By Dennis Collin
For engineers who need to model flow and return piping systems, there is often a need to obtain a pipe pressure loss report. However, if a total value is required, the data needs to be added together to provide a total value. However, since Revit 2018 it is possible to treat a closed loop system as a single flow and return system and get that information directly from an elements property. Prior to 2018 any changes made to the flow or return systems resulted in null or inconsistent data values which made working with closed loop systems problematic.
In a simple system with several radiators, boiler and a pump along with segments of pipes defining the flow and return routes, the pump element can be selected and within its properties the total flow and pressure loss can be interrogated without have to manually add totals within the report.
However, sometimes the pump element does not list these properties. There are potentially two reasons for this:
Firstly, the pump has not been defined as a pump within the family.
Secondly, the option for analysis for closed loop piping support has not been enabled.
To check these points, open the relevant pump families within the editor environment and ensure that the pump option has been enabled, within the family properties section.
The mechanical settings for pipe calculations can be located under the Manage Tab of the ribbon.
Once confirmed, selecting the pump on the respective pipe system should show the expected total pressure drop value for that system.