Maximus makes no real distinction between network systems and single-link systems. In fact, all systems are solved as if they are networks and single-link systems are simply treated as a succession of nodes and branches which just happen to be connected in series!
Network Solver is based on a generalised Equation Oriented approach with each equipment item or object supplying to the problem a set of equations. The equations are then assembled into a large non-linear system, the boundary conditions or specifications are imposed and the system is solved simultaneously. The connectivity of objects, which dictates how variables are shared between equations, is all handled automatically in the building of the overall equation set.
Being based on such a generalised approach, Maximus is therefore able to solve a very wide class of network problems. Moreover, this approach also provides considerable flexibility in the way it deals with boundary conditions, allowing the User to select where these are imposed. Two simple examples of this flexibility, which set Maximus apart from other software, are that pressures can be specified at internal nodes on the network (e.g. a manifold pressure could be set) and that source and sink flow rates can be specified at junctions meaning that source and sink type nodes are not restricted to being connected to a single branch:
Maximus is able to solve gathering networks, diverging networks and looped networks, provided that they are physically and mathematically well-posed. But the best way to show this is by example. Please follows the links below to find examples of problems Maximus has solved.