Piping Engineer Software

Many mechanical engineers and plant designers use pipe engineering software to help them build efficient and safe industrial plants. With the advances in technology, gone are the days when engineers would pull out the paper and pencil with a slide rule and lots of books and calculators to design a piping system in a plant.

Now, there are many engineering software packages that have numerous functions built right into them that will calculate flows and restrictions, pipe size variants, fluid mechanics and more. Listed below are some of the more popular pipe engineering software packages that are on the market today with some of the more important information about each package.

There are many different uses for software like this, whether you are a pipe design engineer, creating a new high tech processing plant or if you are an instrument engineer, this software is some of the better programs that are worth considering.

When considering a design during the piping and instrumental diagram phase, you need to consider the design arrangement of pipe supports, instruments, valves and containers and vessels that are incorporating the entire system. These items are what your final drawings and materials list will be coming from. Your software should be capable of creating detailed drawings with materials lists that will either calculate materials cost or provide an easy method of detailed materials listings for each aspect of the plant design.

Another aspect to consider is interference detection. Interference detection is the process of allowing the software to automatically detect, while in the design process, any clashes or problems between the system components. These components could be valves, pipe sizes, instruments or component conflicts between materials. This is usually offered by most 3D design packages.

There are several software packages that run built on top of AutoCAD or MicroStation platforms, but there is also another program that does not need those base programs. The Intergraph SmartPlant P&ID software package does not require the base software system.

The Intergraph Plant Design System is able to produce 3D pipe modeling. Utilizing a central database, this P&ID application streamlines the design process and rids of any need for paper P&IDs or equipment data spreadsheets. One of the main advantages of this software is that users don't have to be one of those "CAD experts" in order to use it.  

With easy access to accurate information, the engineering practices and data in this program are following the rules that connect each piece of equipment  and their components in the P&ID. There are different checks for valve specifications in order to make sure that each component will work for the current condition, even after a valve is in place.

Another feature of this software is called Global Worksharing.  This allows the sharing of a project from different engineers around the world.  What it allows is for engineers to work on a specific portion of a large project and when each sub-project is complete, SmartPlant P&ID will merge P&IDs into a central data storage area for a completed entire project.

The ALGOR PipePAK software system is an easy to use tool that will design the entire pipe system.  This software will also perform the structural analysis that is needed in order to become compliant with current codes and standards for design and safety.

With great visualization tools to use, design methods that are flexible, accurate analysis and report generation, this is a great software package.  There is also the ability to create and conduct static stress analysis and determine weight, mass moment of inertia and center of gravity.  Automatic generation of HTMLs which can summarize the equipment, input and analysis results can also plot those results, provide model visualizations and processing with animations.

The QuickPen software is completely designed around 3D modeling. Using the AutoCAD drawing engine for input and output and QuickPen’s VSME, this is a powerful 3D modeling software system.  Parts from NIBCO and Tri-Clover along with generic parts as well are included within the software’s database.

This database includes parts used in pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and semiconductor industries. It also allows users to modify and duplicate the specifications with the programs Data Editor if the predefined specs do not meet their needs.

Another great feature is that there are several manufacturer specific pumps along with various nozzle orientations, flange ratings, nozzle sizes and different sizes for each of these is also provided within the software program. Users can even create vessels, blenders, operators, fitters, and tanks with PipeDesigner 3D.