Rod Dry

April 2018
What is SigmaPipe?
1. It is a free Windows-based tool (Win 7, Win 8 & Win10)
which aims to help engineers with setting up and analysing
problems involving pipe flow, heat transfer and pipe
expansion/integrity.
2. SigmaPipe is based on standard engineering calculations for
pressure drop and heat transfer (plug flow, not CFD), slice-
by-slice along a pipe system in a 3D “game-like”
environment.
3. It allows the user to construct pipelines and supporting
structural items (such as I-beams and concrete foundation
blocks) by simple point-and-click methods.
 How Do I Get Started?
1. Visit www.sigmapipe.com and follow the download instructions.
Your computer may also need to download an XNA graphics
routine from Microsoft (for 3D object display).
2. Once SigmaPipe is loaded, start it (click on your desktop)
and accept the user license agreement. Then click on the small
chequered flag ( ) and click on “Go”. Bingo – you have your
first (simple) pipeline with an orifice plate.

Now click on “Pressure”

to see the distribution of
pressure down the line…
Default Settings Used:
0.1 barg nitrogen at feed end,
Ambient pressure outlet,
100 mm orifice in a DN200 Sch 40 line
How Do I Modify This?
Both straight-pipe sections are (by default) 10 outside pipe diameters
long (2.191 m in this case). To make the first of the two 10 m long, right-
click on it, select “Edit”. Then set the new (red number) pipe length to
10 m and click OK. Click the solve button ( ) to re-solve it…
How Do I Modify Orifice Size?
Right-click on the orifice, select “Edit” then change the diameter
from 100 mm to 50 mm. You can then re-solve the model ( ) to
see the result.

If you wish, you can click on the “Pipe Wall Windows” icon ( ) to
peel back the pipe and see the orifice inside.
 What Else Can I Change?
Just about everything…
• Fluid type (there are currently 32 standard fluid types plus mixtures)
• Fluid source temperature/pressure and sink pressure
• Pipe geometry (including bends, pumps, heat exchangers etc)
• Materials of construction (steel, copper etc plus user-defined materials)
• Linings both internal and external (eg pipe cladding, lining or fouling layers)

Quick Start options ( ) are a simple way to get started. There are
currently 19 standard options (see next slide). Later on (once you
have become a bit more familiar with SigmaPipe) you may find it
easier to copy and modify previous solutions or just build what you
need directly using the Line Builder (more about this later).
 Pump + Heat Exchanger
Quick Start Options
Pump + Long Pipe

Simple Orifice Venturi + Orifice

Compressor with Intercooler

Butterfly Valve + Orifice Globe Valve + Orifice

Steam Power Circuit Example

Tee Pipe Splitter

Two Fluid Mixer

Manifold Pipe Splitter

Refrigeration Water Chiller
Closed Water System

Furnace Water-
Cooled Panel

Light Hydrocarbon Flash Refrigeration Air Conditioner

Spiral Pipe Heater
 End of Training Module #1

Well done - you are already able to use SigmaPipe for Simple Applications!