AFT Arrow

AFT Arrow™ 9

Calculate Compressible Flow
Pressure Drop and Flow Distribution

AFT Arrow is a fluid dynamic simulation tool used to calculate pressure drop and flow distribution in gas piping and ducting systems.

  • Accurately simulate individual components and their interaction including effects of heat transfer, real gases and choked flow
  • Tightly integrate equipment characteristics, analysis and output with your system’s schematic representation
  • Utilize a wide array of features without sacrificing your need for a short learning curve
  • Compare the performance of new designs and assure all design requirements are met.
  • Identify and correct operational problems in installed systems
  • Significantly improve the quality of systems engineering and produces less costly, more efficient and more reliable piping systems
Request a quote
free trial demo
latest release
training tutorials
Experiment with Operating Conditions and Scenarios

For Design or Operational Projects

  • Easily change system input data, including valve positions, control set points, pressures, temperatures and more
  • Model and analyze rotating piping systems such as those found in steam and gas turbines
  • Vary your system lineup: open and close pipes and valves, turn compressors or fans on or off, set control valves to fail position
  • Compile component database libraries for quick selection  
  • Evaluate codes and industry standards applied in the model

Model Exactly What You Need

  • Simulate ideal or real gases
  • Conduct flow analysis with high velocities including sonic choking
  • Choose between isothermal, adiabatic or generalized heat transfer conditions
  • Assemble non-reacting mixtures and analyze dynamic mixing resulting from intersecting flow streams
  • Model effects of elevation changes such as in tall structures, subsurface mines and overland pipelines

Import or Export Data & Layouts

  • Export data to evaluate Flow Induced Vibration (FIV), High Frequency Acoustic Excitation (AIV), Flow Induced Excitation (FIP) according to Energy Institute Standards
  • Clearly import data into multiple scenarios and export with the Excel Export Manager
  • Import and export files in EPANET format
  • Import piping layouts from:
    1. CAESAR II® Neutral files supported by AutoPIPE®, ROHR2, TRIFLEX®, and others
    2. PCF Files supported by AutoCAD Plant 3D®, SmartPlant®, CADWorx®, and other GIS shapefiles supported by ArcGis and others

AFT Arrow is designed for fluid systems containing the below fluids and more:

Steam

Compressed Air

Gases

Dust Collection

Typical Applications
Case Studies
add-on-modules
  • Pipe and Duct Sizing
  • Relief valve sizing and system calculations
  • Compressor and Fan sizing and Selection
  • Control Valve sizing and Selection
  • Simulating System operation and component interaction
  • Choked Flow calculations
  • Evaluating pipe insulation and heat transfer in pipes and heat exchangers
  • Troubleshooting existing systems to determine the cause of operational problems

Primary Features of AFT Arrow 9

  • Apply advanced marching methods which provide highly accurate results
  • Evaluate choking conditions and determine flow conditions downstream of choke points
  • Model fans and compressors, control valves, heat exchangers and other components with precise detail
  • Specify relief valve behavior with opening and closing profiles to ensure your system fails safely
  • Track all your design variants and potential operating conditions in a single file with Scenario Manager
  • Use integrated, customizable graphing and reporting to make analysis visually intuitive
  • Calculate the capital costs of pipes and components as well as operating energy expenses
  • Leverage built-in libraries of fluids and fittings to build your own database upon
  • Built-in libraries of fluids (including NIST REFPROP and ASME Steam Tables) and fittings which can be extended and customized
  • Purchase the Optional Chempak™ database which provides a thermophysical database of almost 600 gases. SteamCalc and Chempak Viewers are included in the software for free.
  • Define non-reacting pre-mixtures, and simulate dynamic flow mixing
  • Import piping layouts from CAESAR II® Neutral files, PCF Files, and GIS shapefiles regardless of source
  • Integrate with Excel to import model data and export output data
  • Ensure a design adheres to industry standards such as API 526, ANSI/ISA-75.01.01 and more
ARROW 9 NEW FEATURES
MODELING FEATURES
REPORTING FEATURES
ARROW 9 DATA SHEET

How does it work?

AFT Arrow’s powerful solution engine simultaneously solves five fundamental equations; mass, momentum, energy, state and Mach number. AFT Arrow uses a modified Newton-Raphson matrix iteration method plus proprietary methods developed by AFT so you can achieve a true and rigorous compressible flow solution.

AFT Arrow Add-On Modules

With these software extension tools, you can quickly and efficiently complete projects. 
Utilize your AFT Arrow add-on modules within any version of AFT Arrow.

Goal Seek and Control

Identifies input parameters that yield desired output values and simulates control functions

Extended Time Simulation

Define a wide range of operating conditions during a time simulation such as tank pressures, compressor speed variations, and more

Automated Network Sizing

Evaluates the complex interaction of system variables to reveal combinations of cost savings