2023-2024 / MECA0528-1

Practical fluid mechanics for the process industry

Duration

35h Th, 7h Pr, 4h Labo.

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Chemical and Materials Engineering4 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 estimation of the conditions in an installation, and with the choice and use of machines that exchange mechanical energy with a fluid passing through it. 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; boundary layers; 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; water hammer.

- cavitation : physical phenomenon; damage; cavitation number;

- turbopumps: operation of centrifugal and axial machines, classifications using specific speed; operating characteristics; cavitation; operating point in a circuit and regulation;

Gas machinery

- gas dynamics: speed of sound and Mach number; total conditions; expansions and shocks; 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; efficiencies; operating lines and maps; operating limits: stall, surge and choke;

- 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 and quantify  the performance of fluid machines

- choose fluid machines in function of the duty

- determine the operating point and the regulation strategy in a hydraulic or gas circuit


This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, II.1, II.2, III.1, III.2, IV.1, IV.4, VI.1, VI.2, VII.2, VII.4, VII.5 of the MSc in chemical and material science engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

thermodynamics, fluid mechanics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

  • Course sessions composed of Q&A, theory (3h), the resolution of typical exercises (30') 
  • availability of exercises (including exam questions) and their resolution 
  • lab on measuring the characteristic of a centrifugal pump;
  • fora on theory and exercises on the e-campus site for fast response outside of course sessions

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

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Autonomous preparation of exercises by the student after some examples were elaborated during the course, combined to Q&A sessions. The student also has the elaboration of all exercises in the notes.

Recommended or required readings

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

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

- Remote

written exam ( open-ended questions ) AND oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

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

Work placement(s)

N/A

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

koen.hillewaert@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs