Heating and ventilation system three-dimensional forward design method based on 3DE

Abstract

The invention discloses a heating and ventilation system three-dimensional forward design method based on 3DE. The method comprises the steps that equipment and air pipe accessory models are established and subjected to classified management; defining heating and ventilation specification resources and configuring a rule table; a model resource library is searched in a fuzzy mode according to the equipment type, a target model is called, a positioning datum point is visually selected, and the equipment installation direction is defined; building an air duct path, and generating a three-dimensional air duct model; detecting collision, and if a conflict exists, returning to adjust the equipment point location or the air pipe path; identifying pipe section connection relations and sizes based on specification resources, matching a rule table and placing accessories; and generating an engineering drawing and an engineering quantity list based on the three-dimensional model. According to the method, the design efficiency and quality are remarkably improved, the automation degree is high, practicability is high, universality is good, the design result is visual, the calculation result is accurate, and the method is suitable for complex engineering scenes such as hydropower station underground workshops and has obvious application and popularization value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of digital design methods for water conservancy and hydropower projects, specifically involving a three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE. Background Technology

[0002] Hydropower stations, as energy conversion facilities, and pumped storage power stations, as crucial large-scale energy storage and regulation facilities in the field of water conservancy engineering, require extensive infrastructure support for their construction and operation. The core of this infrastructure layout lies in the design and arrangement of underground cavern complexes. These spaces contain numerous electromechanical equipment, limited factory space, and densely packed pipelines, requiring precise coordination among multiple disciplines. The HVAC system, in particular, must be able to adapt to the complex industrial environment while ensuring efficient, safe, and reliable ventilation.

[0003] Traditional HVAC design methods are typically based on two-dimensional architectural drawings, which has many limitations: two-dimensional design is inefficient and prone to errors, making it difficult to meet the increasingly complex design needs of modern buildings; the planar design approach limits designers' intuitive understanding of three-dimensional spatial layout and the interaction of system components. This design method is prone to clashes and conflicts between different disciplines, and these problems often only become apparent during the construction phase, potentially leading to rework and project delays.

[0004] With the development of computer-aided design (CAD) technology, 3D software has become an indispensable tool in industrial design. It provides powerful modeling, analysis, and visualization capabilities, enabling designers to create and test complex engineering structures in virtual environments. However, existing design methods still have some limitations: the design process lacks standardization, components are not highly modular, limiting design flexibility and scalability, making design results difficult to reuse. Distributed design across different disciplines leads to poor information flow between upstream and downstream disciplines, low collaboration efficiency, and difficulty in real-time synchronization of design changes, resulting in design inconsistencies. The design iteration process is cumbersome, lacking the ability to quickly respond to market changes, and lacking methods to optimize the design process to improve the speed and quality of design iteration.

[0005] The 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design methodology for HVAC systems aims to provide a standardized, modular, and automated design process, improve the design efficiency of HVAC systems, ensure design consistency and reliability, and support rapid response to market and technological changes. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, which solves the problems of low efficiency and low quality of existing design methods.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this invention is: a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Establish models of equipment and duct accessories and manage them by category; Step 2: Define HVAC specification resources and configure rule tables; Step 3: Based on the equipment type in Step 1, perform a fuzzy search of the model resource library and retrieve the target model. Visually select the positioning reference point and define the equipment installation direction. Step 4: Build the duct path and generate a 3D duct model; Step 5: Detect collisions. If a conflict exists, return to step 3 or 4 to adjust the equipment location or duct path. Step 6: Based on the specifications and resources identified in Step 2, identify the pipe segment connection relationships and dimensions, match the rule table, and place the attachments from Step 1. Step 7: Generate engineering drawings and a bill of quantities based on the 3D model obtained in Step 6.

[0008] The invention is further characterized in that, Step 1 specifically involves: establishing parameterized equipment models and duct accessory models. All models include complete physical dimensions and performance parameters, and a unified port is created. The models are then categorized by type and stored in a catalog library, with keywords set for easy retrieval and retrieval.

[0009] Step 2 specifically involves: creating a new HVAC resource table, establishing configuration tables for standards, height, width, nominal dimensions, terminal styles, part subtypes, turning rules, branching rules, and eccentricity rules, and achieving rule interlinking through nested relationships; simultaneously, establishing a part filter for the duct accessory model, filtering available models based on part type and directory chapter, providing a data foundation for subsequent design.

[0010] Step 3 specifically includes the following steps: Step 3.1: Create a positioning carrier Under the parent node, use the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface to create a 3D shape to store device positioning elements; call the GetPrtContainer method of the CATIMmiMechanicalFeature interface to obtain a container, convert it to the CATIMmiUseSetFactory factory type, and then call the CreateGeometricalSet method to create a geometry set named [positioning elements]; copy the selected or created feature points to the geometry set through the encapsulation function CopyFeature. Step 3.2: Create device location points and context objects In the inserted device, the CreateReal method of CATICkeParmFactory is called to create a point with coordinates (0,0,0), and the CreatePoint method of CATIGSMUseFactory is used to generate the device positioning point; the CreateObjectInContext method of the CATOmbObjectInContext interface is called to create context objects for the parent node and the device respectively, and the two context objects are stored in the CATListValCATBaseUnknown list. Step 3.3: Create Project Connections Convert the parent node reference to a project connection manager of type CATI EngConnectionManager, call the CreateEngConnection method, and establish a project connection between the parent node and the device based on the context object in step 3.2; Step 3.4: Point coincidence constraint achieves positioning. For the feature points in the geometry set in step 3.1 and the device positioning points in step 3.2, create context objects again using the CreateObjectInContext method of the CATOmbObjectInContext interface and store them in a list; call the AddAssemblyConstraint method of the CATIASsemblyConstraintManager interface to create point coincidence constraints of type CATIASsemblyConstraint, so that the device moves to the feature points to complete the initial positioning. Step 3.5, Equipment Orientation Positioning and Adjustment After the device is inserted, select the reference plane and the device plane, click Preview, and call the Featureize method of the CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to feature the plane. Find the [Location Element] geometry set under the parent node using the encapsulated function GetOrCreateSetFeatureOfPartFeature, call the CreatePlane method of CATIGSMUseFactory to create an offset plane for the reference plane, and copy it to the location element geometry set. Create context objects for the copied reference plane and the corresponding device plane and store them in a list. Call the AddAssemblyConstraint method of the CATIAssemblyConstraintManager interface to create plane parallel constraints to control the device's horizontal orientation. If the orientation does not match the expectation, click Reverse, use the SetOption method on the constraints, and adjust the constraint direction by setting the CATIAssemblyConstraint::Option parameter. Finally, update the parent node using the GlobalPLMUpdate method of the CATIPLMUpdateEngine interface to complete the final device positioning.

[0011] Step 4 specifically includes the following steps: Step 4.1: Select the parent node and the reference node. Manually select a node of type CATIPLMNavOccurrence as the parent of the newly created duct; manually select a reference plane of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature as the base plane for the duct path. Step 4.2: Set the offset distance Manually input the distance of the reference plane offset to determine the plane position of the duct axis; Step 4.3: Create the duct element carrier After clicking to draw, the GetRelatedReference method of the parent node CATIPLMNavOccurrence is called to obtain the parent node CATIPLMNavReference reference; under the parent node, the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface is used to create a 3D shape to hold the duct elements; the encapsulated function StartDrawing() is called to create two geometric shape sets named [Offset Face] and [Duct Components] under the 3D shape; Step 4.4: Create a sketch Using the reference plane selected in step 4.1 and the offset distance set in step 4.2, the CreatePlane method of the CATIGSMUseFactory interface is called to create the plane where the duct axis is located, and it is stored in the [Offset Plane] geometry set; the CreateSketch method of the CATISktUseSketchFactory interface is used to generate a sketch of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature based on the reference plane, and the sketch is stored in the geometry set of [Duct Components]; Step 4.5: Draw the duct path in the sketch. Use the AcceptOnNotify(_pDlg->_PButtonDraw,_pDlg->_PbuttonDraw->GetPushBActivateNotification()) method to enter the sketch created in step 4.4, and draw points or lines in the sketch to form the duct path; after drawing, register the AddDialogState("EditSketchStateId") method to listen for the operation of exiting the sketch. When exiting, call the encapsulated functions FindLinesWithSketch and FindPointsWithSketch to output the points and lines in the sketch; Step 4.6, Parameter Configuration The encapsulated function CAAOpenPLMComponent calls the pre-written EKL script "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest" to obtain the parameters in the interface, which are the shape, height or diameter, width, material name, terminal style, and turning radius of the duct. The ConvertToNum method of the CATUnicodeString interface is used to convert the height / diameter and width of the CATUnicodeString type to double type. Combined with the turning radius rules, the actual turning radius of the duct is calculated. Step 4.7: Data Conversion and Duct Generation The CreateObjectReference method of the CATICkeParmFactory interface is used to convert the selected parent node of type CATIPLMNavOccurrence into type VPMReference in EKL; the CreateList method is called to create a List type in EKL to store the generated duct and the point set used to generate the duct; the InsertItem method of the CATIList interface is used to store the duct path points obtained in step 4.5 into the point set List; the CreateString method is called to convert the shape, material name, turning radius of type CATUnicodeString and the name of the created duct into type String in EKL, and the CreateLength method is called to convert the height / diameter and width into type Length in EKL; the converted parameters are passed to "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest"EKL, and the Run method of the CATICkeFunction interface is used to run the EKL script to generate the 3D duct.

[0012] If you do not create a new path using a sketch in step 4.5, click "Select Existing Elements" and choose one of the following two types of existing elements: 1) Select an existing sketch of type CATISktUseSketch and reuse it to generate a duct; 2) Select a 3D point or sketch output point of type CATPoint, and use the Featureize method of the CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to feature the point as a duct path node.

[0013] After generating the 3D duct in step 4.7 and clicking Preview, it first checks whether an object that can be converted to the HVAC_Rigid_Duct type already exists in the List. If the object exists in the List, a new duct is not created, and the modified attributes are applied to the duct object to achieve real-time model updates.

[0014] Step 5 specifically involves using the collision detection function to check for hard and soft collisions within the HVAC system and between the HVAC system and building structural components, fire protection systems, water supply and drainage systems, electrical cable trays and pipelines, etc. If a hard or soft collision occurs, return to step 3 or 4 to adjust the equipment location or duct path until the requirements are met.

[0015] Step 6 specifically involves: selecting the duct where the accessory needs to be placed, identifying the duct segment size and connection relationship according to the rule table configured in Step 2, matching the accessory type, reading the duct size as the accessory model size, and then placing the accessory.

[0016] Step 7 specifically involves: parsing the model attribute information in the structure tree, extracting data based on a predefined report template, generating a material report list, directly importing the report into the engineering drawings, and completing the graphic output by combining projection and annotation functions.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention is based on a 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems. It integrates HVAC professional design ideas and technical routes, and forms a more efficient and standardized design method by constructing a standardized model library, configuring parametric rules, and integrating and optimizing the design process. It realizes the whole-process digital forward design of HVAC professionals from equipment selection to duct design and final drawing output, which significantly improves design efficiency and quality. It has a high degree of automation, strong practicality, good versatility, intuitive design results, and accurate calculation results. It is suitable for complex engineering scenarios such as underground powerhouses of hydropower stations and has obvious application and promotion value. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, as described in this invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the configuration result of the T-junction rule table in step 2 of embodiment 6 of the 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the component filter configuration result in step 2 of embodiment 6 of the 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the equipment selection and positioning development interface in step 3 of embodiment 6 of the 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the equipment selection and positioning results in step 3 of embodiment 6 of the 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the development interface for drawing three-dimensional air ducts in step 4 of embodiment 6 of the 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE of the present invention. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional ductwork drawing function result in step 4 of embodiment 6 of the 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the result of automatically placing duct components in step 6 of embodiment 6 of the 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for HVAC systems of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the engineering drawing results of Embodiment 6 of the 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Example 1 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE. It establishes standardized 3D models of equipment and duct accessories and stores them in a resource library. Combined with HVAC part specification files, it integrates and optimizes the design process for equipment selection and 3D ductwork drawing, and uses software to automatically and quickly place parts. It also generates drawings and material lists, greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of 3D design for HVAC systems. The invention includes the following steps: establishing a resource library of equipment and duct accessories models, and constructing a structured directory system for rapid retrieval and retrieval; defining complete HVAC specification resources, and using relationship nesting technology to achieve the associated configuration of design logic such as turning rules and branch rules, providing a data foundation for subsequent 3D design and intelligent placement of duct accessories; employing fuzzy search technology, and using parametric copying and intelligent positioning technology to achieve rapid retrieval and intelligent placement of equipment models; combining sketching functions and skeleton construction to quickly generate ducts, and supporting dynamic adjustment of parameters such as cross-sectional shape, turning radius, and dimensions to achieve parametric design of 3D ducts; automatically avoiding conflicting parts through duct collision detection to optimize duct layout; automatically identifying duct topology and intelligently placing duct accessories; generating engineering drawings based on the 3D model, extracting structure tree attribute data to generate a standardized material list and directly importing it into the engineering drawings to achieve efficient delivery of design data. This invention has a high degree of automation, strong practicality, good versatility, intuitive design results, and accurate calculation results. It is suitable for complex engineering scenarios such as underground powerhouses in hydropower stations and has significant application and promotion value.

[0021] Example 2 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Create equipment and duct accessory models, and categorize all models into a catalog library for unified management, making them easy to call later.

[0022] Equipment models were created based on manufacturer samples, establishing the correspondence between parameters and the three-dimensional shape of the models; duct accessory models were created according to various standards and specifications. To better match non-standard ducts, a parametric modeling method was adopted that automatically identifies duct dimensions by attaching external parameters; a structured catalog was created, and all models were categorized and stored in a unified database for easy selection of subsequent models.

[0023] Step 2: Define HVAC specification resources, establish rule configuration tables such as standards, height, width, terminal style, part subtype, turning rules, and branch rules, and establish part filters for duct accessory models as the basis for subsequent selection and design.

[0024] By combining software functions, a set of rule tables related to the professional aspects of hydropower engineering design is created. This table constrains specifications such as height, width, terminal style, component subtypes, turning rules, and branching rules. Through different constraints and interlinking with sub-tables of various attribute specifications, a set of HVAC rule configuration tables is created. Combining component classification rules and configuration tables, duct accessory models established according to standards are filtered, enabling the automatic and rapid placement of the created duct accessories.

[0025] Step 3: Perform a fuzzy search on the equipment model based on the equipment type, retrieve the selected equipment model from the library, copy and insert the selected model to complete the equipment selection and intelligent positioning.

[0026] By using CAA (Dassault Systèmes' application programming interface development platform), the process of opening a directory, selecting a device model, executing copy and insert commands, and selecting the corresponding model design parameters can be integrated, thus optimizing the device selection process.

[0027] The fuzzy search function helps designers comprehensively consider multiple aspects such as requirements, technical performance, economy, environmental protection and energy saving, compare and evaluate equipment performance parameters, and finally determine the equipment model that meets the requirements.

[0028] Intelligent equipment positioning simplifies the originally complex manual positioning process into a few simple operations, ensuring accurate positioning while effectively improving system design efficiency. By selecting a positioning reference point and defining the equipment installation direction through a visual interface, the system automatically creates engineering connections to achieve precise positioning. A visual preview interface displays the positioning effect in real time and supports immediate modification of the alignment direction.

[0029] Step 4: Using the sketch function and skeleton construction, quickly generate ducts according to the duct path, and support dynamic adjustment of cross-sectional shape, material name, terminal style, turning radius and size parameters to complete the 3D duct drawing.

[0030] By integrating CAA (Dassault Systèmes' Application Programming Interface) and EKL (Software-Based Knowledge Engineering Language), the process of selecting specifications, dimensions, creating transfer routes, selecting materials, and choosing turning radii is integrated, optimizing the duct design workflow and supporting dynamic adjustment of duct design parameters. EKL drives duct cross-sections, dimensions, and materials, enabling parametric modeling based on duct paths and rapidly generating complete duct models, thus improving the efficiency of 3D duct design.

[0031] By incorporating wind speed calculation during the 3D design process, designers can intuitively assess the rationality of duct dimensions, thereby optimizing HVAC system design schemes.

[0032] Step 5: Use the collision detection function to perform HVAC ductwork inspection on the completed 3D duct model, avoid conflicting parts, and optimize the duct layout.

[0033] Pipeline inspection not only involves collision checks within the HVAC system, but also collision checks between the HVAC system and other disciplines such as water supply and drainage systems and building structural components. It checks whether there are hard collisions where the models directly contact each other, and soft collisions where the spacing and space do not meet the specifications or construction requirements.

[0034] Step 6: Utilize the specification-driven design-aided function to automatically identify and intelligently place duct accessories.

[0035] Automatic identification and intelligent placement refers to automatically identifying the types of accessories such as tees, elbows, and reducers to be placed at pipe sections based on parameters such as pipe section size and connection relationships between pipe sections, in conjunction with HVAC rule configuration files. It reads the size of the connected duct as the size of the duct accessory model, thereby realizing automatic identification and placement of pipe section accessories.

[0036] Step 7: Generate engineering drawings based on the 3D model, and add standardized dimensions and information annotations. At the same time, generate an accurate bill of quantities to achieve integrated output from design to results.

[0037] Based on the drawing specifications and referring to the 3D design results, we can quickly generate system layout drawings, cross-sectional drawings, etc., and complete efficient and rapid annotation by extracting relevant annotation information of equipment, pipes, valves and accessories.

[0038] By parsing the model data attribute information in the structure tree, and based on the predefined object type and attribute list (including key parameters such as quantity, equipment model, and installation method), the required data is extracted and a material report list is automatically generated, realizing automated engineering quantity statistics based on type attributes.

[0039] Example 3 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, comprising the following steps: Step 1: Create equipment and duct accessory models, and categorize all models into a catalog library for unified management, making them easy to call later.

[0040] Parametric design is employed to establish standardized equipment and duct accessory models, establishing a correspondence between parameters and the 3D shape of the models. This enhances design flexibility and enables the reuse of design results. Equipment models must include all equipment required for HVAC design, along with complete model specifications. Duct accessory models utilize a parametric modeling method that links dimensions to external parameters to ensure automatic adaptation for non-standard ducts.

[0041] Step 2: Define HVAC specification resources, establish rule configuration tables such as standards, height, width, terminal style, part subtype, turning rules, and branch rules, and establish part filters for duct accessory models as the basis for subsequent selection and design.

[0042] To meet the design needs of HVAC professionals, a set of standardized rule documents is configured and works in conjunction with a parts filter to establish standardized design rules as the foundation for 3D design of HVAC systems, ensuring complete data flow. Based on design specifications and standards, rule configuration tables are configured for standards, height, width, nominal dimensions, terminal styles, parts subtypes, turning rules, branching rules, etc., and integrated with the parts filter into a software-recognizable specification file.

[0043] Step 3: Perform a fuzzy search on the equipment model based on the equipment type, retrieve the selected equipment model from the library, copy and insert the selected model to complete the equipment selection and intelligent positioning.

[0044] The device selection and location functions are developed using CAA (Dassault Systèmes' application programming interface development platform), improving design efficiency. The process integrates opening directories, selecting device models, executing copy and insert commands, and selecting corresponding model design parameters, optimizing the device selection workflow.

[0045] Equipment selection requires comprehensive consideration of multiple aspects such as needs, technical performance, economy, environmental protection and energy saving. Therefore, a fuzzy search function is provided during the equipment selection process to help designers comprehensively compare and evaluate the performance of equipment within the parameter selection range, and finally determine the equipment model that meets the requirements.

[0046] Intelligent equipment positioning simplifies the previously complex manual positioning process into a few simple operations, helping designers quickly deploy equipment and ensuring accurate positioning while effectively improving system design efficiency. Designers can select or create a positioning reference point through a visual interface. Based on the selected positioning point, the system automatically creates engineering connections to achieve rapid and accurate equipment positioning. Designers can select a reference plane and equipment surface according to design needs to define the equipment installation direction. A visual preview interface displays the positioning effect in real time and supports immediate modification of the alignment direction.

[0047] Step 4: Using the sketch function and skeleton construction, quickly generate ducts according to the duct path, and support dynamic adjustment of cross-sectional shape, material name, terminal style, turning radius and size parameters to complete the 3D duct pipeline drawing.

[0048] Optimize the three-dimensional duct design process within the software and improve design efficiency by developing through CAA (an application programming interface development platform provided by Dassault Systemes) and EKL (the in-software knowledge engineering language). Drive parametric modeling of duct cross-sections, duct sizes, materials, etc. through EKL to automatically generate a complete duct model, enhancing the standardization and normalization of three-dimensional duct design. Integrate processes such as selecting specifications, creating transfer lines by selecting dimensions, selecting materials, turning radii, and drawing to optimize the duct design process. At the same time, support dynamic adjustment of design parameters such as width, height, shape, terminal style, turning radius, etc., facilitating designers to optimize and adjust in a timely manner based on the evaluation of design results.

[0049] Since in the process of HVAC system design, strictly following the clear regulations of industry standards for the wind speed range is the basis for ensuring system compliance. Therefore, during the three-dimensional design process, supplement it with a wind speed calculation function to help designers intuitively evaluate the rationality of duct sizes, thereby optimizing the HVAC system design plan.

[0050] Step 5: Use the collision check function to conduct HVAC professional pipe integration detection on the completed three-dimensional duct model, avoid conflict parts, and optimize the duct layout.

[0051] Use the collision check function to optimize the duct layout and reduce the collision conflicts that are likely to occur in two-dimensional design. Check whether there are hard collisions and soft collisions between the inside of the HVAC system and between the HVAC system and the water supply and drainage system, electrical cable trays and pipelines, fire protection system, building structural components, etc. A hard collision means that entities have an intersection in space and the models of different disciplines directly contact each other. A soft collision means that there is actually no collision, but the spacing and space do not meet the specifications or construction requirements. If a hard collision or soft collision occurs, it is necessary to go back to Step 3 and Step 4 to adjust some points for avoidance until the requirements are met.

[0052] Step 6: Use the function of specification-driven auxiliary design to automatically identify and intelligently place duct accessories.

[0053] Use the specification-driven auxiliary design function to help designers quickly match duct accessories that can be automatically placed according to the part types during accessory modeling in the actual design process, reduce errors in the design process, and improve design efficiency. Automatically identify the part types such as tees, elbows, reducers, etc. to be placed at the pipe sections and the adaptive specification sizes according to parameters such as the size of the pipe section and the connection relationship between pipe sections, and achieve automatic identification and placement of pipe section accessories.

[0054] Step 7: Generate engineering drawings based on the three-dimensional model, perform standardized dimension and information annotation, and at the same time generate an accurate bill of quantities, realizing the integrated output from design to results.

[0055] By reading the attribute information of the design results, the system automatically integrates and calculates to generate material reports, reducing errors in material list statistics. It reads the basic parameter attribute information entered in the reference attributes of the model equipment, combines it with the software's engineering drawing module, and uses EKL scripts to create filters applied to different types. By using these filters, the report content is customized to form a report template. The read information is then filled into the material list with a single click according to the template, thereby generating a material list and embedding it into the engineering drawings.

[0056] Example 4 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE. Building upon Example 3, the operational logic of step 3 is as follows: A 3D shape is created under the parent node using the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface to store elements required for equipment positioning. After obtaining the container of the 3D shape of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature using the GetPrtContainer method, it is converted to the CATIMmiUseSetFactory type, and the CreateGeometricalSet method is called to create a geometric set named "Positioning Elements" under the 3D shape. Selected or created feature points are then copied to this geometric set using the encapsulated CopyFeature function.

[0057] In the inserted device, the `CreateReal` method of the parameterized factory `CATICkeParmFactory` is called to create coordinates with a value of (0,0,0), and the `CreatePoint` method of the feature factory `CATIGSMUseFactory` is used to create the device positioning point using these coordinates. The `CreateObjectInContext` method of the `CATOmbObjectInContext` interface is called to create context objects for the parent node and the device, and both context objects are stored in the `CATListValCATBaseUnknown` list. After converting the parent node reference to a project connection manager of type `CATIEngConnectionManager`, the `CreateEngConnection` method is called to create a project connection using the context objects. Similarly, the `CreateObjectInContext` method of the `CATOmbObjectInContext` interface is used to create context objects for the positioning element point and the device positioning point, and after storing them in the list, the `AddAssemblyConstraint` method of the `CATIAssemblyConstraintManager` interface is called to create point consistency constraints of type `CATIAssemblyConstraint`, moving the deployed device to the feature point.

[0058] After the device is inserted, select the reference plane and the device plane, click the "Preview" button, and call the Featureize method of the CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to feature the plane. Then, use the encapsulated function GetOrCreateSetFeatureOfPartFeature to find the geometry set of the "Location Element" under the parent node, and call the CreatePlane method of the CATIGSMUseFactory factory to create an offset plane for the reference plane. This offset plane is then copied to the "Location Element" for device orientation positioning. For the copied reference plane and the device plane, use the CreateObjectInContext method of the CATOmbObjectInContext interface to create context objects. After storing them in a list, call the AddAssemblyConstraint method of the CATIASsemblyConstraintManager interface to create a plane parallel constraint of type CATIASsemblyConstraint, used to control the horizontal orientation of the device. If the default orientation does not match the expectation, click the "Reverse" button to use the SetOption method on the constraints. By setting the parameter CATIAssemblyConstraint::Option, you can control whether the planar parallel constraints are in the same or opposite direction. Use the GlobalPLMUpdate method of the CATIPLMUpdateEngine interface to update the parent node and complete the accurate positioning of the device.

[0059] Example 5 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE. Building upon Example 3, the operational logic of step 4 is as follows: Manually select a parent node of type CATIPLMNavOccurrence to generate the created duct. Select a reference plane of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature; manually enter the desired offset distance of the reference plane in millimeters, and create the duct axis plane based on the reference plane and the offset distance.

[0060] After clicking the "Draw" button, the GetRelatedReference method of the parent node of type CATIPLMNavOccurrence is called to obtain the parent node's CATIPLMNavReference reference. Under the parent node, the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface is used to create a 3D shape to store the elements required for duct layout. The encapsulated StartDrawing() function is called to create a geometric set named "Offset Plane" and "Duct Components" under the 3D shape. The created plane of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature is stored in the "Offset Plane" geometric set, and the created plane is used to generate a sketch of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature using the CreateSketch method of the CATISktUseSketchFactory interface, which is then stored in the "Duct Components" geometric set.

[0061] Use the `AcceptOnNotify(_pDlg->_PButtonDraw,_pDlg->_PbuttonDraw->GetPushBActivateNotification())` method to enter the newly created sketch. After drawing points or lines in the sketch, register the `AddDialogState("EditSketchStateId")` method to listen for exiting the sketch. Upon exiting, use the pre-defined `FindLinesWithSketch` and `FindPointsWithSketch` methods to retrieve the points and lines output by the sketch.

[0062] The pre-written EKL function "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest" is used to retrieve the parameters from the interface, which are: shape, height or diameter, width, material name, terminal style, and turning radius (all of type CATUnicodeString). The "ConvertToNum" method in the CATUnicodeString interface is then used to convert the height or diameter and width to double types. Based on the obtained turning radius, the correct turning radius is calculated using the height or diameter.

[0063] The `CreateObjectReference` method in the `CATICkeParmFactory` interface is used to convert the selected parent node of type `CATIPLMNavOccurrence` to type `VPMReference` in EKL. The `CreateList` method is used to create a `List` type in EKL to store the generated duct and the storage points for generating the duct. The `InsertItem` method in the `CATIList` interface is used to store the obtained output points in the `List`. The `CreateString` method is used to convert the shape, material name, turning radius of type `CATUnicodeString` and the name of the created duct to type `String` in EKL. The `CreateLength` method is used to convert the height or diameter and width to type `Length` in EKL.

[0064] The converted parameters are passed as the "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest" EKL and run using the Run method of the CATICkeFunction interface to generate the duct. Various parameters can be modified at any time via the preview button for real-time updates. The system checks if an object convertible to HVAC_Rigid_Duct already exists in the created List. If an object exists in the List, a new duct will not be created; instead, the modified attributes will be applied to the duct object.

[0065] After selecting the parent node, you can skip selecting the plane and directly click the "Select Existing Element" button. In the pop-up interface, select an existing sketch or point.

[0066] Select an existing sketch, that is, directly select a sketch of type CATISktUseSketch, click OK, and then perform the above operations to generate the duct.

[0067] You can select existing points by directly choosing 3D points of type CATPoint, or you can select output points from the sketch. If you select output points from the sketch, you can set the parameter of type CATIMmiUseFeaturize_var to the selected point in the code. If it is not empty, you can use the Featureize method in the CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to obtain points of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature. After clicking OK, perform the above operations to generate the duct. When selecting existing points, you can click the preview in the interface to generate a duct with fixed attributes, which makes it easy to check whether the selection order of the points is incorrect. Through the CATDlgContextualMenu type, you can add right-click "Remove" and "Remove All" buttons in CATDlgPushItem, which can remove a selected point and delete all selected points, respectively.

[0068] Example 6 This invention provides a 3D forward design method for HVAC systems based on 3DE, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes the following steps: Step 1: Create a model of the equipment and duct accessories. When building the model, the 3DE platform modeling rules were strictly followed. Equipment models were parametrically modeled based on manufacturer samples, fully covering the manufacturer's entire product series. Duct accessory models were parametrically modeled according to industry standards. Part types were used consistently, and a structured tree was organized, including complete physical dimensional parameters and necessary performance parameters. Ports were created, and a unified port naming convention was adopted. ① Part type: When creating an equipment model, the physical type must be equipment. When creating a duct accessory model, select the corresponding physical type such as HVAC tee or HVAC valve according to the accessory type.

[0069] ② Organizational structure tree: Create geometric sets to store features such as model positioning axes, modeling process elements, port points, and axes. Hide these geometric sets after modeling is complete; create solids to store 3D solid modeling features.

[0070] ③ Management Port: The inlet and outlet port type for equipment models and duct accessory models should be "HVAC Port," and the port direction should be pointing towards the duct. After successful publication, for duct accessory models, click "Port Properties" to define parameters such as port standard, equivalent diameter, terminal style, width, height, or diameter. Electrical cavities need to be added to equipment models and electrical accessories to transmit information to downstream professionals.

[0071] ④ Create external parameters: For duct accessory models, port attributes need to be used as external parameters, and equations need to be established between the size parameters Width, HeightDiameter, Thickness and the above external parameters.

[0072] Once the established equipment models and duct accessory models are categorized and placed into a library for unified management, the corresponding keywords are selected and chapters are filled in. At this point, the equipment and duct accessory models with different attribute information can be viewed in the catalog library for easy retrieval later.

[0073] Step 2: Define HVAC specifications and resources Collect the corresponding specifications and requirements for HVAC design, find the HVAC specification resources in Data Setup (the centralized management program for resource sets in the software), and create a new resource table that covers all the rules required in the HVAC 3D design process.

[0074] Establish a rule configuration table including standards, height, width, nominal dimensions, and terminal styles. Then, through nested relationships within the turning rule table, branch rule table, and reducer rule table, establish the connections and constraints between various rules. This provides a basis for the 3D design of the ductwork in the subsequent step four. Taking the tee rule table as an example, the created rule table is as follows: Figure 2 As shown.

[0075] Enter the module for capturing and reusing engineering specifications, select Create Sub-Filter, select Add Filter Unit, and create multiple filter units based on different attachment types.

[0076] To edit different filter units, double-click the filter unit you want to edit. First, click "Edit General," which will bring up the filter unit properties window. Select the part type and the "Formula Synchronized" mode. Next, you will enter the data source editing window. Select "Directory" as the method for returning the part for storage. You need to select the directory section where the duct accessories were placed in step 1 above. After making the selection, you can see all the usable result parts that have been filtered out. This lays the foundation for the automatic placement of duct accessories in step 6. The part filter is now created as shown below. Figure 3 As shown.

[0077] Step 3: Equipment Selection and Intelligent Positioning ① Select the corresponding node in the tree structure as the parent node where the device will be placed.

[0078] ② Select the existing positioning point for the device or directly input the coordinates of the point as the positioning point for the device model.

[0079] ③ On the interface, select the equipment type and specific model in sequence. Different specific models will be available depending on the selected equipment type. After selecting both the equipment type and specific model, the selection parameters for that equipment type will appear in the selection parameter box. For example, when the equipment type is selected as "dehumidification equipment", the specific models available are "air-cooled", "heating", and "portable"; when the equipment type is selected as air conditioning terminal, the specific models available are "combined air handling unit", "cabinet air handling unit", "fan coil unit", and "fresh air exchange unit".

[0080] ④ Select the parameter to which you want to add a value, then enter the value in the "Minimum Value" dialog box, and finally click "Add" to fill the value into the parameter table. After adding, you can continue to add other parameter values. Click "Filter," and the system will perform a fuzzy match to find all devices that meet the 10% deviation of the value and display them on the interface.

[0081] ⑤ Select the desired device model and click the "Insert" button. After insertion, you can preview the device's placement in the interface. The initial orientation of the device can be determined by selecting a reference plane parallel to the device's own plane. If the device's orientation does not meet design requirements in the preview, click the "Reverse" button to adjust its direction.

[0082] Development interface as follows Figure 4 As shown, the results of selecting and placing equipment using this tool are as follows: Figure 5 As shown.

[0083] Step 4: Drawing of 3D HVAC ductwork ① Select the corresponding node in the tree structure on the interface as the parent node where the duct will be generated.

[0084] ② Select a plane as the reference plane for drawing ductwork, and input the offset distance to determine the plane where the duct axis is located, helping designers quickly locate the plane for drawing ductwork. This reference plane can be an abstract mathematical coordinate system plane (such as the xy plane), or it can be related to the actual ground or wall of the factory building.

[0085] ③ Select the cross-sectional shape, material name, terminal style, turning radius, and dimension parameters in sequence on the interface. The selectable content should be consistent with the HVAC specification resource set established in step 2. The duct width, height, or diameter can be selected from all standard duct widths, heights, or diameters in the HVAC specification resource set via drop-down menus, or any value can be entered directly in the dialog box to meet different design requirements.

[0086] ④ The program can automatically calculate the current wind speed based on the input air volume and the duct size selected in the steps. If the calculation result does not meet the design requirements (such as the wind speed being too high or too low), the duct size can be manually adjusted until the wind speed value meets the specification requirements.

[0087] ⑤ Designers can generate ducts in the following three ways: a) Manually draw the duct path by entering sketch mode through the "Draw" function, and generate the duct based on the duct path after exiting the sketch; b) Draw the duct path in advance in the sketch, click "Select Existing Elements" to open the pop-up window, and generate the duct directly by applying the existing sketch through "Select Existing Sketch"; c) Build the skeleton in 3D space in advance, click "Select Existing Elements" to open the pop-up window, and generate the duct by selecting the prepared path points in sequence through "Select Existing Points".

[0088] ⑥ Click Preview to view the generated 3D duct, and support dynamic adjustment of the parameters set in the steps: cross-sectional shape, material name, terminal style, turning radius and size parameters. Click OK to complete the 3D duct drawing.

[0089] Development interface as follows Figure 6 As shown. The 3D duct result drawn using this tool is as follows. Figure 7 As shown.

[0090] Step 5, Collision Check Use the collision detection function to check for hard and soft collisions within the HVAC system and between the HVAC system and building structural components, fire protection systems, water supply and drainage systems, electrical cable trays and pipelines, etc. If a hard or soft collision occurs, return to steps 3 and 4 to adjust some points to avoid the collision until the requirements are met.

[0091] Step 6: Place the duct accessories After the collision check is completed, use the specification-driven auxiliary design function to select the duct where the parts need to be placed. An automatic design options window will pop up. Select options such as manage junction points, manage bends, and manage junction points of different sizes. The software will automatically match the corresponding rule tables (turning rule table, branch rule table, reducer rule table, etc.) in the HVAC specification file created in step 2. After selection, a parts placement window table will appear. Here, the software will automatically search for the possible placement locations of the selected duct and the dimensions of the ducts at both ends for matching. Select the specific part type for reference, and click OK. The duct accessory placement is then complete. A diagram illustrating the completed duct accessory placement is shown below. Figure 8 As shown.

[0092] Step 7: Drawing and Quantity Statistics After the 3D model design is completed, an engineering drawing can be inserted. By selecting a projection plane, the 3D design can be projected to generate a 2D engineering drawing. The intelligent annotation function allows for automatic or manual annotation of equipment models, positioning elements, and key dimensions. Designers can select predefined drawing templates to quickly standardize drawing styles.

[0093] By defining report templates, the system can extract a list of objects with predefined types and attributes, and perform statistical calculations based on these type attributes to achieve material statistics categorized by type. Finally, the system will automatically generate a material report list, which can be directly imported into engineering drawings, completing an integrated text and graphic output. A schematic diagram of the output result is shown below. Figure 9 As shown.

Claims

1. A 3DE-based three-dimensional forward design method for a heating and ventilation system, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Establish models of equipment and duct accessories and manage them by category; Step 2: Define HVAC specification resources and configure rule tables; Step 3: Based on the equipment type in Step 1, perform a fuzzy search of the model resource library and retrieve the target model. Visually select the positioning reference point and define the equipment installation direction. Step 4: Build the duct path and generate a 3D duct model; Step 5: Detect collisions. If a conflict exists, return to step 3 or 4 to adjust the equipment location or duct path. Step 6: Based on the specifications and resources identified in Step 2, identify the pipe segment connection relationships and dimensions, match the rule table, and place the attachments from Step 1. Step 7: Generate engineering drawings and a bill of quantities based on the 3D model obtained in Step 6.

2. The 3DE-based heating and ventilating system three-dimensional forward design method according to claim 1, wherein, Step 1 specifically involves: establishing parameterized equipment models and duct accessory models. All models include complete physical dimensions and performance parameters, and a unified port is created. The models are categorized by type and stored in a catalog library, with keywords set for easy retrieval and retrieval.

3. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, Step 2 specifically involves: creating a new HVAC resource table, establishing configuration tables for standards, height, width, nominal dimensions, terminal styles, part subtypes, turning rules, branching rules, and eccentricity rules, and achieving rule interlinking through relationship nesting; simultaneously, establishing a part filter for the duct accessory model, filtering available models based on part type and directory chapter, and providing a data foundation for subsequent design.

4. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, Step 3 specifically includes the following steps: Step 3.1: Create a positioning carrier Under the parent node, use the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface to create a 3D shape to store device positioning elements; call the GetPrtContainer method of the CATIMmiMechanicalFeature interface to obtain a container, convert it to the CATIMmiUseSetFactory factory type, and then call the CreateGeometricalSet method to create a geometry set named [positioning elements]; copy the selected or created feature points to the geometry set through the encapsulation function CopyFeature. Step 3.2: Create device location points and context objects In the inserted device, the CreateReal method of CATICkeParmFactory is called to create a point with coordinates (0,0,0), and the CreatePoint method of CATIGSMUseFactory is used to generate the device positioning point; the CreateObjectInContext method of the CATOmbObjectInContext interface is called to create context objects for the parent node and the device respectively, and the two context objects are stored in the CATListValCATBaseUnknown list. Step 3.3: Create project connections Convert the parent node reference to an engineering connection manager of type CATIEngConnectionManager, call the CreateEngConnection method to establish the engineering connection between the parent node and the device based on the context object of step 3.2; Step 3.4, point coincidence constraint implementation positioning For the feature points in the geometry set of step 3.1 and the device positioning points of step 3.2, use the CreateObjectInContext of the CATOmbObjectInContext interface again to create context objects and store them in the list; call the AddAssemblyConstraint method of the CATIAssemblyConstraintManager interface to create a point coincidence constraint of type CATIAssemblyConstraint, so that the device moves to the feature points to complete the preliminary positioning; Step 3.5, device direction positioning and adjustment After the device is inserted, select the reference plane and the device plane, click preview, and call the Featurize method of the CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to feature the plane; find the [positioning element] geometry set under the parent node through the encapsulation function GetOrCreateSetFeatureOfPartFeature, call the CreatePlane method of CATIGSMUseFactory to create an offset plane for the reference plane, and copy it to the positioning element geometry set; create context objects for the copied result of the reference plane and the device plane, and store them in the list, call the AddAssemblyConstraint method of the CATIAssemblyConstraintManager interface to create a plane parallel constraint to control the horizontal orientation of the device; if the orientation does not match the expected, click reverse, use the SetOption method on the constraint to adjust the constraint direction by setting the CATIAssemblyConstraint::Option parameter, and finally update the parent node through the GlobalPLMUpdate method of the CATIPLMUpdateEngine interface to complete the final positioning of the device.

5. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, The step 4 specifically comprises the following steps: Step 4.1, select the parent node and the reference Manually select a node of type CATIPLMNavOccurrence as the parent of the newly created duct; manually select a reference plane of type CATIMmiMechanicalFeature as the reference plane of the duct path; Step 4.2, set the offset distance Manually input the offset distance of the reference plane to determine the position of the duct axis plane; Step 4.3, create a duct element carrier After clicking the sketch, the GetRelatedReference method of the CATIPLMNavOccurrence parent node is called to obtain the CATIPLMNavReference reference of the parent node; the Add3DShape method of the CATIPrdAggregatedRepresentations interface is used to create a 3D shape for carrying the duct element under the parent node; the encapsulated function StartDrawing() is called to create two geometry sets named [offset plane] and [duct constituent element] under the 3D shape; Step 4.4, creating a sketch The CreatePlane method of the CATIGSMUseFactory interface is called to create a plane on which the duct axis is located based on the reference plane selected in step 4.1 and the offset distance set in step 4.2, and the plane is stored in the [offset plane] geometry set; the CreateSketch method of the CATISktUseSketchFactory interface is used to generate a CATIMmiMechanicalFeature type sketch based on the reference plane, and the sketch is stored in the [duct constituent element] geometry set; Step 4.5, drawing a duct path in the sketch The AcceptOnNotify(_pDlg->_PButtonDraw,_pDlg->_PbuttonDraw->GetPushBActivateNotification()) method is used to enter the sketch created in step 4.4 to draw points or lines to constitute a duct path in the sketch; after drawing is completed, the AddDialogState("EditSketchStateId") method is registered to listen to the operation of exiting the sketch, and the encapsulated functions FindLinesWithSketch and FindPointsWithSketch are called to output the points and lines in the sketch when exiting; Step 4.6, parameter configuration The pre-written EKL script "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest" is called through the encapsulated function CAAOpenPLMComponent to obtain the parameters in the interface, which are the shape of CATUnicodeString type, the height or diameter of CATUnicodeString type, the width of CATUnicodeString type, the material name of CATUnicodeString type, the terminal style of CATUnicodeString type, and the turning radius of CATUnicodeString type; the ConvertToNum method of the CATUnicodeString interface is used to convert the height / diameter and width of CATUnicodeString type to double type, and the actual turning radius of the duct is calculated based on the turning radius rule; Step 4.7, data conversion and duct generation The selected parent node of CATIPLMNavOccurrence type is converted into VPMReference type in EKL by using the CreateObjectReference method of CATICkeParmFactory interface; the CreateList method is called to create List type in EKL, and the generated duct and the point set for generating the duct are respectively stored; the duct path points obtained in step 4.5 are stored into the point set List by using the InsertItem method of CATIList interface; the CreateString method is called to convert the shape, material name and turning radius of CATUnicodeString type and the generated duct name into String type in EKL, and the CreateLength method is called to convert the height / diameter and width into Length type in EKL; the converted parameters are transmitted into "CreateDuctByListOfPointTest" EKL, the Run method of CATICkeFunction interface is used to run the EKL script, and the three-dimensional duct is generated.

6. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 5, wherein, If the path is not newly created through the sketch in step 4.5, the existing element is clicked to select one of the following two existing elements: 1) the existing sketch of CATISktUseSketch type is selected to directly reuse to generate the duct; 2) the three-dimensional point or sketch output point of CATPoint type is selected, and the point is characterized by using the Featurize method of CATIMmiUseFeaturize interface to serve as the duct path node.

7. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 6, wherein, After the three-dimensional duct is generated in step 4.7, preview is clicked, and firstly, it is judged whether the object that can be converted into HVAC_Rigid_Duct type exists in List, if the object exists in List, a new duct is not created, and the modified attribute is applied to the duct object to realize real-time updating of the model.

8. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, The step 5 is specifically: the collision checking function is used to check whether there is hard collision and soft collision between the internal part of the heating and ventilation system and the building structure component, the fire control system, the water supply and drainage system, the electrical bridge and the pipeline, if the hard collision or the soft collision occurs, the device point or the duct path is adjusted to return to step 3 or 4 until the requirement is met.

9. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, The step 6 is specifically: the duct on which the accessory needs to be placed is selected, the pipe section size and the connection relationship are identified according to the rule table configured in step 2, the accessory type is matched, the duct size is read as the accessory model size, and the placing is realized.

10. The 3DE-based heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system three-dimensional forward design method of claim 1, wherein, The step 7 is specifically: the model attribute information in the structure tree is parsed, the data is extracted based on the pre-defined report template, the material report list is generated, the report is directly imported into the engineering drawing, and the projection and the labeling function are combined to complete the graphic output.

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