Opens the File Open dialog box. Choose a line stock and click Open.
6. Click OK.
7. Route pipelines and add branches between pipelines. While routing, pipeline segments do not have to be continuous; you can create individual segments and later connect them using intermediate segments, or leave them unconnected.
8. Insert fittings.
9. Make a solid pipe.
10. Extract a model, if needed, to retrieve a pipeline with equipment and/or assembly components.