2 replies to this topic

[Gonoklab]

Hello all,

I recently put together a simple pump sizing calculator for preliminary engineering calculations and quick checks. It is intended for early-stage use and currently includes flow, total head input, hydraulic power, estimated shaft power, and a basic NPSH review.

I’m sharing the free version here in case it is useful to anyone working on quick screening calculations or early pump selection work. I’d also appreciate any feedback on features that would make it more useful in practice.

https://payhip.com/b/x9Yiv

[Pilesar]

I downloaded your free pump sizing calculator. You obviously put effort into it. I like that the calculator is in Excel with underlying equations visible. I distrust VBA and macros unless I can examine the code. I see that you have 'premium' calculators with more features available at a small cost. Have you sold any yet? Good luck to you! Several engineers in these forums have developed and sold engineering software applications. I don't know how successful their projects have been. I have developed many Excel calculators but never successfully made them into a software product for others to use. It always seemed to take so much more effort to develop a polished interface than it was to program and verify the calculations.

 

A few observations:

 

Excel is great since its underlying calculations can be seen and verified by the user. However, for commercial work, one of its drawbacks is that the underlying equations can be changed by the user. This makes it difficult to use as a reliable, repeatable calculator due to lack of quality change tracking. A compiled calculator of some sort can ensure changes are tracked and allow new versions to be tested and approved if necessary.

Footnotes or reference links to the source of the equations might be useful but perhaps not required for these basic calculations.
 

Why not give yourself credit as author? Who do you expect to rely on engineering software with unknown author, no company verifications, no country of origin, no address, no phone number, no email, no support offered? Even if the software does not sell, would it not enhance your reputation?

 

There is similar software available with seemingly additional features. 

These may not be Excel based, but at least offer more reputation and legitimacy than an unknown one-person seller.

For example, a pump sizing calculator is available at the Blackmonk Engineering website with flexible units of measure.

 

https://blackmonkeng...om/calculators/ contains Calculator Links for:

Liquid Restriction Orifice Plate Sizing Calculator

Gas Control Valve Sizing Calculator

Gas Restriction Orifice Plate Sizing Calculator

Line Sizing Calculator

Liquid Control Valve Sizing Calculator

Compressible Line Sizing Calculator

Pressure Equipment Directive Calculator

Vertical Separator Sizing Calculator

Pump Sizing Calculator

Vessel Volume Calculator

Horizontal Separator Sizing Calculator

Heat Exchanger Sizing Calculator

Storage Tank Sizing Calculator

Steam Tables

Physical Properties

[Gonoklab]

Thank you for the thoughtful feedback. I really appreciate you taking the time to review it so carefully.

You are absolutely right about Excel. One of the reasons I chose Excel is exactly what you mentioned: users can see the equations, trace the logic, and verify the calculations themselves. For many engineers, that transparency is a strength. At the same time, I agree it also creates a weakness for commercial use, since formulas can be modified and version control is not as robust as a compiled application. That is one of the tradeoffs I am aware of, and something I am still thinking through as I continue improving the product.

 

I also agree with your comment about authorship and credibility. Right now I am still in the early stage of building this into a more polished product. At this point I am still refining the calculators and learning what users actually find valuable. 

 

I also appreciate you mentioning other tools in the space. 
 

Thanks again for the honest and constructive feedback. Comments like yours are genuinely useful as I keep improving it.