Fluid Mechanics

Successful problem solving in fluid mechanics has traditionally involved two approaches, experimental and theoretical. Foundations for the experimental approach were laid in the 17th and 18th century, while the 18th and 19th centuries saw the development of the theoretical approach. Today, many companies are turning to numerical methods implemented on digital computers in analyzing and solving problems in fluid mechanics.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become an integral part of the engineering design and analysis environment at MechAssociates. MechAssociates utilizes CFD technology in combination with a theoretical and experimental approach in providing clients with a full spectrum of capabilities. Expert application of CFD in combination with experimental and theoretical modeling is overcoming many of the challenges presented by previously unsolvable problems.

• Multiphase/multicomponent flows
  
• Turbulence modeling
  
• Pulsation/acoustics
  
• Fluid/structure interaction
  
• Mass & heat transfer
  
• Chemical reaction/combustion
  
• Mixing
  
• Optimization
  

In keeping with a tradition of maintaining state-of-the-art leading edge capabilities, our mechanical engineering consultants employ powerful computer hardware, data acquisition hardware, test hardware, and software in solving clients' challenging problems.

• 64 bit Opteron 32-processor Linux cluster
  
• High-end Unix & Windows workstations
  
• Select commercial software
  
• In-house codes
  
• Computational Fluid Dynamics Software
  
• Computerized data acquisition and analysis equipment
  
• Diagnostic and test instrumentation for in-plant measurements
  

Why Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)?

CFD is the tool of choice for many problems involving fluid mechanics, heat transfer, or chemical reaction. It is often infeasible to capture all of the relevant physics experimentally within typical cost and time constraints and physical measurements often do not give a complete picture of why a particular design does or does not work. The highly detailed results of a CFD simulation allow visualization of flow patterns in even the most inaccessible locations of a complex flow system. Understanding the characteristics of fluid flow associated with a product or process can give tremendous insight into improving product or process performance, troubleshooting existing problems, and provide significant opportunity for cost-cutting and innovation.

What is CFD?

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a numerical procedure where the region of interest or problem domain is divided into a large number of cells or control volumes also know as a mesh or grid. The partial differential equations describing the physics of the fluid flow, the Navier-Stokes equations, are rewritten as algebraic equations that relate the values of pressure, velocity, temperature, volume fraction, and other variables, to the values in neighboring cells. These equations are solved numerically on a digital computer to give a complete picture of the state of the flow.

How can MechAssociates solve your problem?

Petrochemical/Refining….

Recent advances in CFD technology have made it possible to analyze problems of greater complexity that are often seen in the petrochemical and refining industries. Problems involving reaction, multiphase flows, and large complicated flow domains can now be solved to give greater insight. Over the last few years, many petrochemical and refining companies have achieved payback many times the relatively small cost of analysis by moving aggressively to utilize CFD in a broad range of applications.

• Multiphase/multicomponent flows
  
• Mass & heat transfer
  
• Chemical reaction/combustion
  
• Mixing
  
• Cavitation
  
• Cyclones
  
• Distillation trays
  
• Environmental analysis
  
• Erosion
  
• Filtration
  
• Flares
  
• Fluid handling
  
• Fluidized beds
  
• Gas dispersion and accumulation
  
• Gas lift devices
  
• Hazard assessment
  
• Packed beds
  
• Pollutant control
  
• Polymerization
  
• Polymer processing
  
• Reacting flow
  
• Reactor design
  
• Rotating machinery
  
• Separation equipment
  
• Sloshing tanks
  
• Smoke dispersions
  
• Tank filling
  
• Ventilation
  

Computational fluid dynamics can be used to improve yield, increase longevity, decrease downtime, increase capacity and improve efficiency. Some of the measurable results CFD can provide include:

• increasing yield by improving flows in fluidized bed reactors
  
• increasing yield by optimizing separator cyclones
  
• reducing operating costs through improvements in valve and heat exchanger designs
  
• increasing efficiency of packed bed reactor by assessing uniformity of flow and investigating design improvements
  
• improving performance in stirred tank reactors
  

Power Generation

In the increasingly competitive energy market, utilities and equipment manufacturers alike are turning to CFD to give them the technological advantage which comes from a better understanding of their equipment and processes. Whether simulating the reacting flow in a furnace or the hydraulics in a turbine, CFD presents a complete picture of its operation. With this information, you can identify areas where there are deficiencies, and more importantly, establish their causes. This knowledge can help to direct design improvements or operating strategies which you can test with the CFD model before they are implemented.

• Boilers
  
• Burners
  
• Combustors
  
• Duct flows
  
• Incinerators
  
• Silencers
  
• Turbomachinery

Oil & Gas

The flow simulation needs in the oil and gas industry are diverse, complex, and challenging. Environmental concerns, location, hostile environment, and high costs along with high risk dictate a high level of reliability and safety in engineered products. MechAssociates provides predictive analysis using CFD over many disciplines. The effective use of CFD provides tremendous insight into product and system performance as offshore operators venture into greater and greater water depths. Our mechanical engineering consultants are committed to furthering the use and development of CFD in the offshore oil and gas industry.

• Wind and wave loading on offshore structures
  
• Gas dispersion and accumulation
  
• Oil and pollutant dispersion
  
• Hazard assessment
  
• Sloshing in offshore seperators
  
• Accident survivability
  
• Propulsion optimization
  
• Air quality
  
• Downhole analysis
  
• Emission control
  
• Pipeline flow
  
• Erosion
  
• Reaction
  
• Separation
  
• Fluid-structure interaction
  
• Vortex-induced vibration