Fluid Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Research Topics : Fluid Mechanics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Computational Fluid Dynamics, in short CFD, is the technology aimed at the computer simulation of flows of liquids and gases.
It is presently applied widely in research and industry, in all areas where the motion of fluids are important.
In particular, aerodynamics, aerospace, hydraulics, environmental studies of air and water pollution dispersion and transport,
wind energy, automotive industry, turbomachinery, combustion, chemical processes, heat exchangers, etc... The research group has a broad experience in CFD,
in algorithmic developments as well as in pre-and post-processing tools, such as grid generation and visualisation software systems.
Turbomachinery
The Department has a large expertise in the area of internal flows in turbomachinery, compressors, pumps,
turbines, both at the experimental as well as at the numerical simulation levels.
Experimental studies and modelisation of Turbulence
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Experimental tunnel for turbulence research
with a deformable upper wall
(length 8m, test section 1.4m x 0.4m) |
Turbulence is a major component of practically all flow situations
encountered in nature and in technology and is characterised by an
unstable stochastic behaviour of all flow quantities, such as velocity, pressure, temperature.
The experimental study of turbulence and its modelisation are one of the most challenging subjects of present
day fluid mechanics. On the experimental side, the department has 2 windtunnels and a non-intrusive LDA measurement system
with which detailed studies of the turbulence quantities have been performed.
On the modeling side, the department focuses on the implementation and use of large Eddy Simulation techniques.
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| Laser Doppler System with Test Bench and
Axial Test Pump in Test Bench with LDS probe
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Wind Energy
The Department has been active in wind energy for many years and has developed and designed vertical and horizontal
wind turbines. Also, we have been instrumenting and measuring many large scale industrial wind turbines ranging from 50 kW up to 2000 kW.
In addition various computer programmes for the static and dynamic behaviour of Wind Turbines have been developed.
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Low speed tunnel for industrial aerodynamics
(length 12m, test section 2m x 1m)
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The Department has two large wind tunnels, one of which is dedicated to the study of wind effects on buildings
and structures, such as bridges, tall buildings or other constructions. Recent studies included the tower of the
City Hall of Brussels, the flow in the Boudewijn Stadium, and a testing hall for Sabena, flow measurements in baffles
of portable compressor groups. All Most of these activities have beenare supported by a large number of
national and European research projects, as well as by industrial contracts and projects.
Research Topics : Thermodynamics
Energy technology assesment
The group has been involved in technology assessment studies since 1991,
with different studies regarding future energy production in Belgium (federal government),
and renewable energy more in particular (Electrabel, Flemish government, federal AMPERE end ENERGY 2030 commissions).
Recently, assessment of liquid biofuels is initiated through a federal project in cooperation with UCL and 3E engineering.
Second law analysis
An original two step design procedure for power cycles has been developed and succesfully applied
to evaporative gas turbine cycles (REVAP®), CO2 semi-closed cycles, cycles with chemical recovery,
and more recently on the inclusion of biomass in natural gas combined cycles through indirect steam reforming (patent pending).
Inclusion of chemical reactors in pinch analysis has been developed and applied in the chemical looping gas turbine cycles.
Energy from biomass
With support from the EC, the Flemish Government (VLIET) and the region of Brussels,
a 500 kWe biomass power plant has been built on the VUB University campus.
The plant aimed at demonstrating the external firing of a product gas from
biomass gasification in a gas turbine. It has been operated successfully till 1996.
A small scale cyclone type biomass combustor is currently under development,
aiming at combustion of small granulometries and low emissions (twister).
As a result from external combustion activity, a new cycle layout has been
proposed to replace 5% of natural gas in combined cycles power plants, without
major loss in efficiency (patent pending). A proof of concept is under development on a 100kWe scale in the lab.
Combustion
Fundamental work in the field of
combustion consists in the modeling of emissions with emphasis on nitrogen oxides.
Starting from detailed kinetic modeling improved engineering correlations are searched
which should predict tendencies in emissions, in function of major combustion parameters.
This work occurs in parallel with detailed experiments a
flat adiabatic flame burner where flame speed, temperature and composition are measured.
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