ErgoPlanner

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Building Process Diagrams ​

Creating professional wastewater treatment process flow diagrams

Overview ​

Process diagrams in ErgoPlanner represent your treatment plant layout. They consist of:

  • Process Units: Equipment and treatment steps
  • Connections: Streams between units
  • Annotations: Labels, notes, and documentation

The Drawing Canvas ​

Canvas Features ​

FeatureDescription
Infinite CanvasUnlimited drawing space
GridAlignment guides (toggle with G)
SnapAutomatic alignment (toggle with Ctrl + G)
Zoom10% to 400% zoom levels
Mini-mapOverview navigation (toggle with M)
  • Pan: Scroll wheel or Space + drag
  • Zoom: Ctrl + scroll or Ctrl + +/-
  • Fit: Ctrl + 0 to fit all content

Adding Process Units ​

From the Stencil Panel ​

  1. Locate the unit in the stencil categories
  2. Click and drag onto the canvas
  3. Release to place the unit
  4. Unit appears with default properties

Using Quick Add ​

  1. Press A to open quick add
  2. Type unit name to search
  3. Select from results
  4. Click on canvas to place

Keyboard Method ​

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + A
  2. Enter unit type
  3. Press Enter to add at cursor

Process Unit Categories ​

Preliminary Treatment ​

UnitSymbolFunction
Coarse Screen▭═▭Large debris removal
Fine Screen▭≡▭Small debris removal
Grit Chamber⊡Grit removal
Grease Trap◇FOG removal

Primary Treatment ​

UnitSymbolFunction
Primary Clarifier○Settleable solids removal
Imhoff Tank⬡Combined settling/digestion
Lamella Settler⋔High-rate settling

Biological Treatment ​

UnitSymbolFunction
CSTR Reactor□Activated sludge
PFR Reactor▭Plug flow reactor
MBBR⊞Moving bed biofilm
SBR◐Sequencing batch

Secondary Treatment ​

UnitSymbolFunction
Secondary Clarifier◎Biomass settling
DAF⊛Dissolved air flotation
Membrane⧈MBR filtration

Connecting Units ​

Creating Connections ​

  1. Select source unit
  2. Click output port (right side by default)
  3. Drag to destination input port
  4. Release to create connection

Connection Types ​

TypeColorDescription
LiquidBlueWastewater streams
SludgeBrownSludge/solids streams
GasGrayAir, biogas streams
ChemicalPurpleChemical dosing

Connection Routing ​

  • Auto-route: System finds best path
  • Manual route: Drag connection points
  • Orthogonal: Right-angle connections only
  • Direct: Straight line connections

Connection Labels ​

Show flow rates and compositions:

  1. Select connection
  2. Right-click > Show Labels
  3. Choose parameters to display

Unit Properties ​

Accessing Properties ​

  • Single click: View in Properties panel
  • Double click: Open properties dialog
  • Right click: Context menu options

Common Properties ​

SectionProperties
GeneralName, ID, enabled status
DesignDimensions, capacity, volumes
OperatingSetpoints, rates, modes
CalculationMode (Basic/Advanced), model

Calculation Modes ​

Basic Mode:

  • Simplified calculations
  • Fixed efficiencies
  • Fast computation
  • Suitable for preliminary design

Advanced Mode:

  • Detailed mechanistic models
  • Variable efficiencies
  • Full biokinetics
  • For detailed design/optimization

Layout and Alignment ​

Arranging Units ​

ActionShortcut
Align LeftCtrl + Shift + L
Align CenterCtrl + Shift + C
Align RightCtrl + Shift + R
Align TopCtrl + Shift + T
Align MiddleCtrl + Shift + M
Align BottomCtrl + Shift + B
Distribute HorizontallyCtrl + Shift + H
Distribute VerticallyCtrl + Shift + V

Grouping ​

  1. Select multiple units
  2. Press Ctrl + G to group
  3. Move/resize as single item
  4. Ctrl + Shift + G to ungroup

Layers ​

Organize complex diagrams:

  • Create layers for different systems
  • Show/hide layers
  • Lock layers to prevent editing

Annotations ​

Text Labels ​

  1. Press T for text tool
  2. Click on canvas
  3. Type label text
  4. Format in Properties panel

Shapes ​

Available annotation shapes:

  • Rectangle
  • Circle/Ellipse
  • Line
  • Arrow
  • Polygon

Notes ​

Add technical notes:

  1. Right-click on canvas
  2. Select Add Note
  3. Enter note text
  4. Note appears with indicator icon

Templates and Blocks ​

Using Templates ​

Insert pre-built configurations:

  1. Insert > Template Block
  2. Select template
  3. Place on canvas
  4. Customize as needed

Creating Blocks ​

Save reusable configurations:

  1. Select units and connections
  2. Edit > Create Block
  3. Name the block
  4. Block appears in Blocks panel

Best Practices ​

Flow Direction ​

Standard conventions:

  • Left to right: Main process flow
  • Top to bottom: Alternative layout
  • Return flows: Below main flow line

Spacing ​

Recommended spacing:

  • Between units: 100-150 pixels
  • Between streams: 50 pixels minimum
  • Margins: 50 pixels from edge

Labeling ​

Label guidelines:

  • Use consistent naming scheme
  • Include unit numbers (e.g., "PST-01")
  • Show key parameters on streams

Documentation ​

Include on drawing:

  • Title block
  • Legend
  • Notes and assumptions
  • Revision history

Common Configurations ​

Conventional Activated Sludge ​

Influent → Screen → Grit → Primary → Aeration → Secondary → Effluent
                                        ↑           |
                                        └─── RAS ───┘

MLE Process ​

Influent → Primary → Anoxic → Aerobic → Secondary → Effluent
                       ↑         |           |
                       └─ IRR ───┘           |
                       ↑                     |
                       └───── RAS ───────────┘

A2O Process ​

Influent → Anaerobic → Anoxic → Aerobic → Secondary → Effluent
               ↑          ↑        |           |
               └── IRR ───┼────────┘           |
                          └───── RAS ──────────┘

Troubleshooting ​

IssueSolution
Can't connect unitsCheck port compatibility
Units overlappingUse alignment tools
Connections crossingAdjust routing manually
Labels not showingCheck View > Show Labels
Slow canvasReduce zoom, simplify view

Next Steps ​