Graphical Plant Editor
Build detailed plants in the graphical editor: component library, connecting blocks, editing parameters, validation and saving
Overview
The plant editor is the graphical circuit editor for detailed plants: components are dragged from a categorized library onto the canvas as blocks via drag & drop, connected via connection points, and parameterized in the properties area. When saving, the editor checks the circuit for validity.
Access
- Menu Databases > Plants…, select a plant, then Edit plant … – first convert simplified plants via Convert to detailed plant …
- alternatively in the properties panel, category Plants: highlight the plant in the table and
Edit…
Component library
The library on the left edge groups all available components by category:
- Pipes
- Pumps
- Pressure losses & fittings
- Consumer models (sized)
- Consumer models (individual)
- Central heat generators
- Geothermal components & heat sources
A component is dragged from the library onto the canvas via drag & drop. An overview of all model types with their parameters is provided in the component reference.
Working on the canvas
| Action | Operation |
|---|---|
| Add component | Drag a block from the library onto the canvas |
| Move block | Drag the block with the mouse |
| Connect blocks | Draw a connection line between the outlet and inlet connectors of the blocks; parallel connections are also possible |
| Zoom | Mouse wheel |
| Pan the view | Drag the canvas with the mouse button held down |
| Copy block | Button  Copy element |
| Delete block/connection | Button Delete element |
Every plant permanently contains one inlet and one outlet block. All components must be connected so that they are reachable from both the inlet and the outlet.
Editing component parameters
After selecting a block, its properties appear on the right:
- Component name – freely chosen designation
- Model parameters – all parameters of the model type with units; depending on the component, additionally schedules, a heating curve or a pump characteristic curve (Edit pump characteristic curve…)
- Controller – for a controlled pump and a controlled valve, the controller is activated here and configured via the Edit controller dialog
- Tab Heat exchange – boundary condition of the component’s heat exchange, e.g. temperature boundary condition or prescribed heating power (see heat exchange types)
- Description – expandable model description
- DB … – opens the component database; next to it, the component can be saved to the user database and thus reused in other plants
At the bottom left, the Plant name: and the display color of the plant are set.
Good to know:
Frequently used building blocks – such as a fully parameterized pump or a standard valve – can be created once and saved to the user database. In the next plant, you take them directly from the database instead of typing in all parameters again. This way, you build up your own consistent collection of components across projects.
Validation
When confirming with OK, the editor checks the circuit. Invalid networks cannot be saved; the following errors are reported:
| Message | Cause |
|---|---|
| Not all blocks are correctly connected. | There are open, unconnected connectors. |
| Block connected to itself. | The outlet of a block is connected to its own inlet. |
| Not all blocks are reachable from globalInlet and globalOutlet. | Components without a continuous connection to the inlet or outlet of the plant. |
| ”Short circuit” found. | Inadmissible direct connection that hydraulically short-circuits part of the circuit. |