InstruCalc

For Windows

Version 8.1
Latest revision 10/22/11
Instrument Engineering Suite for
Control Valves, Flow Elements, AGA Orifice
Calculations, Flow Meters, and
Pressure-Relief Devices and Relief Valves
With auxiliary programs for pressure loss in pipe, waterhammer and
process data
(for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, 32-bit and 64-bit)

I-Size Solutions, Inc.

Gulf Publishing Company
Software Division
P.O. Box 2608
Houston, Texas 77252-2608 USA

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InstruCalc For Windows

Version 8.X
Instrument Engineering Suite for Control Valves, ISO Flow Elements, AGA Orifice
Calculations, Flow Meters, and Flow Devices Relief Valves, and Pressure-Relief
Devices
Copyright 2011 by Gulf Publishing Company. All rights reserved. This program, or parts
thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of the authors or publisher.
This program was complied with Microsoft Visual Basic Version 6.0
Copyright Microsoft Corp., 1998.
The material contained herein is supplied without representation or warranty of any kind. The
author and publisher assume no liability, consequential or otherwise, of any kind, arising from
the use of these programs or any parts thereof.
The software herein may be updated, extended, or otherwise revised by the author and the
publisher at their sole discretion. Purchase of this edition, whether in book or disk form, in no
way obliges the author and the publisher to provide the purchaser with future editions at a cost
below the publisher's suggested retail price.
This software is licensed to the user for use as per the network license addendum that
accompanies the software and may not be duplicated (except for the purpose of making backup
copies) without permission from the publisher or author.

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Contents
System Requirements
Technical Questions
Installation Network Version
Setting Up Calculations in Ver 8
Navigating the Manual and General
Program Information
Resetting database file location or
for Creating new database
Resetting Default Paths
What InstruCalc does for You
What's New in Version 8.1

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InstruCalc Options
Section 1: Control Valves (CV) ..................................................... 1
Sizing Principles,
Oversizing and Undersizing,
Selecting Body Style,
Noise Levels,
Formulas Used,
Materials of Construction,
Sizing the Actuator,
Control Valve Rangeability,
Considerations for Liquid Flow,
Considerations for Gas and Steam Flow,
Considerations for Two-Phase Flow,
Program Overview,
Control Valve Sizing Table of Contents,
Program Features,
Program Menu Options,
Convert data from version 5.x to Access,
Edit tables,
Typical Calculation,
Engineering Units,
Data Printout,
Data Sheet,
Data Sheet Listings Printout,
Program Data File Specification,
Pressure Drop Caculation,
Program Pipe Dimensions,
Liquid Water Hammer Calculation,
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Graphing.
Section 2: Flow Elements..................................................... 67
ISO Flow Elements - Program Overview,
Flow Element Sizing Principles,
ISO Flow Elements Program Accuracy,
AGA Orifice Plates - Program Overview,
Flow Devices and Meters Program Overview,
Flow Elements Sizing Program Accuracy
Flow Element Program Table of Contents,
Program Features,
Program Menu Options,
Convert data from version 5.x to Access,
Edit tables,
Flow Element Sizing Selections,
Flow Meters,
AGA Flow Elements,
ISO Orifice Plates,
ISO Flow Elements,
Other Flow Elements,
Typical Calculation,
Engineering Units,
Material Selection,
Calculation Data Printout,
Data Sheet,
Data Sheet Listings Printout,
Data Files,
Pipe Inside Diameter,
Pressure Drop Calculation,
Section 3: Relief Devices.....................................................195
Program Overview,
Accuracy of the Calculation,
Sizing Considerations,
Types of Valves,
Valve Applications,
Rupture Disks,
Tank Vents,
Relief Device Sizing Program Table of Contents,
New Calculation Menu,
Program Menu Options,
Convert data from version 5.x to Access,
Relief device Sizing Selections:
Relief Valves
Liquid relief
Gas relief
Steam relief
Two phase relief
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Heat Exchanger
Entrapped liquid
Tube failure
Pipeline
Entrapped liquid
Fire size
Liquid vaporization
Gas Expansion
Rupture disks
Liquid flow
Gas flow
Tank vents
Gas relief
Typical calculation,
Relief Valve Liquid,
Rupture Disk Liquid,
Relief Valve Two Phase Flow,
Heat Exchanger Entrapped Liquid Calculation,
Pipeline Entrapped Liquid Calculation,
Heat Exchanger Tube Rupture Calculation,
Rupture Disk Size Calculations Gas,
Tank Vent Calculation Gas,
Gas, Steam or Vapor Calculation Known Flow,
Relief Valve Size Steam Calculation Known Flow,
Relief Valve Fire Size Liquid Vaporization,
Engineering Units,
Inlet and Outlet Pressure Loss Calculation,
Calculation Data Printout,
Data Sheet,
Data Files,
Listings,
Program Pipe Dimensions,
Section 4: Process Engineering Data Programs............................................301
Program Overview,
Process Engineering Data Table of Contents,
Program Features,
Program Menu Options,
Liquid Pipe Loss Calculation,
Engineering Units,
Liquid Water Hammer Calculation,
Calculation Data Printout,
Gas Pipe Pressure Loss Calculation,
Calculation Data Printout,
Data Files,
Pipe Dimensions,
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Appendix A: Sources
Control Valves
Flow Elements
Pitot Tubes
Pressure Relief Valves
Heat Exchanger, Piping, Entrapped Liquid
Tank Vents
Rupture Disks
Auxiliary Programs

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System Requirements

Microsoft Windows XP, VISTA or Windows 7

16MB of available RAM (preferably 32 MB)

30 MB of available free hard disk space for program. Database requirements depend on
amount of data saved.

Laser or IBM compatible printer (132 column with compressed print)

Graphic display device compatible with Windows 98, 2000, NT or XP. (SVGA card
recommended)

Any IBM-Compatible machine with an 80386 processor or higher

Technical Questions?
Contact:
Gulf Software Support
713-520-4426
svb@gulfpub.com

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Installation for Network Version

Stop and read these instructions first. Do not install the
software until you understand all the installation
instructions. This is critical or you will have issues. We have
added a new install option that may be of interest to you.
InstruCalc 8 Network Installation
Instructions
Following are two (2) alternative sets of network installation instructions.
The first set will be familiar to previous users of InstruCalc as it is basically the same as
version 7. It uses a mapped drive to the license file location on the server.
The second set of instructions uses a share (UNC) to the license file location on the server
and will be a lot less steps.
Whichever install you decide to use, the network installation instructions must be followed
for this version of InstruCalc to work in a network environment.
This version of InstruCalc (8.X) includes a license metering software that monitors the number
of simultaneous users. You may install the software on as many client machines as you wish, but
only the licensed number of simultaneous users will be able to use the software at any one time.
Please use the CD labeled Windows 7 64-bit Install for installation on Windows 7 64-bit
workstation installation and the CD labeled Windows XP/Vista/7 32-bit Install on
workstations that have Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 32-bit OS.
NOTE: Consider backing up your current database files if this is an upgrade so that this new
install does not delete or overwrite those important files.
Save and copy back in the folders CVData, FEData, PDData, RVData and Tables from the old
InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder into the new install replacing the new ones.

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Traditional Mapped Drive Network Install

As done in previous version 7.1

IMPORTANT:

Please follow these installation instructions in the

exact steps as described. Activate the server first and then go to
the workstation setup. Some of the steps may be seem redundant
but you still must do them.
It is critical when mapping to the network that you map a drive
letter (E, F, G, H, J, etc.) and not a UNC path. NOTE: A UNC
(Universal/Uniform Naming Convention) path will not work wit this
type of install.
Also, the client workstation (and user) will need read/write access to
the mapped drive location where you place the license file. Not only
set the folder rights but also the user profile. The user will also
need rights to the InstruCalc folder on the local drive.

If you wish to use a shared UNC install, please refer to the

next set of install instructions.

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Step 1 - Server Activation

1. Install the InstruCalc 8.1 software on a client workstation (not the network
server) C drive using the appropriate (32-bit or 64-bit) install CD provided
(run setup.exe).
2. Create and open a mapped drive to a location on your server where you want
the InstruCalc license file to reside. Map the network drive location by
specifying a drive letter (E, F, G, H, J, etc.). NOTE: A UNC (Universal/Uniform
Naming Convention) path will not work.
3. Copy the InstruCalc7.ini license file and the Server setup file,
InstruCalcserver.exe from the Server sub directory folder that you just
installed on the client workstation (default location is C:\InstruCalc
Instrument Sizing Suite\Server) to a network drive location.
4. From the workstation, access the server drive and run the Server setup file
that you just copied to the server (double click the InstruCalcserver.exe
file) and you will get the following pop-up.

5. Click on OK to get to the next step (indicated by the 2 pop-ups below).

6. Select the Change Drive option on the lower pop-up screen for the license file
path screen. Ignore the Enter password field. It is not used.
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7. Select the Browse option on the above screen to get to the following screen.
Note: the default drive and path for the CD installation may be pre-populated
in the field.

8. On the License file path screen above, select the Server Drive where you just
installed the InstruCalc7.ini file from the drive drop down menu and then click
Select Path.

9. Once you have selected the correct drive (left click on drive:\path to
highlight), select the Find InstruCalc.ini option button as noted on above
screen and the result is shown below.

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10.Choose the desired file, in this example below, h:\InstruCalc7.ini from the
Files Found field (left click on file to highlight)

11.Click on the Select File button, then click on the Save button and then the OK
button, and you will get the following pop-up. This operation creates file
named InstDRV.txt on the server in the loction where the license file is. The
content of this file is the mapped drive ( in this case it would read - h: ).

12.Select OK, on this Reload Menu. Your screen clears.

13.Go back into the server drive (like you did in step 4), run the Server setup file
again (double click the InstruCalcserver.exe file) and you will get the
following pop-up.

14.Select OK from this screen and the following 2 screens pop up.
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15.Now select the Get New Licence option from the lower pop-up screen shown
above. Ignore the Enter Password field. It is not used.

16.From the License Details screen above, select the Edit Licence by Phone
option and you will get the registration screen below. Note that this License
Details screen also shows the number of licensed users. In this case 1. If this
is not showing there is a problem with your installation or license file.

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17.Contact Gulf by email (svb@gulfpub.com) or by phone (713) 520-4426 with

the 2 user codes that are on your registration screen (as shown above) to
receive the activation code (Reg Key 1 code). Please leave this screen open
until activation.
18.Enter the Reg Key 1 number that you receive back from GPC in the Reg Key 1
field as shown below. In most cases you will not need a Reg Key 2 number.

19.After entering the number in the Reg Key 1 field, select Ok.

20.Server is Authorized
The server is activated. After closing the menu on the server you may now go to
the activate workstation steps.
NOTE: The Server must be activated (all steps performed first) before the Work
Stations can be activated.

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Step 2 - Work Station Activation

1. Copy the file InstDRV.txt just created on the server during the server setup
Change Drive steps to the local drive replacing the existing one that it is the
InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder. The two files (one on the server and
one on the workstation) need to match contents.
2. Now run the InstruCalc software on the workstation that you installed the
software on by right clicking and running as administrator (even if you have
admin rights) the InstruCalcNetwork.exe from the C:\Program
Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder. You will get the following popup.

3. Select OK for the following screens.

4. Select the Get New Licence option from the lower screen. Ignore the Enter
password field. It is not used. Also ignore the Change Drive option as you
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completed that by copying the InstDRV.txt file from the server to the local
drive. The following License Details screen appears.
Note that this License Details screen also shows the number of licensed
users. In this case 1. If this is not showing there is a problem with your
installation or license file.

5. Select the Edit Licence by Phone option to access the Registration screen

6. Contact Gulf by email (svb@gulfpub.com) or phone at (713) 520-4426 with

the 2 user codes that are on the registration screen to receive the activation
code (Reg Key 1 code). Please leave this screen open until activation.
7. Enter the Reg Key 1 code given to you by GPC in the Reg Key 1 field as shown
below. In most cases you will not receive a Reg Key 2 number.

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8. After entering the code, select Ok

9. Work Station is Authorized

To activate another workstation, run setup from the CD on the new
workstation and start with line # 1 of Step 2, the Work Station Activation
sheets and go all the way through step 15. You do not need to do the
server steps with each subsequent workstation install.
This will need to be done on each and every workstation that you want to
activate. However, if you find that you are not being prompted to
activate each workstation, then hooray.you will not have to.

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New Network UNC Install

Initial Set-up for Server and First Workstation
1. Create a share on a server and a subfolder for the InstruCalc license
file. InstruCalc users will require read/write permissions to this
InstruCalc license file folder. You can create an InstruCalc users group.
The share UNC will look like this:
\\ServerName\sharename\instrucalc
2. Install the software on a local machine by running the Setup.exe from
the media provided using the appropriate installation media: 32-bit
install media or 64-bit install media depending on the workstation you
are installing on..
On an XP, Vista or Windows 7 32-bit machine the default path is:
C:\Progam Files|InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite
On a Windows 7 64-bit machine the default path is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite
You may get a warning about a couple of files that are older than the
current version and did you want to keep the newer versions, yes keep
the newer versions.
3. Once installed on the workstation go to the folder where the InstruCalc
software was installed and give the user of that local machine Modify
access to that folder and its subfolders .
4. Now edit the file instDRV.txt found in the InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite directory on the workstation by removing the path listed in that
file then adding the UNC path to the shared license file location on the
server.like:
\\ServerName\sharename\instrucalc
You may or may not need a trailing \ at the end of the UNC path.
5. Now copy this InstDRV.txt file that you just edited on the local drive
and the two (2) files (instrucalc7.ini and InstruCalcServer.exe) that are
in the Server folder in the InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder to
the shared folder on the server.
6. From this workstation, the next step is to run the
InstruCalcServer.exe(run as Administrator even if you have admin
rights) that you just copied to the shared folder on the server by right
clicking it. You should get the following popup.

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7. Click OK and the following two popups will appear.

8. Ignore the Enter password field and the Change Drive option and select
the Get New License option by pressing the button to get the following
screen

9. From the License Details screen above, select the Edit Licence by
Phone option and you will get the registration screen below. Note that
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this License Details screen also shows the number of licensed users. In
this case 1. If this is not showing there is a problem with your
installation or license file.

10.Contact Gulf Software Support by email (svb@gulfpub.com) or by

phone (713) 520-4426 with the 2 user codes that are on your
registration screen (not the numbers as shown above) to receive the
activation code (Reg Key 1 code). Please leave this Registration screen
open until activation.
11.
Enter the Reg Key 1 number that you receive back from GPC in
the Reg Key 1 field as shown below. In most cases you will not need a
Reg Key 2 number. Leave it blank.

12.
After entering the number given to you in the Reg Key 1 field,
select Ok.

13.

Server is Authorized

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The server is activated. After closing the menu on the server you may now
go back to activate this workstation that you are on.
NOTE: The Server must be activated (all steps performed first) before the
Work Station can be activated.
1. Now run the InstruCalc software on the workstation that you installed
the software on by right clicking and running as administrator (even if
you have admin rights) the InstruCalcNetwork.exe from the
C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder and you will
get the following popup.

2. Select OK to get the following screen popups:

3. Ignore the Enter password field and the Change Drive option and select
the Get New License option by pressing the button to get the following
screen

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4. Select the Edit Licence by Phone option to access the Registration

screen. Note again that this License Details screen also shows the
number of licensed users. In this case 1. If this is not showing there is
a problem with your installation or license file.

5. Contact Gulf by email (svb@gulfpub.com) or phone (713) 520-4426

with the 2 user codes that are on your registration screen to receive
the activation code (Reg Key 1 code). Please leave this screen open
until activation.
6. Enter the Reg Key 1 code given to you by GPC in the Reg Key 1 field as
shown below. In most cases you will not receive a Reg Key 2 number,
leave it blank.

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7. After entering the code given to you, select Ok

8. Initial Work Station is Authorized

For balance of workstations see the following section Subsequent
Workstation Actiation

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Subsequent Workstation Installation

1. Install the software on a local machine by running the Setup.exe from
the media provided using the appropriate installation media: 32-bit
install media or 64-bit install media depending on the workstation you
are installing on..
On an XP, Vista or Windows 7 32-bit machine the default path is:
C:\Progam Files|InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite
On a Windows 7 64-bit machine the default path is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\InstruCalc Instrument
Sizing Suite
You may get a warning about a couple of files that are older than the
current version and did you want to keep the newer versions, yes keep
the newer versions.
2. Once installed on the workstation go to the folder where the InstruCalc
software was installed and give the user of that local machine Modify
access to that folder and its subfolders as shown in the following steps.
3. Now edit the file instDRV.txt found in the InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite directory on the workstation by removing the path listed in that
file then adding the UNC path to the shared license file location on the
server.like:
\\ServerName\sharename\instrucalc
You may or may not need a trailing \ at the end of the UNC path. Note
this file will be the same as the one on the server and the initial
workstation and all subsequent workstations.
4. You should now be able to run the software without having to do any
additional activation. The first time it is run it should be run as an
administrator by right clicking on the instrucalcnetwork.exe on the
local drive in the InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite folder.

If you get this error

or this error

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You need to check and make sure that the user is a member of the
appropriate group or that his ID has permissions to that local folder and also
the shared folder on the server.

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Setting up Calculations in InstruCalc Ver. 8

Important information for all users of the new version 8.
Information provided here is important for setting up the calculation
screen with the units that you wish to use in your calculation.
This is author recommended procedure.
In previous versions of InstruCalc the user selected (setup) all of his input
values and parameters from the menu bar:

Figure 1: Sample version 7 Calculation screen

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In version 8, some of these same selections and additional ones are now
made from the Change setup option button on the module calculation
screen. Most noticeable and significant is the Units option has moved.

Figure 2: Sample Version 8 Calculation screen

The Change setup option is your first step in setting up your calculations. If
you do not wish to use the default Mass English units shown on the
calculation screen, change the units in the Change setup screen first to the
base units you want to use: Mass English units, Volume English units,
Mass SI units or Volume SI units. After you have set your base units in the
Setup option screen you may then use the individual buttons to fine tune
your units.

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The calculation form setup options include : Operating pressures, Liquid

density options, available calculations, liquid or gas unit options, local or
base conditions, pressure tap location, drain hole, etc. Options vary
depending on the calculation screen you are working from.
Note this is the screen (as shown in Figure 3) used to preset your calculation
units of choice as well as the other options available.. You can use the
buttons on the calculation screen to set your initial units of choice but it is
recommended that those buttons be used for fine tuning each line after
initial units selection is made on the Change setup screen.

Figure 3: Sample Form Setup Options screen

For your calculations, if you plan on using units other than the
default English Mass units, please use this screen to make your
initial units setup. Once you have selected your desired units for
calculation on this screen, you may fine tune the individual input
units on the calculation screen using the line item buttons.
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Figure 4: Sample Version 8 Calculation screen

Use these buttons on the Calculation screen for fine tuning after you have
made your base unit selection from the Change setup options screen. In this
case we had changed the base units from Mass flow English to Volume flow
SI.

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Navigating the Manual and General

Program Information
The word program can mean a variety of things. InstruCalc 8.1 is a software program that
contains four main programs that include calculation programs, a data sheet program and a
summary program. Since this could get confusing, we will use other words to signify certain
portions of InstruCalc. We will use the word "module" to refer to the four main programs: (1)
Control Valves, (2) Flow Elements (ISO Flow Elements, AGA Orifice Plates, Flow Meters and
Devices), (3) Relief Devices (Relief valves, Rupture disks and Tank Vents, and (4) Process
Engineering Data (Pipe pressure loss, liquid waterhammer and fluid properties).
The options available in each module include sizing calculations, an option for producing a data
sheet, and an option for generating summaries. These will be referred to as programs or
options. The word program will also be used to refer to InstruCalc as a whole.
The more than 50 separate sizing programs will be referred to as routines (for example, the
Orifice Plate Concentric Flange Tap Sizing Routine). This should help you differentiate
between the parts of InstruCalc as we explain them in this manual.
This manual is divided into four main sections. Each section pertaining to one of the four main
modules of the program. Each section includes some general information about the module
(overview of program, program principles and considerations, program basis) and also the
formulae and calculation routines for the included programs. Also included in each of the main
sections are printouts of the Help files that are included with the program. The Help files may be
accessed from any program screen by hitting the F1 key.
The following information on the following pages pertains to each of the four modules of
InstruCalc 8.1.
When opening any one of the four modules of InstruCalc

you will first be directed to the modules Main Menu screen and given the option of starting a
new calculation or retrieving an existing record. This is done on InstruCalcs new file option
menu. This menu allows you to start a new calculation or retrieve/edit existing files.
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Control Valve Selection and Sizing Main Menu

Flow Element Selection and Sizing Program Main Menu

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Relief Device Selection and Sizing Program Main Menu

Process Data Calculations Program Main Menu

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New Calculation Option

To start a new calculation in the module of choice make the appropriate choice and select one of
the available buttons New Calc, for Control Valves, Gas flow or Liquid flow for Flow
Elements or the Go to Menu for Relef Valve and Process Data modules.
Selecting the New calc button in the Control Valve module takes you to a blank calculation
screen to begin your new CV calculation.
Selecting the Gas flow or Liquid flow button in the Flow Element module takes you to the Flow
Element Sizing Selection screen where the user chooses the element being sized. Once you click
OK you will be taken to a blank calculation screen to begin your new calculation.
Selecting the Go to Menu button on the Relief Valve and Process Data modules take you to a
Program Selection Menu where the user selects the program he wants to run and then clicking on
OK to go to a blank calculation screen to begin the new calculation.
Database Location and Control / Existing Calculation Option
Selecting the DB on Default Path and then clicking the Open DB button in the DataBase
Location and Control or Existing Calculation section of these menus will open the data base file
on the default drive.
This will activate the Record Selection and Selected Record data sections of the option.

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Now from the Record Selection area you can search for existing records of previously saved
calculations to the default database file location. Options include: First which will display the
first record in the database file showing basic information of it in the Selected Record Data
fields; Last which will display the last record in the database file; < and > will scroll through the
database records displaying each one in the Selected Record Data fields; Browse which will list
all of the records in the database file that you can select from; Delete which will delete the
selected file, Find tag which allows you to enter the file Tag you are looking for; Display
calculation which will display the calculation screen of the selected record and Display data
sheet which will display the data sheet of the selected record IF a data sheet was prepared and
saved.
Close DB option will close the open database and disable the Record Selection and Selected
Record Data areas of the menu.
If you select Browse for DB Path, you can browse for additional data base files that you may
have created in alternate locations. Once selected, you will be able to search for and display
previous calculations and data sheets.

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Using the Save As option

Save As

To file a record in a different file location (i.e. not the default location) Save As
uses the Windows file access system to find the file and then save the data.
However before you can use the Save As you must first create the new database
in the alternate location using the steps described in the next section.
The default drive is now becomes the new path. To get back to the original path
either use Save As again or go back to the main menu (where you will see the
path) if it is not the one you then close the Data Base and select and save the
required path.
Save As enables the user to retrieve a previous calculation and add it to the
current work. The procedure for this is as follows, in the main menu call up the
old data base and find the required calculation. In the calculation, change the tag
number for the current project and using the Save As procedure, find the current
project path and save the data.
Note: The default path will remain as the current project path.

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Resetting Database file location or for

Creating a New Database
Database files will be saved to the default location that is set during installation.
CVDB7.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\CVdata
FEDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\FEData
PDDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\PDData
RVDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\RVData
If you want to save the files to a different location other than the default location, take the
following steps. Do not use the standard File \ Save As function as it will not work for
database reset/saving in InstruCalc.
You will need to set up the desired new location (path) prior to doing the calculations.
1.

Open the module that you want to use. In this case we are opening Flow Elements:

From the main Flow Element Sizing Programs menu, choose Browse for DB Path in the
DataBase Location and Control section on the menu screen.
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The Data file pop-up box (as shown below) will appear with the default drive and path showing
in the selection field.

2.
In the Drive and path box, type in your new desired Drive and path, such as C:\Flow
Elements\GPC

3.

You will get some pop-ups asking to use the path elements you are entering, select OK.
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The Flow Element Sizing Programs main menu will come back up.
4.

Select File, then Create database

5.

The following Create New Database File pop-up Window will appear. Click on Yes as
you are creating a new
Database file. (There should not be one already existing in the newly created location).

6.
You will receive confirmation that the new database
file has been created in the location you set.

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7.

Click OK. You may now save files to this location rather than the default location.

Changing the default database files in the other modules is performed in the same manner as
above for Flow Elements module.

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Resetting Default Paths in InstruCalc

During installation, the default path for databases ( *DB.mdb), user unit files (*Lib.uns), printout
headings (*HDG.TXT), and tables (*.txt) are set. Database files, user unit files, and printout
headings files will be saved to the default locations shown below set during installation.
CVDB7.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\CVdata
FEDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\FEData
PDDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\PDData
RVDB.MDB is saved in the default location - C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing
Suite\RVData
And the user editable tables are placed in the default location shown below as set during
installation.
C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite\Tables
If you install your software in a different location, you will have to reset the paths to all of these
files in each module. We will show how in one module. All other modules are similar.
You will need to set up the desired new location (path) prior to doing the calculations.
Database file path, Printout headings default path, and User unit file path
1. Open the module that you want to use. In this case we are opening Control Valves:

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2. From the main Control Valve Selection and Sizing Programs menu, click on File and then
choose File default path.
Options now are Database default path, User unit file default path, Printout headings default path
and Tables default path.

Database default path

User Unit File default path
Printout headings default path
Tables default path

3. Select the first option, Database default path and you will get the Data file default path
popup.

4. Select Browse to expand screen

5. From the left side of this screen, use the drop down options to find the drive and path
where you installed your software.

6. Find the CVData folder and click on the Find Access Files button

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7. Highlight the path in the large files found field and click on the Select File button. This
will place your path in the Drive and path field at the top of the screen.

8. Click Save and OK to save this as the new default path for database files (i.e. the location
you installed the software).
Do the same above steps for the new User unit file default path and Printout headings default
path by selecting File/File default path and the corresponding option. The path will be the same
for these as it was for the database file. These are stored in the *DB.MDB folder.

Resetting the path to the Tables folder

The steps for this are exactly the same as described above, only the path is different. The tables
files are in the Tables folder in the path where you installed the software. In the example above,
the path would be C:\Program Files\InstruCalc Instrument Sizing Suite 8.1 Sgl\Tables

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What InstruCalc does for you

InstruCalc is a set of engineering programs for calculating control valve, relief valve, pressurerelief devices and various flow element sizes. It also prepares data sheets and instrument
summary reports. It is an engineering program rather than an application program inasmuch as it
is capable of determining the basic engineering data and requirements for the equipment rather
than just using the data to determine the size required.
It consists of more than 74 programs divided into four main parts:
1. Control Valves for liquid, gas, steam, and two-phase flow using the ISA formulas. There are
programs for calculating Cv and analyzing for citation within the valve, critical flow and flashing
through the valve, and noise generated by the valve. The Cv is compensated where necessary for
these and the piping geometry effects. Messages are displayed to guide you to an optimum
valve selection.
2. ISO Flow Elements for flow and restriction orifice plates; flow nozzles and venturies; gas,
steam, vapor, and liquids; flange, radius, pipe, and corner taps. Concentric, eccentric, segmental,
quadrant edge, and conical plates. Calculates Beta ratio and orifice bore. Calculates flow for a
selected bore. Compatible with ISO 5167 updated 2003.
3. Process Engineering Data programs that determines line pressure drops for gas and liquids,
calculates compressibility factor, flowing density, vapor pressure and temperature, latent heats at
pressure and temperature and physical properties of mixtures. These programs are useful for
many other engineering activities such as centrifugal pump line loss calculations and determining
pressure available for control valve pressure drop.
4. Relief Devices for pressure-relief devices, rupture discs, and breather valves. Liquid and gas
application. Calculates API or ASME size for known flow, thermal expansion, and external fire.
The external fire program has the option of either the API or the NFPA heat input methods. It
also calculates the maximum flowrate for the selected valve and the maximum back pressure,
which maintains the required flow as well as the relieving forces.
All device calculation and data sheet information can be saved for later recall. Printouts can be
obtained of calculations, data sheets, and instrument summary reports. Any type of engineering
unit can be used in the calculations. All conversion factors are contained within the programs to
change from one unit to another and to convert the values of the input data. Data can be
imported and exported to and from the programs using ASCII files.
The program not only calculates the sizes of control valves, flow elements, and relief devices,
but it also produces data sheets for the calculated items. In addition, it lets you prepare
instrument summaries and use the data sheets as a database for generating reports.

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Each module of InstruCalc allows you to perform these functions:

Make calculations
Prepare data sheets
Prepare summary reports

In addition, the Control Valve and Flow Element modules now have graphing capabilities for the
performed calculations.

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What's new in InstruCalc Version 8.1

1. Engineering Standard upgrades
Latest CV ISO Standard ANSI/ISA 75.01.01-2007
Pressure Relief Devices Program follows API 520 2009
2. Engineering Improvements
Technique for showing cavitation in restriction orifices and venturi meters (Flow
Elements)
Expanded vortex meter sizes available up to size 36 (Flow Elements)
Incorporation of Z-factor in gas-flow for sizing Flow Elements
AGA8 option for Natural Gas in Flow Elements
Added option to specify outlet pressure of orifice Flow Element.
Added Text box at the bottom of the calculation for comments such as exit angle
of venture meters
PRV Program provide option to calculate flow rate for a known size RV.
Clarify status to show more clearly flashing, cavitation and choking of control
valves.
Outlet of control valves - flow velocity at outlet flange
Allow for Density input instead of Specific Gravity in all Programs
Allow absolute and gauge units for all pressure inputs
3. Operational Improvements
Program runs in Windows 7, 64 bit.
Rearrange appearance of program basic form set-up and day to day options
removed them and clarified their use.
Excel Import/Export for process data
Database Print manager with options to print all of the database stored data and all
the calculations or any combination of them.

Old Data Files Are Still Compatible

Provision has been provided to transfer Version 5.x data to MS Access for Version 8
use .

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New Ability to Transfer Data between Files

Data files are now Microsoft Access. Version8.1 now saves all calculated data. There
are now separate tables for calculation data, units data, data sheets, pressure drop
calculations, chemical properties composition data and water hammer data. This
allows for data to be available for manipulation.

We think you will find the InstruCalc 8.1 for Windows better than ever. If you have any
suggestions, please write us and let us know. We will consider them for a newer version.

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