2020-2021 / MECA0528-1

Fluid Machinery used in the Process Industry

Duration

21h Th, 7h Pr, 4h Labo.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical and Materials Engineering3 crédits 

Lecturer

Koen Hillewaert

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the operation and use of machines that exchange mechanical energy with a fluid passing through it, with a focus on the process industry. This entails considerations for the choice of the machine as a function of its duty; understanding the operating characteristics; the determination of operating conditions in the circuit and the machine; the regulating strategies and the avoidance of possible detrimental operation regimes.
After a short introduction to the taxonomy of the machines, the course consists of 3 parts. A first part consolidates and integrates the preliminary knowledge of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics,  and extends them to their application to rotating fluid machinery.
The subsequent parts then discuss hydraulic and gas machines respectively.
As the course can not cover all aspects or types of fluid machines, the scope is limited. Time is foreseen for additional subjects on request of the students.
General principles
- fluid dynamics and thermodynamics revisited: Navier-Stokes equations, translation of the 1st and 2nd law in the fluid dynamics equations; boundary layers, transition and separation; airfoils;
- dynamic similarity: general approach; use cases; application examples in fluid machinery; classification using non-dimensional numbers;
- fluid mechanics of turbomachinery: computation of torque and power, velocity triangles; role of kinetic energy in the energy exchange between fluid and machine;
Hydraulic machinery:
- hydrodynamics: Bernoulli equation, hydraulic energy, head and total pressure;
- hydraulic circuits: head diagram; minor and major losses; branching; energy balance and efficiency;
- cavitation : physical phenomenon; damage; cavitation number;
- turbopumps: operation of centrifugal and axial machines, classifications using specific speed; internal power balance and efficiencies; operating characteristics; cavitation; operating point in a circuit and regulation;
- volumetric pumps: classification; internal power balance and efficiencies; operating characteristics; cavitation; operating point and regulation in a hydraulic circuit.
Gas machinery
- gas dynamics: speed of sound and Mach number; total conditions; expansions and shocks;
- thermodynamics : h-s and p-v diagrams; isobars, isentropes, polytropes; work and heat exchange;
- circuits: choking and critical conditions; Fanno and Rayleigh flow; shocks; de Laval nozzle;
- similarity applied to gas machinery; corrected conditions;
- turbocompressors: types and operation; Mollier h-s diagram, velocity triangles and efficiencies; operating lines and maps; operating limits: stall, surge and choke;
- volumetric compressors: classification and operation; operating lines; use of operating maps.
- turbo-expanders: classification; operating lines and maps; choke.
On demand
A certain amount of time is kept for discussing subjects in function of the requests by the students. This may include topics in energy production, including hydraulic turbines, wind turbines, the use of fluid machines in Brayton and Rankine cycles and derived cycles; Another class concerns aeronautic propulsion devices. 

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The knowledge and competences targeted by this course are
- understand the operation, the energy balance and the limits of operations of different machine types
- choose and determine the main dimensions of fluid machines in function of the duty
- evaluate energy balances and determine flow conditions in the machine
- determine the operating point and the regulation strategy in a hydraulic or gas circuit
- prevent dangerous operation conditions
 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

thermodynamics, fluid mechanics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Courses on theory and questions; exercises to be prepared by the student; lab on measuring the characteristic of a centrifugal pump; fora on theory and exercises on the e-campus site

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

physical presence, livecast through e-campus blackboard

Organisational adjustments related to the current health context

The course will be organised such as to allow interaction during the session, whether the student is attending the course physically or virtually.
To this end, the course is elaborated live on the computer, with the aid of a graphical tablet, as a replacement to the blackboard. The result is projected on the screen in the class room, transmitted live via the virtual class room on e-campus. The course is also recorded at the same time and made available on e-campus. At any time, the student can intervene for questions or clarifications, ... 
Following the color code 
- yellow: Currently, the class room is sufficiently large to accomodate all students. The student can therefore choose whether to attend physically or virtually.
- orange: if needed, the students wishing to attend the course physically will be distributed over two groups, who will follow the course at two different times.  
- red: the course is organised in the same way with only virtual attendance

Recommended or required readings

Course notes and collection of exercises distributed in pdf form on the e-campus site (will evolve over the year)

Assessment methods and criteria

Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.

Any session :

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

- If evaluation in "hybrid"

preferred remote


Additional information:

lab report (1/3), written exam on exercises (1/3) and oral theory exam (1/3)

Work placement(s)

N/A

Organizational remarks

Contacts

koen.hillewaert@uliege.be