Overview of xStream
Welcome to xStream™ - a visual platform for modeling compressible fluid transients in pipe networks! See what's new in this version.
xStream brings increased productivity to the pipe flow engineer by combining traditional analysis with an intuitive graphical user interface. By implementing a drag-and-drop method of pipe flow modeling, xStream simplifies the pipe network modeling process.
xStream can show both input data and analysis results in visual form, allowing rapid analysis of a model's validity. Identifying poor assumptions, catching typographical or modeling errors, and rerunning models are all accelerated because of xStream's graphical environment.
Whether your pipe system model will be used to evaluate and improve an existing system or to design a new one, xStream increases your productivity in the modeling process.
What Can xStream Do?
xStream can be used to model a wide variety of compressible flow systems, including:
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Open and closed (recirculating) systems
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Network systems that branch or loop, with no limit on the number of loops
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Systems with valve transients
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Systems with compressor transients
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Systems with pressure or flow control valve transients
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Multiple design cases in a single model file (Scenario Manager)
xStream's steady-state solution engine is based on standard techniques used for many years in industry. A modified Newton-Raphson method is used to solve the fundamental equations of pipe flow that govern mass, momentum and energy balance. Solutions are obtained by iteration, and matrix methods optimized for speed are employed to obtain convergence. Once a steady-state solution is obtained, xStream simulates the transient using the Method of Characteristics, the most widely used method for solving fluid transient problems.
Where to Start
The best place to start learning about xStream is to work through our example problems and video tutorials found in the xStream Learning Resources.
Add-on Module Capabilities
xStream has one add-on module that extends modeling capabilities, the Pulsation Frequency Analysis module. Pulsation Frequency Analysis (PFA) allows the engineer to predict resonant frequencies in the system and graphically show the frequency response of a system.
Who Can Use xStream
xStream assumes that the user possesses a good general knowledge of compressible flow theory and has at least a basic understanding of fluid transients. Even the most advanced and easy-to-use software package cannot make up for a lack of fundamental knowledge on the part of the user.
