A new method based on the cellular automaton technique to calculate pressure drops of hydraulic circuits with laminar, turbulent or miscellaneous flow (piecewise laminar, piecewise turbulent) is presented. The method for laminar flow is in an analogy applicable to electrical circuits. This new method is based on a set of homogeneous rules and a successive iteration procedure identical to the one of the cellular automaton method. It is very simple to program, and it yields correct results and excellent convergence properties also for networks of highest complexity. The model performance is demonstrated by the presentation of some results of a numerical pressure drop calculation of a simple parallel circuit with a fluid showing laminar flow.

cellular automaton, hydraulic circuit, pressure drop, friction factor, electric circuit.