Impulse
Overview
Waterhammer & Surge Analysis Software
Impulse™ by Datacor : an intuitive visual platform for modeling fluid transients in pipe networks that brings increased productivity to the pipe flow engineer by simplifying the pipe network modeling process, combining drag-and-drop modeling with traditional engineering hydraulic analysis.
Impulse can show both input data and analysis results in visual form, allowing rapid analysis of a model’s validity. Impulse’s intuitive graphical environment accelerates the identification of erroneous assumptions, typographic and modeling errors as well as re-running models, all with the click of a cursor.
Whether you need to evaluate and improve an existing system or design a new one, Impulse greatly improves productivity in the modeling process.
Visual Modeling
Quickly build, view, and validate complex pipe networks—all in a single intuitive graphical environment
Scenario Manager
Track and compare multiple design or operating cases within one file, enabling rapid “what‑if” comparisons
Cost & Energy Analysis
Automated Network Sizing calculates capital costs (pipes, components) or ongoing energy use to help optimize designs for both initial budget and lifecycle efficiency
Advanced Fluid Modeling
Supports complex fluids and systems—including non‑Newtonian slurries, variable‑speed pumps, heat transfer, and goal‑seeking controls—making it ideal for rigorous engineering applications
What can Impulse do?
Impulse can be used to model a wide variety of incompressible flow systems, including :
- Open and closed (recirculating) systems
- Network systems that branch or loop, with no limit on the number of loops
- Systems with valve transients
- Systems with pump transients
- Systems with pressure or flow control valve transients
- Systems with transient cavitation and liquid column separation
- Systems with surge suppression devices such as accumulators, surge tanks and air valves
- Systems with variable density and viscosity
- Multiple design cases in a single model file (Scenario Manager)
- Non-Newtonian fluid behavior
Impulse’s steady-state solution engine is based on benchmark methods used for many years in industry. The Newton-Raphson method is used to solve the fundamental equations of pipe flow that govern mass and momentum balance. Solutions are obtained by iteration, and matrix methods optimized for speed are employed to obtain convergence.
Once a steady-state solution is obtained, Impulse simulates the transient using the Method of Characteristics, the most widely used method for solving fluid transient problems.
Who can use Impulse?
The user should possess a good general knowledge of engineering pipe system hydraulics, with at least a basic understanding of the fluid transients and surge phenomenon. Even the most advanced and easy-to-use software package can’t compensate for a lack of fundamental knowledge on the part of the user.
Innovations
Impulse Highlights
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Impulse Highlights
Analysis Setup
The Analysis Setup window consolidates windows for System Properties, Solution Control, Section Pipes, Transient Control, and Activate Modules all into one location. This allows users to activate and enable modules, specify fluids, change solution tolerances or iterations, and so on, all from a single window. For a list of windows that have merged into the Analysis Setup.
Impulse Highlights
Libraries
The database feature interface was completely overhauled to improve workability. The new system is called the Library Manager and significantly improves the ease and workability for users to browse and connect input information, now called libraries, into their model.
Impulse Highlights
Gas Accumulator Updates
The Gas Accumulator Properties window has been redesigned, and several new features have been added as follows:
- Additional options for defining the steady state gas accumulator volume have been added, allowing the thermodynamics for the steady state to be defined separately from the transient
- The tank geometry for the gas accumulator can now be defined, allowing the liquid level in the gas accumulator to be tracked, and limiting the gas volume accordingly
Impulse Highlights
Improved Organization of the Warnings in the Output
An improved display of the warnings and design alerts makes it easier to review and understand information in the following ways:
- Critical Warnings, Warnings, and Cautions are color-coded and grouped by type in collapsible sections
- Design Alerts are now shown on a separate tab in the General Section
- Double-clicking messages will take user to the related pipe/junction in the Workspace
- Warnings, Cautions, and Design Alerts are now displayed for all scenarios when using the Multi-scenario Output feature
Add-on modules
Impulse add-on Modules
Impulse has two add-on modules that extend modeling capabilities.
Pulsation Frequency Analysis (PFA)
Pulsation Frequency Analysis (PFA) allows the engineer to study the pressure pulsation effects a positive displacement pump has on a system.
- Predict resonant frequencies
- Graphically show the frequency response of a system
- Examine the pressure response of a system when a positive displacement pump is
- running at a resonant frequency
- Ensure the pressure pulsation magnitudes comply with the API-674 standard
Settling Slurry (SSL)
Settling Slurry (SSL) allows the engineer to perform waterhammer analysis while accounting for the complex property and system interactions associated with slurry flows.
- Model homogeneous and pseudo-homogeneous slurry mixtures
- Slurry pump performance derating
Contact
Request a Demo
Schedule a brief meeting with our team to walk through the software and find out why it’s the industry standard for incompressible flow analysis.