PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

PE1 Mathematics

ERC 3rd level Code

Research Activities

This laboratory is devoted to the performance analysis of Wells turbines to be included in systems
OWC systems (Oscillating Water Column) for wave energy harvesting.
For these studies a test bench (specifically designed), is used, which reproduces the conditions of
the air flow generated by the wave motion. The entire system is remotely controlled via software,
determining the operating conditions.
The test rig consists of: a suction centrifugal fan controlled by a Variable-Frequency Drive
(VFD); a straight pipe where a diaphragm is housed for flow measurement; a plenum chamber; a
second straight duct in which is located the AC Brushless Servo Systems connected to the torque
transducer (for torque measurement) and to the Wells turbine.

Department

sergio.camporeale@poliba.it

Contact Person

Sergio Mario Camporeale

Companies and Institutions

Università Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria

Facilities

Pressure transducers

AC Brushless Servo Systems

Torque meter

Diaphragms for measuring the flow

FSM Lab

giuseppe.pascazio — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 07:56:33 +0000

FSM Lab giuseppe.pascazio Wed, 02/06/2019 - 08:56

Lab full name

Flow Simulation and modelling of energy systems

ERC 2nd Level Code

PE8_13 Industrial bioengineering

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Research Activities

Modelling and simulation of flows in complex configurations; simulation of the performance of
fluid machines and energy systems.
The research activity concerns in particular:
• combustion modelling in laminar and turbulent flow regimes;
• combustion in the presence of electric fields;
• supersonic and hypersonic flows;
• stability of flows and transition to turbulent regime;
• fluid-structure interaction and biomedical applications;
• turbomachinery.

Department

giuseppe.pascazio@poliba.it

Contact Person

Giuseppe Pascazio

Companies and Institutions

Stanford University

George Washington University

IIT

CIRA

Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers - ParisTech

GE Oil & Gas

GE Avio Aero

Karalit

Roma Tor Vergata

CNR Nanotech - PLASMiLAb

Imperial College

École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

MACI

sergio.camporeale — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 08:13:25 +0000

MACI sergio.camporeale Tue, 02/05/2019 - 09:13

Lab full name

Laboratory for Internal Combustion Engines

ERC 2nd Level Code

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Research Activities

In the area named Ex-Officine Scianatico, thanks to funding from the PrInCE project, the Politecnico di Bari University transferred the soundproof chamber inside of which two test benches housing internal combustion engines (already available). Moreover, a methane pipe has been added, which will allow to carry out studies of small CHP units based on internal combustion engines of automotive derivation.
The first test bench is equipped with a single 500 cm3 cylinder research engine, 4-stroke, spark ignition (with both bore and stroke equal to 86 mm), model 5401 produced by AVL. The engine compression ratio is 10.5: 1. The engine has 4 valves, and a Bosch injector that injects, at closed valves, in the intake duct. The dynamometer consists of an eddy current brake with oscillating cradle and load cell, model System One Alpha 160, rather sophisticated. This implements: oil and water cooling systems (heat exchangers with SIEMENS automated valves); Electric starter (3.2 kW); throttle actuator (stepping motor); Cabinet for cabling of additional acquisition data (Automation Unit); basic data acquisition system (pressure sensors and PT100 thermocouples; pressure transducers and flow switches); internal system for cooling the water of the brake refrigeration system; open access Engine Control Unit (ECU) with maps for early injection and spark ignition and injection, which can be changed in real-time; acquisition system of the indicated cycle; gravimetric balance.
The second test bench is as follows: an eddy AVL Alpha 240 (maximum output current: 240kW, maximum speed: n = 10000rpm); HBM U2A load cell for detecting the torque; feeder LSE AVL 435 for the excitation of the dynamometer; loop detection; detecting the composition of exhaust gas; fuel system. The engine currently under investigation is an Alfa Romeo 2.4 JTD 10V, 5-cylinder, one head camshaft (motor code AR32501; 2387cm3; 90.4mm stroke; 82mm bore; compression ratio 18.5:1; maximum power 100kW @ 4200rpm, maximum torque 304Nm @ 2000rpm; Bosch’s direct fuel injection system with an electronic "Common Rail" controller, EDC-15C.

Department

sergio.camporeale@poliba.it

Contact Person

Sergio Mario Camporeale

Technical Staff

Vito Mele

vito.mele@poliba.it

Companies and Institutions

Bosch

ETAS

Facilities

λ-probe for the analysis of the correct combustion ratio;

piezoelectric pressure transducer for measuring the pressure in the combustion chamber;

measuring system for the braking torque;

encoders for measuring the angular position of the crankshaft;

air flow meter for measuring the mass flow rate in the intake duct;

balance for the gravimetric measurement of the fuel consumption;

acquisition system of electrical ignition and fuel injection signals;

Indicated cycle acquisition system elaborated in LabVIEW environment

HBM U2A load cell for the torque detection;

feeder LSE AVL 435 for the excitation of the dynamometer;

AVL Angular encoder 365x (with notches 720, notches 2 per degree);

Detection system for the composition of exhaust gas (AVL DiGas 4000 for the exhaust gases; AVL 415SE for the smokiness)

Fuel supply system (Libra gravimetric AVL 733S)

conditioning system AVL 753C;

Module AVL Compact I/O Cube with a mix of digital and analog output and input channels, other channels suitable for thermocouples;

AVL FlexIFem Advanced 2P1x Piezo Amplifier Series;

Services

Tests on engine performance

Tests on fuels

Address / How to reach us

Via Amendola 132 ( ex Scianatico)

Hours

from 9.00 to 18.00 after contact by mail

GAVE Lab

sergio.camporeale — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 08:06:40 +0000

GAVE Lab sergio.camporeale Tue, 02/05/2019 - 09:06

Lab full name

Wind tunnel laboratory

ERC 2nd Level Code

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Research Activities

The subsonic closed loop wind tunnel of the GAVE Lab has a 1 meter squared test section.
The wind tunnel is of rectangular shape, is 30 m long, and has a sufficient length to ensure the uniformity of the flow across the test section. The wind tunnel can be divided into four different zones: the first zone (downstream the test section) includes a diverging portion of increasing rectangular section, whose task is to recover part of the kinetic energy; two (90deg) curves follow, guiding the flow toward the inlet of the fan. Upstream the fan, orifices are provided in order to prevent the wind tunnel pressurization due to the air heating during steady state operation. The second zone is constituted by the axial fan, which is driven by a three-phase AC motor (55kW) mounted on a special cradle inside the cylindrical duct which encloses the impeller. The possibility to adjust the engine rotation speed by means of a Variable-Frequency Drive (VFD), allows one to obtain variable speed in the test section, and then to recreate different operating conditions. The third zone, located downstream the fan, includes other two curves (this time with guide vanes), that allow the curvature of the flow without introducing flow distortions or significant secondary flows. Finally, a convergent duct (with a contraction ratio equal to 4:1) accelerates the flow up to the rated speed on the input section of the test area (this is subsonic wind tunnel, then air can be considered incompressible). Upstream the convergent there is an "honeycomb", in order to make the flow uniform (elimination of any macro-turbulence). The last zone is constituted by the test section composed with side walls made of transparent polycarbonate. This material allows one the use of non-intrusive laser measurements. Moreover, its structure consists of a Rexroth aluminum frame. In the test section, a three-axis Cartesian robot controls the position of a hot-wire probe for measuring the wind speed. The upper closure panel of the test volume is formed, therefore, by two polycarbonate half-panels, between which is inserted the wind speed probe; the two panels are movable, in order to allow the horizontal displacement of this probe.
The three-axis Cartesian robot is basically composed of the following elements: stepper motors; control and driving boards; profiles and guides (traversing).

Department

sergio.camporeale@poliba.it

Contact Person

Sergio Mario Camporeale

Facilities

Dantec Streamline system

2D Dantec LDA System with beam expander

PIV Stereoscopic System Dantec;

AC Brushless Servo Systems SanyoDenki

Services

Characterization of prototypes of wind turbines

Aerodynamic characterization of wing profiles

Address / How to reach us

LIC ( Valenzano - S.P. Valenzano Casamassima, Km.3 - 70010)

Hours

from 9.00 to 18.00 after contact by mail

OLEODINAMICA Lab

antonio.lippolis — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 11:10:45 +0000

OLEODINAMICA Lab antonio.lippolis Mon, 02/04/2019 - 12:10

Lab full name

OLEODINAMICA Laboratory

ERC 2nd Level Code

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Department

antonio.lippolis@poliba.it

Contact Person

Antonio Donato Lippolis

Address / How to reach us

Viale del Turismo 74100 TARANTO

Hours

On request

LACO

marco.torresi — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 09:01:46 +0000

LACO marco.torresi Mon, 02/04/2019 - 10:01

Lab full name

Combustion Laboratory

ERC 2nd Level Code

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Research Activities

The MILD (Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution) combustion laboratory is one of the laboratories of the Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management (DMMM). The test rig can be conducted either under conventional combustion conditions, with air as oxidizing gas, or using an air-flue gas mixture with varying levels of exhaust gas and different temperature levels, in such a way as to obtain a MILD combustion. The rig is equipped with automatic control systems capable of varying the mass flow rates, the dilution factors, as well as the thermal power.
The system consists of:
•   A balanced draft test rig for the execution of experimental campaigns aimed to the observation of both conventional and MILD combustion processes;
•   Two burners: an experimental burner with an 80 kWt load capacity and a 200 kWt auxiliary fueled by natural gas. The experimental burner can be fueled by liquid diesel oil or gaseous natural gas and is able to operate under both conventional or MILD combustion regimes;
•   Two fans (a blower and discharge fan), both regulated by a Variable-Frequency Drive (VFD), capable of controlling the air mass flow rate and the flue gas recirculation together with the pressure inside the combustion chamber;
•   The exhaust gas cooling system based on a shall and tube heat exchanger.

A facility of the MILD combustion lab is represented by the transesterification plant for the production of bio-diesel from vegetable oils to be used as fuel in the experimental burner.

Department

Contact Person

Marco Torresi

marco.torresi@poliba.it

Technical Staff

Vito Mele

Companies and Institutions

CCA

Ansaldo Boilers

Itea

ICMEA

Facilities

Control and data acquisition system;

Personal computer for the acquisition and management of dynamic data

Sampling and conditioning systems for the gravimetric measurement of the particulate matter (PM) with the lower limit PM 2.5

Impedance tube for the acoustic characterization of burners

Services

tests on burners, operating both in conventional and combustion MILD (flameless), with a maximum power of less than 80-100 kWt

Address / How to reach us

Via Amendola 132 ( ex Scianatico)

Hours

from 9.00 to 18.00 after contact by mail

HPT Lab

marco.torresi — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 10:03:00 +0000

HPT Lab marco.torresi Mon, 01/28/2019 - 11:03

Lab full name

Laboratory for hydraulic pumps and turbines

ERC 2nd Level Code

ERC 3rd level Code

PE8_5 Fluid mechanics, hydraulic-, turbo-, and piston engines

Research Activities

The lab is constituted by a closed-loop rig for experimental tests and studies on hydraulic pumps, turbines and PAT (Pumps As Turbines). Due to the possibility to test pumps both in direct and reverse mode, two hydraulic circuits can be set by acting ON/OFF valves. The turbo machinery under investigation is installed in the test section where it is directly coupled with a DC motor controlled by a four-quadrant converter. The electric machine works as motor during “pump test” and generator during “turbine test”. The test section is provided by a special platform with a rail system, allowing the investigation of turbomachinery of different size.
During “turbine tests”, a booster pump, driven by another DC motor, supplies the hydraulic energy through pipelines to the turbine. In this case, the motor that drives the booster pump is partially powered by the turbine.
The operating range of the test rig is defined by H-Q characteristics of the booster pump and the constant power line corresponding to the maximum capacity of the loading generator.
-   Turbine tests:
•   Max test head equal to 280 mH2O.
•   Max discharge equal to 650 m3/h.
•   Max rotational speed of the testing machine: 2400 RPM
•   Max power equal to 480 kW
-   Pump tests:
•   Max test head equal to 270 mH2O.
•   Max discharge equal to 350 m3/h.
•   Max rotational speed of the testing machine: 2400 RPM
•   Max power equal to 480 kW

The test rig is equipped with a surge tank with a capacity of 8 m3 and an air pressure control system that can increase the absolute pressure up to 11 bar(abs). In the case of cavitation tests, a vacuum pump can reduce the absolute tank pressure to 0.2 bar(abs);
During machine characterization, a closed loop cooling system controls the water temperature in the test rig (25 ± 0,1 °C);
The test rig is equipped by a control and the data logging system, installed in a control room.
Another open-loop hydraulic circuit is used to study and test turbines for low head hydropower applications.

Department