Thermo-Fluid-Dynamic Design of Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders by Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI)

Author(s):  
Riccardo Traversari ◽  
Alessandro Rossi ◽  
Marco Faretra

Pressure losses at the cylinder valves of reciprocating compressors are generally calculated by the classical equation of the flow through an orifice, with flow coefficient determined in steady conditions. Rotational speed has increased in the last decade to reduce compressor physical dimensions, weight and cost. Cylinder valves and associated gas passages became then more and more critical, as they determine specific consumption and throughput. An advanced approach, based on the new Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) software, which allows to deal simultaneously with thermodynamic, motion and deformation phenomena, was utilized to simulate the complex situation that occurs in a reciprocating compressor cylinder during the motion of the piston. In particular, the pressure loss through valves, ducts and manifolds was investigated. A 3D CFD Model, simulating a cylinder with suction and discharge valves, was developed and experimentally validated. The analysis was performed in transient and turbulent condition, with compressible fluid, utilizing a deformable mesh. The 3D domain simulating the compression chamber was considered variable with the law of motion of the piston and the valve rings mobile according to the fluid dynamic forces acting on them. This procedure is particularly useful for an accurate valve loss evaluation in case of high speed compressors and heavy gases. Also very high pressure cylinders, including LDPE applications, where the ducts are very small and MW close to the water one, can benefit from the new method.

Author(s):  
Riccardo Traversari ◽  
Alessandro Rossi ◽  
Marco Faretra

Virtual Prototyping (VP) reproduces a complete machine to test it several times, as a scale 1:1 laboratory prototype. VP utilizes various CAE tools, such as 3D modelling, Structural FEA, Multibody Dynamic Analysis (MDA), Multiaxial fatigue analysis, and Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) in an integrated way. The VP of a rotating machine allows considering a realistic stepless loading pattern throughout the complete revolution and determining automatically the fatigue safety factors within the whole machine structural assembly, while FSI allows dealing simultaneously with thermodynamic, motion and deformation phenomena. This approach was used to review the design of the crank mechanism and cylinders of an existing reciprocating compressor. The loads (including inertia forces) were applied to the gudgeon pin and, by means of the MDA, to all the other components. An advanced approach, based on Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis, was applied for the thermodynamic analysis of the cylinder’s efficiency. A 3D CFD Model, simulating the cylinder with mobile piston and valves, was developed and experimentally validated. The 3D domain simulating the compression chamber changes with the piston motion law while valve rings move according to the fluid dynamic forces.


2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Lavon ◽  
Rotem Halevi ◽  
Gil Marom ◽  
Sagit Ben Zekry ◽  
Ashraf Hamdan ◽  
...  

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common type of congenital heart disease, occurring in 0.5–2% of the population, where the valve has only two rather than the three normal cusps. Valvular pathologies, such as aortic regurgitation and aortic stenosis, are associated with BAVs, thereby increasing the need for a better understanding of BAV kinematics and geometrical characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of the nonfused cusp (NFC) angle in BAV type-1 configuration on the valve's structural and hemodynamic performance. Toward that goal, a parametric fluid–structure interaction (FSI) modeling approach of BAVs is presented. Four FSI models were generated with varying NFC angles between 120 deg and 180 deg. The FSI simulations were based on fully coupled structural and fluid dynamic solvers and corresponded to physiologic values, including the anisotropic hyper-elastic behavior of the tissue. The simulated angles led to different mechanical behavior, such as eccentric jet flow direction with a wider opening shape that was found for the smaller NFC angles, while a narrower opening orifice followed by increased jet flow velocity was observed for the larger NFC angles. Smaller NFC angles led to higher concentrated flow shear stress (FSS) on the NFC during peak systole, while higher maximal principal stresses were found in the raphe region during diastole. The proposed biomechanical models could explain the early failure of BAVs with decreased NFC angles, and suggests that a larger NFC angle is preferable in suture annuloplasty BAV repair surgery.


2016 ◽  
Vol 819 ◽  
pp. 319-325
Author(s):  
Abdalellah Omer Mohmmed ◽  
Mohammad Shakir Nasif ◽  
Hussain Hamoud Al-Kayiem ◽  
Zahid Ibrahim Al-Hashimy

It is well-known that when slug flow occurs in pipes it may result in damaging the pipe line. Therefore it is important to predict the slug occurrence and its effect. Slug flow regime is unsteady in nature and the pipelines conveying it are indeed susceptible to significant cyclic stresses. In this work, a numerical study has been conducted to investigate the interaction between the slug flow and solid pipe. Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) coupling between 3-D Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and 3-D pipeline model code has been developed to assess the stresses on the pipe due to slug flow. Time – dependent stresses results has been analyzed together with the slug characteristic along the pipe. Results revealed that the dynamic behavior of the pipelines is strongly affected by slug parameters. The FSI simulation results show that the maximum stresses occurred close to the pipe supports due to slug flow, where the pipe response to the exerted slug forces is extremely high. These stresses will subsequently cause fatigue damage which is likely reduce the total lifetime of the pipeline. Therefore a careful attention should be made during the design stage of the pipeline to account for these stresses. The system has been investigated under multiple water velocities and constant air velocity, the maximum stress was obtained at the water velocity of 0.505 m/s. Moreover, when the water velocity is increased from 0.502 to 1.003 m/s the maximum stress magnitude is decreased by 1.2% and when it is increased to 1.505 m/s the maximum stress is diminished by 3.6%.


2008 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Ho Kim ◽  
Jae-Woo Lee ◽  
Soo-Hyung Park ◽  
Do-Young Byun ◽  
Yung-Hwan Byun ◽  
...  

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mujahid Badshah ◽  
Saeed Badshah ◽  
Kushsairy Kadir

Tidal Current Turbine (TCT) blades are highly flexible and undergo considerable deflection due to fluid interactions. Unlike Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) models are able to model this hydroelastic behavior. In this work a coupled modular FSI approach was adopted to develop an FSI model for the performance evaluation and structural load characterization of a TCT under uniform and profiled flow. Results indicate that for a uniform flow case the FSI model predicted the turbine power coefficient CP with an error of 4.8% when compared with experimental data. For the rigid blade Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) CFD model this error was 9.8%. The turbine blades were subjected to uniform stress and deformation during the rotation of the turbine in a uniform flow. However, for a profiled flow the stress and deformation at the turbine blades varied with the angular position of turbine blade, resulting in a 22.1% variation in stress during a rotation cycle. This variation in stress is quite significant and can have serious implications for the fatigue life of turbine blades.


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