INSTRUCALC VERSION 8

QUICKSTART GUIDE
1.0

March 2013

START MENU
InstruCalc8 allows a range quite involved calculations based on the applicable codes and standards. It requires that data be entered in a precise
and orderly manner. The learning curve can be quite steep, but once familiarity is achieved, then the software is particularly useful providing
calculations independent of suppliers' and manufacturers' own software. This QuickStart Guide covers only a fraction of the software's capabilities;
a hardcopy manual of more than 300 pages is supplied with the software plus a comprehensive Help file.

On opening InstruCalc Version 8 you will be presented with the following Main Menu giving you access to the four modules of the program:

Clicking [More] displays the various sub-modules.

Selecting the individual modules by clicking the header button shows the following start-up panes for each.
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CONTROL VALVE SIZING PROGRAMS

FLOW ELEMENT SIZING PROGRAMS

Each module has a New Calculation option at the top of each

pane.

A selection here may take you immediately to a data entry

dialog (eg Control Valves) or to another menu from where you
select the desired routine (eg Flow Element Sizing).
After this selection routine you will be in the appropriate data
entry dialog where first you must make your selection of units
and other options.

RELIEF VALVE SIZING PROGRAMS

PROCESS DATA CALCULATIONS

For instance try:

Control Valve Sizing
Liquid
[New calc]
To return to the module menu use: File | Program menu
To return to the Main Menu use: File | Exit
Now try:
Flow Elements
[Gas flow]
ISO Orifice Plates
Concentric Flange Taps

[OK]

2.0

UNITS AND CALCULATION OPTIONS SELECTION

Once any of the four modules is activated, you need to preset your units and other data using the [Change setup] button which appears bottom right on all modules
- as shown by the red arrow in the image below. It is recommended not to use the buttons on the calculation screen itself (see below) to set your initial units of
choice. These buttons are for fine tuning each line after initial units selection is made on the [Change setup] screen.

The Calculation Options dialog

includes:
Operating pressures, liquid density
options, available calculations, liquid
or gas unit options, local or base
conditions, pressure tap location,
drain hole, etc.
Options vary depending on the
calculation screen you are working
from.
Note: you can save your units
selection as your default, but you will
still have to access this dialog to set
other conditions for the individual
calculations.

Once you have selected your desired units for calculation on this screen, you may fine tune the individual input units on the calculation screen using the line item
buttons as shown below.

Use these buttons on the Calculation screen for fine tuning after you have made your base unit selection from the Change setup options screen.

3.0

CONTROL VALVES
The Control Valve module operates via an interaction between the two dialogs shown below, the Valve Sizing dialog and the System Pressure Drop dialog.
Limited data is first entered into the Valve Sizing dialog (Normal data column), with the valve pressure drop being estimated if not known. InstruCalc allows for
Normal, Minimum and Maximum flow situations to be analysed, based on a proportion of the nominal flow. It always starts with Normal flow which defaults to 50%
of nominal flow.
The objective of the calculation is to first select and approximately a valve for Normal flow usually considered to be 50% of a nominal flow. The software then
allows for the rangeability of the selected valve to be tested, ie its effective performance with flowrates greater or less than the Normal flow. This requires the
System Pressure Drop dialog to be utilised since the inlet pressure to the valve will vary with different flowrates.
VALVE SIZING DIALOG
OUTLINE
Once the first estimate of Normal flow conditions is made in the
Valve Sizing dialog, the fluid and type of valve selected, and the
[Normal] conditions calculated, this data is transferred to the
System Pressure Drop dialog where the pressure drop along the
upstream and downstream connecting pipes is determined
taking into account any additional fittings. Pipe start/end
upstream and downstream pressures are defined. This data is
then transferred back to the Valve Sizing Normal dialog where
the inlet pressure to the valve may be modified to take into
account upstream pipe flow conditions.
The link is via the menu option [Other options] on the Valve
Sizing dialog ...

After this stage the [Maxim] and [Minimum] flow conditions can
be analysed.

SYSTEM PRESSURE DROP DIALOG

Data entered into this dialog determines upstream and
downstream pipe conditions and may amend the valve inlet
pressure accordingly. Calculation is via the [Normal] button at
the top of the data column.
Calculated data is returned to the Valve Sizing dialog via the
buttons shown below.

and
returns to the Valve Sizing dialog where the
[Normal] calculation needs to be repeated.
Here the valve inlet pressure will be amended dependent on the
defined connecting pipe flow conditions.

Once the Normal conditions have been re-calculated, the scroll bars
become active. Move them up or down to calculate various
percentages of Normal.
The System Pressure Drop dialog is now automatically linked, so that
variations in flowrate and system properties for both the valve and the
adjoining pipework are simultaneously calculated providing a guide
the rangeability of the selected valve.

Note always move the Minimum scroll bar first, the Maximum
scroll bar second.

SUMMARY
The objective of the calculation is to first size or select a valve for Normal flow usually considered to be 50% of a nominal flow. The software then allows for the
rangeability of the selected valve to be tested, ie its effective performance with flowrates greater or less than the Normal flow. This requires system pressure drop
dialog to be utilised since the inlet pressure to the valve will vary with different flowrates.

3.1 CONTROL VALVE: EXAMPLE 1, STEAM FLOW

STEP-BY-STEP EXAMPLE
The steps described below must be followed precisely.
STEP

ACTION

IMAGE

COMMENT

CONTROL VALVE SIZING STAGE 1

1

Select Control Valves from the

Main Menu and then select:
Gas, steam or vapor
[New calc]
Select units.
Mass SI units will be used throughout this
QuickStart Guide.

[OK]
3

Enter a Tag

Input in the Normal data

column

Gas flow rate

Pressure drop (best guess)
Flow temperature
Inlet pressure (best guess)

Pressures may be precisely known at this stage

or may be refined later via the System Pressure
Drop dialog.

Define your Normal flow fluid

Select superheated steam
and appropriate properties will
be displayed.

Enter Valve Data

This may be from the valve database as shown Standard or Lo Flow - or directly entered.
Note: If selecting a valve from the database, you
do not specify Size, Rated Cv or Fd as the
software will determine this. Usually the valve
selection will be one size less than the specified
pipe nominal size.

Enter pipe data or leave blank.

Leave blank

Calculate using the [Normal]

button at the top of the data
column.

Initial output data is calculated.

Do not use scroll bars at this point.

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CONTROL VALVE SIZING STAGE 2: SYSTEM PRESSURE DROP

Note this dialog must be completed before

attempting to test the rangeability of the selective
valve via the
and

Access the System Pressure

Drop dialog.

10

Enter the piping configuration

data in the left hand side
panes.

buttons.

This sets up the pipe system in which the valve

sits and allows for the accurate calculation of inlet
pressure to the valve for the three calculations.
Normal, Minimum and Maximum.
Access accurate pipe size data from the
underlying database. Or pipe size can be entered
directly.

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11

Enter the Source and

Destination pressures for
Normal flow only.

The Normal flow value is carried over from the

Valve Sizing dialog.

12

Enter any additional Inlet and

Outlet equipment losses

None

13

Calculate the system for normal

flow.

Use the button at the top of the data column.

Precise Normal output data is now calculated for
transfer back to the Control Valve dialog

14

Transfer the Normal flow data

back to the Valve Sizing dialog.

This will update the inlet pressure to the valve.

12

15

Re-calculate the Normal values.

13

16

Now activate the scroll bars using

the Minimum data column first.

Always activate the Minimum scroll bar first.

Scroll up on the Maximum data column to find the
maximum flowrate the selected valve can take
Scroll the Minimum data column for the minimum
allowable flow.

17

Test the rangeability of the valve

by increasing the Maximum flow
to a maximum.

At 72% of the nominal flow, the selected valve is too

small.
[Cancel]

14

18

Add some identifying data in the

Notes rows and the date and plot
the valve charts.
Select different charts for the
menu options at the top.

Cv

Pressure Drop

Linear Trim

EqualPercent

Save your design.

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3.2 CONTROL VALVE: EXAMPLE 2, WATER FLOW

1

VALVE SIZING DIALOG

Select Liquid flow and [New calc]

Input in the Normal data column Liquid flow rate
Pressure drop (best guess)
Flow temperature
Inlet pressure (best guess)
Select water and a butterfly valve
Calculate [Normal] flow to get the
image shown opposite.

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SYSTEM PRESSURE DROP

DIALOG

Enter upstream and downstream

pipe data.
Transfer back to the Valve Sizing
dialog.

Re-calculate Normal, maximum and

Minimum conditions.

Note that InstruCalc has selected an appropriate

valve size for the conditions shown, viz 75mm.

17

Increase the Maximum flow to 70%

of nominal.

InstruCalc shows that the valve is too small.

Select the choice to use a larger valve
[Yes]
Note the valve size has increased to 100mm.

Plot charts.
Save your work

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4.0

ORIFICE PLATE CALCULATION - LIQUID FLOW

Select the Orifice

Calculation shown
opposite.

[Change setup]

Note the options here, particularly the

choice of three calculations available:

Calculate differential range

Calculate flowrate
Calculate orifice size

19

Enter the data as

shown then select
water.

Specify the pipe

material, ID and
element material and
calculate

Explore Options

Note: the fluid field is simply a text

entry

Save your work

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5.0

RELIEF VALVES

The Relief Valve module offers a variety of relief valve type calculations for determining the appropriate area of flow, viz:

The Relief Valve module operates via an interaction between the two dialogs shown below, the Area Sizing dialog on the left and the Pipe Loss dialog on the right.
The link is via the menu
option [Pipe losses] on
the Area Sizing dialog

and the Transfer

button on the Pipe Loss
dialog.

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The step-by-step process described below must be followed precisely and specifically applies to a Steam Relief Known flow.

STEP

ACTION

IMAGE

COMMENT

AREA SIZING
1

Select units

Input
Tag
Fluid Name (Steam)

Text entry.

22

Select ASME Section 8, Balanced

Bellows and no Rupture disk

Enter initial data.

Calculate to display valve area.

...and Output Data

Note Percent Overpressure and Valve discharge

coefficient have default values. These can be overwritten.

Note: InstruCalc calculates the Valve Capacity its on

this value that the valve is sized.

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PIPE LOSS
8

Access the Pipe losses dialog.

Enter the piping configuration

data.

Note: The Valve capacity is carried over

and used for the pipe loss calculations.

Calculate.
and calculate and transfer back to
the

10

Transfer data back to the Area

Sizing dialog.

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11

Re-calculate.

REGISTERING AND PURCHASING INSTRUCALC 8

If you have been supplied with a demo version of InstruCalc, it should run for 14+ days in fully-functional format. We can extend that period on request. In order to
register InstruCalc 8 for an extension of the trial or for a permanent licence, you need to follow these instructions

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DO NOT CONTACT GULF

CONTACT ACCUTECH ON
info@accutech2000.com.au

Send Accutech both codes and/or copy this image

IMPORTANT NOTE
You must leave this image displayed ie DO NOT EXIT THE SOFTWARE OR TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER otherwise the code numbers will
change and the Registration Key we issue will not work.
Enter the Registration Key and [OK]
Only Registration Key 1 is required.

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