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EPLAN Fluid: Connections

A fluid connection is a line between two connection points that is used to transmit information using liquids, or air (pressure) from a source to a target.

Function definition for fluid connections

In EPLAN Fluid, you can specify whether a fluid connection is a pipe or a tube. With this information you special reports can be generated in the form of connection lists with with piping and / or hose line lists can be output. For fluid connections that have connection definition points, the function definition of the connection definition point determines whether the connection is a "pipe" or a "tube". If fluid connections don't have any connection definition points, the program determines the function definition from the settings for the connection properties.

Fluid connections can furthermore be defined like devices. The function definitions listed below of the Conduit / line category are offered to this purpose:

The report type Conduit / line plan is available for reporting the properties of defined conduits, pipings and hoses.

Trade in fluid connections

The trade at fluid connections is a property that is determined from the source and target of a connection, specifically from the fluid functions connected at the two ends. For this reason, the trade can't be modified in connection definition points or connections.

If you want to number fluid connections, you can specify which trades should be numbered. It is therefore possible to e.g. number hydraulic and / or pneumatic connections only.

Connection descriptions and DT's in fluid connections

Fluid connections generally don't have a DT, generally only having a connection designation via the connection numbering. However you can assign a DT to connections if you wish. To do this, a specific property must be configured for the connection definition point placed by the connection numbering. In the dialog Properties <...> of the connection definition this is the field Valid data. Select the "All data" entry from this field. The Displayed DT field can then be edited.

Note:

If a connection definition point is inserted manually, the Valid data field is set to "All data" by default. It is therefore possible to assign a DT directly.

Identification of fluid lines in accordance with DIN ISO 1219-2

The standard DIN ISO 1219-2 requires that fluid lines be identified in accordance with a specific ID code. This ID code is formed from the following components:

Depending on the line type, tube or pipe, the technical information can contain different data:

EPLAN Fluid supports norm-compliant identification of lines in accordance with DIN ISO 1219-2 for fluid connections. In addition to the possibility of manual identification, EPLAN Fluid also offers the option of automatically placing line-specific connection definition points on fluid connections and of assigning line identifiers by using the connection numbering function. To this purpose various schemes can be created in connection numbering for all the fluid power trades. Trade-specific numbering is possible through the use of filters.

Layers for line display

In Fluid power, numerous line types are often used within one higher-level function or machine and intended for different tasks including pressure, control, drain, reservoir, and working lines.

In EPLAN Fluid, these different types of line are taken into consideration when the objective is to make them visible in the schematic so they can be more easily distinguished from one another and tracked when troubleshooting, especially when the density of connections is high.

Lines are displayed in EPLAN with the help of connections. Connections are in turn based on autoconnecting lines. An autoconnecting line is always automatically created between components if their connection points are positioned horizontally or vertically to each other. You can assign certain graphic features to this automatically created connection line in the Properties <...> dialog, among others the properties Line thickness, Line type, Color, and Pattern length. The default settings for these connections properties are taken from the dialog Layer management (menu items Options > Layer management). Every line type is assigned a separate graphical layer, a slide type, on which the graphical connection properties of the autoconnecting line can be changed. It is also possible to select separate graphical layers for internal lines, i.e. connections, that run within a completed section of the drawing (e.g. for connections within a Fluid black box). To access the line-specific settings for the individual layers, use the tree view in the dialog and click the Symbol graphic > Connection symbols > Autoconnecting nodes. On the right of the dialog the layers for the autoconnecting lines and their connection properties are shown in a table. Every layer is given a name and description. The connection properties line thickness, line type, color, and pattern length can be edited individually for the respective line types. It is also possible to hide lines in the schematic or in the printout of schematic pages.

See also