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6.2.3.8 IfcDistributionPort

6.2.3.8.1 Semantic definition

A distribution port is an inlet or outlet of a product through which a particular substance may flow.

Distribution ports are used for passage of solid, liquid, or gas substances, as well as electricity for power or communications. Flow segments (pipes, ducts, cables) may be used to connect ports across products. Distribution ports are defined by system type and flow direction such that for two ports to be connected, they must share the same system type and have opposite flow directions (one side being a SOURCE and the other being a SINK). Ports are similar to openings in that they do not have any visible geometry; such geometry is captured at the shape representation of the enclosing element or element type. Ports may have placement that indicates the position and orientation of the connection.

Ports are assigned the distribution systems in order to indicate its role in a particular system, e.g. cold water inlet.

6.2.3.8.2 Entity inheritance

6.2.3.8.3 Attributes

# Attribute Type Description
IfcRoot (4)
IfcObjectDefinition (7)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (5)
IfcPort (3)
Click to show 24 hidden inherited attributes
IfcDistributionPort (3)
8 FlowDirection OPTIONAL IfcFlowDirectionEnum

Enumeration that identifies if this port is a Sink (inlet), a Source (outlet) or both a SinkAndSource.

9 PredefinedType OPTIONAL IfcDistributionPortTypeEnum

A list of types to further identify the object. Some property sets may be specifically applicable to one of these types.

10 SystemType OPTIONAL IfcDistributionSystemEnum

Enumeration that identifies the system type. If a system type is defined, the port may only be connected to other ports having the same system type.

Table 6.2.3.8.B

6.2.3.8.4 Property sets

  • Pset_DistributionPortCommon
    • PortNumber
    • ColourCode
  • Pset_DistributionPortPHistoryCable CABLE
    • CurrentHistory
    • VoltageHistory
    • RealPower
    • ReactivePower
    • ApparentPower
    • PowerFactorHistory
    • DataTransmitted
    • DataReceived
  • Pset_DistributionPortPHistoryDuct DUCT
    • TemperatureHistory
    • WetBulbTemperatureHistory
    • VolumetricFlowRateHistory
    • MassFlowRateHistory
    • FlowConditionHistory
    • VelocityHistory
    • PressureHisotry
  • Pset_DistributionPortPHistoryPipe PIPE
    • Temperature
    • Pressure
    • Flowrate
  • Pset_DistributionPortTypeCable CABLE
    • ElectricalConnectionType
    • ConnectionSubtype
    • ConnectionGender
    • ConductorFunction
    • CurrentContent3rdHarmonic
    • Current
    • Voltage
    • Power
    • Protocols
    • HasConnector
    • IsWelded
  • Pset_DistributionPortTypeDuct DUCT
    • ConnectionType
    • ConnectionSubtype
    • NominalWidth
    • NominalHeight
    • NominalThickness
    • DryBulbTemperature
    • WetBulbTemperature
    • VolumetricFlowRate
    • Velocity
    • Pressure
  • Pset_DistributionPortTypePipe PIPE
    • ConnectionType
    • ConnectionSubtype
    • NominalDiameter
    • InnerDiameter
    • OuterDiameter
    • Temperature
    • VolumetricFlowRate
    • MassFlowRate
    • FlowCondition
    • Velocity
    • Pressure
  • Pset_Risk
    • RiskName
    • RiskType
    • NatureOfRisk
    • RiskAssessmentMethodology
    • UnmitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • UnmitigatedRiskConsequence
    • UnmitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationPlanned
    • MitigatedRiskLikelihood
    • MitigatedRiskConsequence
    • MitigatedRiskSignificance
    • MitigationProposed
    • AssociatedProduct
    • AssociatedActivity
    • AssociatedLocation
  • Pset_Tolerance
    • ToleranceDescription
    • ToleranceBasis
    • OverallTolerance
    • HorizontalTolerance
    • OrthogonalTolerance
    • VerticalTolerance
    • PlanarFlatness
    • HorizontalFlatness
    • ElevationalFlatness
    • SideFlatness
    • OverallOrthogonality
    • HorizontalOrthogonality
    • OrthogonalOrthogonality
    • VerticalOrthogonality
    • OverallStraightness
    • HorizontalStraightness
    • OrthogonalStraightness
    • VerticalStraightness
  • Pset_Uncertainty
    • UncertaintyBasis
    • UncertaintyDescription
    • HorizontalUncertainty
    • LinearUncertainty
    • OrthogonalUncertainty
    • VerticalUncertainty
  • Pset_WiredCommunicationPortCommon CABLE
    • CommunicationStandard
    • MaximumTransferRate
  • Qto_BodyGeometryValidation
    • GrossSurfaceArea
    • NetSurfaceArea
    • GrossVolume
    • NetVolume
    • SurfaceGenusBeforeFeatures
    • SurfaceGenusAfterFeatures

6.2.3.8.5 Concept usage

Concept Usage Description
IfcRoot (2)
IfcObjectDefinition (9)
IfcObject (5)
IfcProduct (18)
Click to show 34 hidden inherited concepts
IfcDistributionPort (6)
Port Connectivity General

IfcDistributionPort may be connected to other objects as follows using the indicated relationship:

  • IfcDistributionPort (IfcRelConnectsPorts) : Indicates a connection to another port having the same type and opposite flow direction. For port connections between elements, the RelatingPort is set to a port having FlowDirection=SOURCE and the RelatedPort is set to a port having FlowDirection=SINK. For aggregation scenarios, ports on a device may be mapped to aggregated devices within, in which case ports on the outer device indicate a single FlowDirection but have an additional connection internally to a port on an aggregated inner device. Refer to IfcUnitaryEquipment for an example.
  • IfcDistributionElement (through IfcRelConnectsPortToElement): For dynamic ports, indicates the containing element.

Figure 6.2.3.8.A illustrates distribution port connectivity.

Connection Use Definition
Figure 6.2.3.8.A — Distribution port connectivity
Port to Distribution System General

No description available.

Product Assignment General

The IfcDistributionPort may be assigned to the following entities using relationships as indicated:

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Product Local Placement General

The placement of a port indicates the position and orientation of how it may connect to a compatible port on another product. The placement shall be relative to the nesting IfcDistributionElement, IfcDistributionElementType, or enclosing IfcDistributionPort.

The Location is the midpoint of the physical connection, unless otherwise indicated by cardinal point on a material profile.

The Axis points in the direction of the physical connection away from the product if FlowDirection equals SOURCE (or SOURCEANDSINK or NOTDEFINED), or points opposite direction (to the product) if the FlowDirection equals SINK.

The RefDirection points in the direction of the local X axis of the material profile, where the local Y axis points up if looking towards the Axis where the local X axis points right.

Upon connecting elements through ports with rigid connections, each object shall be aligned such that the effective Location, Axis, and RefDirection of each port is aligned to be equal (with exception for circular profiles where the RefDirection need not be equal).

Property Sets for Objects General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Property Sets for Performance General

This concept can be applied to the following resources:

Table 6.2.3.8.C

6.2.3.8.6 Formal representation

ENTITY IfcDistributionPort
SUBTYPE OF (IfcPort);
FlowDirection : OPTIONAL IfcFlowDirectionEnum;
PredefinedType : OPTIONAL IfcDistributionPortTypeEnum;
SystemType : OPTIONAL IfcDistributionSystemEnum;
END_ENTITY;

6.2.3.8.7 References

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6.2.3.8.8 Changelog

6.2.3.8.8.1 IFC4

  • attribute, PredefinedType
  • attribute, SystemType