Piping autorouter
Piping autorouter
(OP)
Folks-
Is there a program out there somewhere that will help optimize piping network (e.g. chemical plant) layout design? Something that would place things within a specified volume while minimizing pipe runs and avoiding interferences? Just wondering...I'm a mechanical design engineer who needs to do complex layouts of RF components that are connected with semi-rigid coaxial cables and it seems that a piping layout program might be helpful. TIA for your help!
Is there a program out there somewhere that will help optimize piping network (e.g. chemical plant) layout design? Something that would place things within a specified volume while minimizing pipe runs and avoiding interferences? Just wondering...I'm a mechanical design engineer who needs to do complex layouts of RF components that are connected with semi-rigid coaxial cables and it seems that a piping layout program might be helpful. TIA for your help!
Tunalover





RE: Piping autorouter
Not that I haven't heard project engineers/managers ask why we can't just have the computers route all the pipe instead of having to employ all these designers to do the job.
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: Piping autorouter
Totally agree with your response. Problem is many PE/PM's are "failed" discipline engineers/designers so that's why they keep coming up with "silly" ideas.
RE: Piping autorouter
I have worked with 3D plant design and piping for the last twenty years or so and have used Intergraph and PDMS. Both systems have modules for automatic pipe routing but in my branch (offshore) they are seldom used although often talked about.
Offshore layouts are too complex and tailor made. Automatic pipe routing would seem to work best on land based plants where the pipe rack corridors and rules for for getting from A to B without going via a rack can be more simply defined before you start the router.
PDMS has a module for cable routing but I have no experience with that. Take a look at www.aveva.com or www.cadcentre.co.uk but beware - its not cheap!
SM
RE: Piping autorouter
RE: Piping autorouter
I all for new ideas. I just want to see the benefit.