I have been using and provide Revit MEP
training for over 10years, and for most of that time when asked if it can
create a flow and return piping system my answer has been no.
Contemplate a closed loop system made up of
a boiler, a pump and several radiators. Revit will see this as 2 separate
systems that would require a flow rate to be added to both the flow and return side
of each radiator. As such we have two separate systems, and two sets of Mechanical
Flow information where in reality this is a single flow and return system.
If the flow rates were to be removed or
altered on either the flow side or the return side of 1 or more of the radiators,
there would be either no data or inconsistent data when interrogating the system
pipework. Referring to the first image below the flow rate has been removed
from the return side of all radiators resulting in no values for that half of
the system, but if we look at the flow side in the second image there is
Mechanical Flow data.
Closed
Loop Systems
The issue of treating this arrangement as a
single flow and return systems in Revit MEP can be addressed using the Hydronics
Networks feature, which was introduced in the 2018 release of Revit MEP. In the
below image we see the option in Mechanical Settings to utilise the feature.
There are 2simple steps you need to take:
1. Set the system’s pump Classification
to Pump in the family editor and load it back into your project.
2. From Mechanical Settings enable
the option shown below.
What
does our flow and return system look like now?
If we interrogate the same section of pipe
as before we see that even though there is no flow rate value added to the
return side of the radiator there is Mechanical Flow data in the properties.
If we look at the pump properties, we will
see additional values for Calculated Flow and Calculated Pressure Drop for the complete
flow and return system. Properties that were previously unavailable, without
creating a pipe pressure loss report and adding the values together.
Using this feature allows you to
interrogate values in your flow and return system without the need for creating
reports and adding values together repeatedly. It also means that you will not
have to apply separate values to both the flow and return sides of your
radiators (or whatever is in your closed loop system).
To learn more about Revit or Revit MEP,
join us in one of our Revit training
courses. During these courses you will have direct access to our trainers
who will advise you of the best way to use the software, in the most efficient
ways. View our website for a full list of available Revit training courses here.
Alternatively contact us directly and we willbe
happy to discuss your specific needs with a bespoke Revit training course.
