Understand the Flow Network flow direction calculation

Once flow devices have been added to a Flow Network model, the flow direction of each segment can be calculated.

The following is an example of a simple model with two nodes and a segment between them. An Injection Tank is attached and acts as an injection device. This configuration causes the direction of flow inside the segment to move from the left node to the right node.

The example below is of a Delivery Tank acting as a delivery device. In this instance, the direction of flow in the segment has been reversed from the previous example. The direction of flow inside the segment is from the right node to the left node.

The following is an example of more than one flow device being connected to a segment at any given time. If the sources of flow agree on which direction product is moving inside a segment, a definite direction of flow can be calculated for a segment.

Below is an example of multiple sources of flow disagreeing on the direction of flow inside of a segment. If this happens, the Flow Network will calculate the flow direction inside of the segment as indeterminate.

Indeterminate flow may occur due to a legitimate configuration of a Flow Network model. To accommodate this situation, segments can be configured to contain a check valve.