Operating Parameters

The operating parameters pertaining to the Swash Plate Piston template involve the time definition for the simulation, pump configuration and angular velocity definitions for pump rotation (see, Figure 6.413).

Figure 6.413 - Swash plate model-Operating parameters

Time Definition

This provides the following ways to specify the size and number of time steps for the Swash Plate Piston pump simulation (see Figure 6.413):

Revolutions: A single revolution corresponds to a pump rotation of 360 degrees. The parameters required under the Time Definition of Revolutions are:

Number of Revolutions: The number of pump revolutions to be simulated.
Time Steps Per Piston Rotation: The number of time steps taken to move a piston through one pocket .

The magnitude of the time-step size (s) and the angle of rotation (deg) depends on the Time Steps Per Piston Rotation and the Number of Pistons.

	6.37
	6.38

For a Time Definition of Revolutions, the Number of Time Steps is computed as follows:

6.39

Pockets: A method of Time Definition that uses the angle from one piston to the next to determine the size and Number of Time Steps. A single pocket corresponds to a rotation equal to the average angle between pistons, based on 360 deg divided by the user specified Number of Pistons. The parameters required under the Time Definition of Pockets are:

Number of Pockets: The amount of rotation based on the angle between two pistons.
Time Steps Per Piston Rotation: The number of time steps taken to move a piston through one pocket.

Figure 6.414 - Pocket-Swash plate piston

For a Time Definition of Pockets, the Number of Time Steps is computed as follows:

6.40

Total Time Steps: Total number of time steps for a given simulation. The parameter required under Total Time Steps is

Time Steps Per Piston Rotation
Number of Time Steps (in the Simulation Panel)

For a Time Definition of Total Time Steps, the Simulation Time (Duration) is computed as follows:

6.41

	Note: If the Number of Time Steps is displayed in Blue, it means that it is set and controlled elsewhere and cannot be changed in the Simulation Panel.
	Note: The setting of the Time Definition in the Model Tab of the Properties Panel and in the Simulation Panel are slaved to each other, such that changing the value in one panel, changes the value in the other.
	Note: If multiple templates are active, the Swash Plate Piston must be set as the Reference Pump for the Time Definition option to be displayed.

Pump Configuration

This contains the parameters pertaining to the geometry of the swash plate piston pump (see, Figure 6.413). The inputs such as Number of Pistons and Swash Plate Centerare same as those defined in the Swash Plate Piston mesher.

Swash Plate Normal: This is used in conjunction with the Swash Plate Center to determine the angle of the hypothetical swash plate used to control the piston motion as the pump rotates. The arctan of the normal provides the swash plate angle. For example, in the Figure 6.406, the arctan of Realx/Realz would give the angle

Note: The Swash Plate Normal can be changed while the simulation is running. For example, the Expression Editor can be used to vary the normal as a function of time which would require that the Swash Plate Normal vector components be re-evaluated at each time-step as the simulation is running.

Angular Velocity Definition

This contains parameters pertaining to the rotation of the pump. The parameters defined under the Angular Velocity Definition are Rotational Direction, Rotational Speed and Rotational Axis Vector refer, Figure 6.407.