Wildland Engine Pumping Calculator - Digital Download
A compiled Excel spreadsheet for Windows PC's that runs as an executable and allows you to perform complex hydraulic and BTU calculations in the field quickly and easily. This does the arithmetic for you. (Must have Excel installed to use).
The Compiled Spreadsheet has the following Tabs.
- Hydro-PDP
- Multi-Leg
- Heli-WT
- Thermo
- Time-Dist-Noz
- FL-Layout
- Data
Hydro-PDP: This tab performs the initial quick and dirty of the standard pump discharge calculation’s that would involve Head pressures, Friction Losses, Nozzle Pressures and Flow Rates based upon the initial TOTAL distance, total elevation and total nozzle pressure figures. This tab also allows you to determine Engine Spacing for Relay Pumping Operations and the sheet automatically calculates the number of Engines/Pumps required based upon the safe pump discharge pressure you can attain. (The Safe Pump Pressure, should be based off of the pump performance curve and should be able to be supplied indefinitely without any risk of overheating or potential for failure when selecting the Max Safe PDP).
The spreadsheet will provide you with the Travel Time in minutes it will take water to get to the target location. This is a very important factor to consider. For example, if you are trying to supply water up the side of a mountain to support firing operations through 7 pump platforms through 18,200 feet of hose and up 2,400 feet of elevation, it can take an hour and a half for water to reach the target location. If firing operations have begun at say 09:30, and 20 minutes later they ask for water, it will be closer to around noon when water arrives, potentially placing your operation in jeopardy! This tab automatically calculates this for you based upon your flow rate and distance.
Calculates automatically the amount of hose needed if you have to drop 2, 3 or 4 parallel lines.
You can predetermine the pumping time in minutes you will have available based upon your expected GPM flow rate vs tank capacity on hand. (This is a separate calculation from the travel time calculation & the sheet does this for you).
The Spreadsheet will actually adjust the hose coefficient between 1.5" and 1" forestry hose vs structure or double jacketed hose.
Multi-Leg: This tab allows you to break up long hose lays into as many as 18 separate legs/sections so that you can determine what each different area of your hose lay will require and what you need to do to maintain the required flow rates. This allows you to determine any necessary up and downhill areas, longer or shorter hose lay distances, etc., and plug these numbers in and the spreadsheet will calculate what the required pressures will be.
Heli-WT: This tab allows you to calculate the EGPM's (Equivalent Gallons per Minute), for both helicopter’s and water tenders to enable a match in equivalent flow for sustainable operations in the field. This tab also will determine the best place to place a dip tank from the fire edge to allow for better matched ground support operations making sure air operations do not have to be shut down.
Thermo: This tab allows you to determine the altitude, water temperature and either flow rate or load size to determine the Btu absorption/cooling capacity to better match resources for a particular fires thermal output.
Time-Dist-Noz: This tab allows you to determine times and distances of resources for routes traveled as well as calculating nozzle sizes, pressures and flows.
Fl-Layout: This tab is for pre-determining Friction losses for a particular flow rate, hose size and length.
Data tab is used for various tabs and is not usable by the end user.
The software comes as a Digital Download, with a 17-page user manual in PDF, installation instructions, End User License Agreement and the Readme file. The software is for a 1-year license and can be renewed at reduced rate on a yearly basis.
The Documentation for installation and use are contained within Download Zip File.
Any necessary Support, Updates, Changes, Modifications, etc., as may be necessary, are provided to you Free of Charge during the period of your active license and renewal.