Where published:International Compressor Engineering Conference 2010
Year:2010
Screw compressors are mature products used broadly in industrial applications. Similar technology is applied for industrial expanders, pumps, vacuum pumps… Mathematical models of various complexities have been developed through decades. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is regarded the most modern technique which proved suitable for fundamental and applied research of these machines. This paper is review of the work in this area. Case studies show the scope and applicability of CFD in screw machines. Examples include prediction of flow generated noise in screw machines, cavitation modelling in gear pumps, and flow in multiphase oil and gas pumps. Additionally, test programme carried out with Laser Dopler Velocimetry to measure velocity distribution in screw compressor flow domains is presented. It provided data for verification of CFD predictions and suggested areas of research including evaluation of turbulence modelling can provide more accurate and faster CFD calculations.