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  1. Home
  2. Our Products
  3. GASWorkS
  4. Adding Equipment (Compressors, Regulators, Valves & Fittings)

Adding Equipment (Compressors, Regulators, Valves & Fittings)

Contents

Compressors, regulators, valves, and fittings are all modeled in GASWorkS as pipe-type hydraulic features, each carrying its own equipment symbol and property data. You can add any of them as a brand-new feature between two nodes, or insert one into a pipe that already exists in the model. Before adding any new feature, check the default data values and dimensional units on the Options & Settings screen (Utilities menu) — this avoids having to correct sizes, pressures, or units after the fact.

GDI Commands

Add A Compressor

Adds a compressor-type pipe feature to a model, complete with its own From and To nodes.

  1. Select the Add Compressor item from the Construction branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the From (Suction/Upstream) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair on the GDI Prompt Line and press Enter. The From Node is placed at that location.
  3. At the To (Discharge/Downstream) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The To Node is placed at that location.
  4. At the Compressor Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  5. At the Control Style prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  6. At the Control Pressure prompt, type a value (in the default Pressure Values units) and press Enter. The pipe feature is placed and the compressor symbol appears on it, oriented in the gas flow direction.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Compressor item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDCOMPRESSOR or ADDCOMP on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • The From Node represents the compressor’s upstream (suction) side, and the To Node represents the downstream (discharge) side. The compressor symbol automatically displays oriented in the gas flow direction — the large side of the compressor represents upstream and the small side represents downstream.
  • When connecting compressors in a series, at least one pipe feature must be placed between the compressors.
  • To insert a compressor into a pipe that already exists, use the Insert Compressor command instead.

Add A Fitting

Adds a fitting-type pipe feature between two nodes.

  1. Select the Add Fitting item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the From Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The From Node is placed at that location.
  3. At the To Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The To Node is placed at that location.
  4. At the Fitting Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click. The pipe feature is drawn between the nodes and the fitting is placed.

This command can be executed by typing ADDFITTING or ADDFIT on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • The Equivalent Length value in the Calculated Values section of the Pipe Data is used for fittings in the solution instead of the Hydraulic Length used for pipes. The Equivalent Length is unaffected by the feature’s graphic length.
  • Another option for modeling fittings is to attach them to a pipe. This can be done in the Attached Fittings section of the Pipe Data.
  • To remove a fitting from the model, use the Remove Fittings command.

Add A Regulator

Adds a regulator-type pipe feature to a model.

  1. Select the Add Regulator item from the Construction branch of the GDI Command Tree.
  2. At the From (Upstream) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The From Node is placed at that location.
  3. At the To (Downstream) Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The To Node is placed at that location.
  4. At the Regulator Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  5. At the Set Pressure Units prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  6. At the Set Pressure prompt, type a value (in the Set Pressure Units just selected) and press Enter. The pipe feature is placed and the regulator symbol appears on it, oriented from upstream to downstream.

This command can be executed by selecting the Add Regulator item from the GDI Command List or by typing ADDREGULATOR or ADDREG on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • The From Node represents the regulator’s upstream (inlet) side, and the To Node represents the downstream (outlet) side. The regulator symbol automatically displays oriented in the gas flow direction — the arrow on the regulator points from upstream to downstream.
  • When connecting regulators in a series, at least one pipe feature should be placed between the regulators.
  • To insert a regulator into a pipe that already exists, use the Insert Regulator command instead.

Add A Valve

Adds a valve-type pipe feature to a model.

  1. Select the Add Valve item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the From Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The From Node is placed at that location.
  3. At the To Node Location prompt, type a coordinate pair and press Enter. The To Node is placed at that location.
  4. At the Valve Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  5. At the Valve Opening, % prompt, type a value between 0 (fully closed) and 100 (fully open) and press Enter. The pipe feature is placed and the valve symbol appears on it.

This command can be executed by typing ADDVALVE or ADDV on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • A valve can also be modeled as a node or a fitting, but only a valve-type hydraulic feature can stop the gas flow in a model.
  • To add a valve as a fitting to an existing pipe feature, use the Add Fitting command.
  • To insert a valve into a pipe that already exists, use the Insert Valve command instead.

Insert A Compressor

Inserts a compressor-type feature into a pipe that already exists in the model, splitting the pipe at the insertion points.

  1. Select the Insert Compressor item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the Select Pipe To Insert The Compressor Into prompt, left-click the pipe. The selected pipe is highlighted.
  3. At the From (Suction/Upstream) Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  4. At the To (Discharge/Downstream) Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  5. At the Compressor Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  6. At the Discharge Set Pressure prompt, type a value (in the default Pressure Values units) and press Enter. The compressor symbol is placed on the pipe feature.

This command can be executed by typing INSERTCOMPRESSOR or INCOMP on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • This command requires an existing pipe to insert a compressor into. To create a new, freestanding compressor feature instead, use the Add Compressor command.
  • The From Node represents the compressor’s upstream (suction) side, and the To Node represents the downstream (discharge) side. The compressor symbol automatically displays facing in the gas flow direction.
  • When connecting compressors in a series, at least one pipe feature should be placed between compressors.

Insert A Regulator

Inserts a regulator-type feature into a pipe that already exists in the model.

  1. Select the Insert Regulator item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the Select Pipe To Insert The Regulator Into prompt, left-click the pipe. The selected pipe is highlighted.
  3. At the From (Upstream) Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  4. At the To (Downstream) Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  5. At the Regulator Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  6. At the Set Pressure prompt, type a value (in the default Pressure Values units) and press Enter. The regulator symbol is placed on the pipe feature.

This command can be executed by typing INSERTREGULATOR or INREG on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • This command requires an existing pipe to insert a regulator into. To create a new, freestanding regulator feature instead, use the Add Regulator command.
  • The From Node represents the regulator’s upstream (inlet) side, and the To Node represents the downstream (outlet) side. The regulator symbol automatically displays facing in the gas flow direction.
  • When connecting regulators in a series, at least one pipe feature should be placed between regulators.

Insert A Valve

Inserts a valve-type feature into a pipe that already exists in the model.

  1. Select the Insert Valve item from the GDI Command List.
  2. At the Select Pipe To Insert The Valve Into prompt, left-click the pipe. The selected pipe is highlighted.
  3. At the From Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  4. At the To Node Location prompt, left-click a point on the selected pipe. If this creates a new node, confirm whether to tap the pipe at that location.
  5. At the Valve Size & Type prompt, select the desired item from the GDI Prompt List, then right-click.
  6. At the Valve Opening prompt, type a value between 0 (fully closed) and 100 (fully open) and press Enter. The valve symbol is placed on the pipe feature.

This command can be executed by typing INSERTVALVE or INV on the GDI Command Line and pressing Enter.

Notes

  • This command requires an existing pipe to insert a valve into. To create a new, freestanding valve feature instead, use the Add Valve command.
  • A valve can also be modeled as a node or a fitting, but only a valve-type hydraulic feature can stop the gas flow in a model. To add a valve as a fitting to an existing pipe, use the Add Fitting command. To create a valve as a node, use the Add Valve Node command.
  • Attribute valves are not included in the flow (hydraulic) model.

Notes & Considerations

  • To turn the display of equipment symbols on or off, use the Display Pipe Symbols command. Symbol size is set by the Pipe Symbol Size value on the Graphics data tab of the User Options & Settings screen (Utilities menu).
  • Pressure Values dimensional units can be changed on the Units data tab of the User Options & Settings screen (Utilities menu).
  • To change the data for a piece of equipment, use the Edit Pipe Data command or left-click the desired pipe feature to display the data in the Data Panel; to change a node’s data, use the Edit Node Data command or left-click the node.
  • To relocate a piece of equipment, use the Move Pipe command; to move one end, use the Move Pipe End command or grips. To reverse a compressor’s or regulator’s From Node and To Node, use the Swap Pipe Ends command.
  • Compressor, regulator, valve, and fitting properties can each be viewed or changed on their own Property Table Editor screen, accessed from the Property Tables submenu of the Edit menu.
  • To remove a piece of equipment and its pipe feature from the model, use the Delete Pipe command; to remove only an attached fitting, use the Remove Attached Fittings command.
  • If the Allow Undo Of Data/Graphic Changes environment option is selected, click the Undo icon to restore the last data or graphic change. To access the option, select the Options & Settings item from the Utilities menu, then select the Environment data tab.

See Also

  • Adding Pipes & Nodes
  • Moving Customers, Nodes & Pipes
  • Pipe Geometry: Adjust, Segment, Tap, Swap & Straighten
  • Editing Customer, Node & Pipe Data
  • Deleting Model Features
  • Display & Visibility Settings
  • GDI Utilities: Undo, Redo, Cancel & Housekeeping
  • Example: GDI Coordinates, Commands & Grips
  • Example: Fittings, Panels & Palettes
  • Example: Selecting, Moving & Viewing Features

FAQ

  • The pipe I clicked won’t accept a customer — why?
    A message is displayed when the selected pipe cannot have customers attached (for example, because of its type or settings). Click the OK command button to return to the prompt and select a different pipe.
  • How do I change a customer’s data or supply main after adding it?
    Left-click the customer to display its data in the Data Panel or use the Edit Customer Data command. Use Move Customer (or grips) to relocate it, Move Service Tap to slide the tap along the main, and Reassign Customer Supply Main to connect it to a different main.
  • How does automatic assignment decide which main to use?
    The auto-assign commands connect the object to the nearest main, but only mains whose Facility Type is “Active” are considered. The Active setting can be viewed on the Facility Settings screen — select the Facility Settings item from the Edit menu.
  • Can a main or service line follow a bent route instead of a straight line?

    Yes. Use the Add Polyline Service command to place a tap location and then a series of vertices; the last vertex entered becomes the customer location. Type “U” on the GDI Prompt Line to undo the last segment while drawing. You can later add, move, or delete line vertices with the corresponding commands.

  • What is the difference between a trunk and a branch customer?
    A trunk customer’s service runs from the customer location to a tap on a supply main. A branch customer taps off of a trunk customer’s service line rather than a main, and is assigned to the supply main of its trunk customer. Each trunk customer can only have one branch customer.

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Updated on September 3, 2026

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