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I am trying to build flexible, visual tool to calculate flow distribution through the piping network (mobile hydraulics).

I have root node of the network which has defined flow and pressure inputs. Each node (of course including root one) can have multiple children - lines, connectors or outputs. Each branch ends up with outlet to atmospheric pressure. This is how the example network could look like

So far I know that I have to calculate losses at each node going from the bottom of the tree, but losses are flow dependent... When I would have losses at each node, I could somehow (how?) calculate flow distribution going from the root node I would get flow to each child, then for each child flow to each of its children etc. Not sure if it helps, but I know the target flow for each output.

The main issue is probably the fact that there is no particular example as it suppose to be generic tool.

Any help?

I though it is pretty simple (I still believe it is) but I got stuck and cannot find the way out.

Mark
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Marek Urbanowicz
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    You should search before posting : this is very relevant to your question : https://engineering.stackexchange.com/q/18840/10902 – Solar Mike Mar 20 '18 at 09:48
  • I did search, but I stated the problem differently and this topic did not come up. Going to read it right now – Marek Urbanowicz Mar 20 '18 at 09:50
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    the solution in the link that Solar Mike provides is a network of resistors. To solve for that unknowns in a resistor network, you can represent them as a matrix (series of linear equations) and RREF. Try something like that, only with head loss instead of resistance. Enter random values for head loss, and see if you get output P = 0. Then you can use gradient descent to adjust head losses. – Mohammad Athar Mar 20 '18 at 19:14
  • Look at this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_network_analysis and then the hardy cross method. – mart Sep 02 '19 at 07:59

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Please refer to EPANET from https://www.epa.gov/water-research/epanet It is a open source software for solving flow networks.

Hope this helps. Thanking you

mustang
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