Turbomachinery Preliminary Design Software Functionalities

AxSTREAM®
Introduction

The Preliminary Design set of modules includes:

  • Solution Generator that is used to produce a number of flow path geometries (solutions) for subsonic, transonic and supersonic flows that satisfy user-defined boundary conditions and geometric parameters within given constraints while accounting for real fluid properties (See Fluid Toolbox);
  • Design Space Explorer to review machine characteristics (geometry, performance, flow conditions) for all the designs generated;
  • Post-Design tool to further optimize the selected geometry.
Turbomachines of Interest

AxSTREAM-ModuleDepending on the license(s) available, machines that can be created using the Preliminary Design modules of AxSTREAM® include:

  • Axial turbines
  • Axial compressors
  • Axial pumps
  • Single-stage axial fans / blowers
  • Multi-stage axial fans
  • Axial hydraulic turbines
  • Single-stage radial turbines
  • Multi-stage radial inflow turbines
  • Multi-stage radial outflow turbines
  • Radial compressors
  • Radial pumps;
  • Single-stage radial fans / blowers
  • Multi-stage radial fans
  • Radial hydraulic turbines
  • Radial-axial turbines
  • Axial-radial compressors / pumps
  • Mixed-flow (diagonal) compressors

A unified interface between machines allows users to learn a single user-experience while machine-specific equations run in the background.

AxSTREAM® can design single-stage, multi-stage and multi-module turbomachines with special machine-specific design features (see information in the blue box below) to ensure maximum flexibility as well as optimized calculation and post-processing times.

Solver, Data Input as Ranges and Design Space Explorer

AxSTREAM-SolverThe inverse solver allows the generation of large amounts of designs in a short span of time (up to dozens of thousands of geometries created per min) and is coupled to an optimizer to seek sets of parameters resulting in higher performances and ensures that the geometry selected for detailed design is already as optimized as it can be at the 1D level.

This is made possible due to the inputs being provided as ranges rather than fixed values, wherever desired. These ranges can then be analyzed in the Design Space Explorer tool to allow users to search for optimal values based on performance, size, manufacturability, etc.

In addition, filters can be applied to keep only geometries that fit user-defined criteria to eventually select the one design that provides the best compromise of performance vs size, for example. The design space can even be exported to a spreadsheet format for additional post-processing.

Moreover, Preliminary Design default settings allow getting as close to the final geometry as possible by including shrouds and seals information or clearance data, for example.

Add-On: Results Validation and Geometries Comparison at Design and Off-Design Conditions

AxSTREAM-resultAxSTREAM®’s Preliminary Design modules also include a meanline direct solver which is enabled when the Meanline or Streamline license is available and allows validating the performances obtained for each geometry at design and off-design conditions. This makes it very convenient to compare performances across the entire range of operation (from surge / stall to choke, for example) as well as operation ranges themselves (surge margin comparison, for example). Note that in order to study off-design conditions the AxMAP license is required.

Preliminary Design for Redesign Tasks

The AxSTREAM® Preliminary Design modules do not only allow creating geometries from scratch. Indeed, they can also be used to redesign or optimize some existing machines. This is done by setting appropriate parameters depending on the level of redesign/optimization desired and can range between maintaining the number of stages, axial and radial dimensions, blade heights, etc.

Available Preliminary Design Modules by Machine Type :

Axial TurbineAxial PumpAxial CompressorAxial Fan Centrifugal CompressorCentrifugal PumpCentrifugal FanIntegrally Geared CompressorMixed Flow CompressorMixed Flow TurbineMulti-Stage Centrifugal CompressorMulti-Stage Centrifugal PumpRadial Turbine
Axial Turbine Preliminary Design

The AxSTREAM® Axial Turbine Preliminary Design software module can deal with Steam, Gas, ORC and sCO2 Turbines for single-species fluids and mixtures. Specific diameter can be selected as desired.

Combinations of HP, IP & LP cylinders can be designed, with or without any pre-loaded profiles (special ATLAS profile database license required), for cylindrical or twisted blades, while optimizing amount of impulse/reaction, based only on the initial boundary conditions and sets of constraints.

Axial Pump Preliminary Design

The AxSTREAM® Axial Pump Preliminary Design software module can deal with the conceptual design of any number of axial pump stages for any incompressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). IGV and OGV can be created and the flow path specific diameter can be selected as desired.

Axial Compressor Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Axial Compressor Preliminary Design software module can deal with the conceptual design of any number of axial compressor stages for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). IGV and OGV can be created and the flow path specific diameter can be selected as desired.

Axial Fan Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Axial Fan Preliminary Design software module can deal with the conceptual design of single-stage axial fans for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). The flow path specific diameter can be selected as desired.

Centrifugal Compressor Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Centrifugal Compressor Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of single-stage centrifugal compressors for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible.

Centrifugal Pump Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Centrifugal Pump Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of single-stage centrifugal pumps for any incompressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible.

Centrifugal Fan Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Centrifugal Fan Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of single-stage centrifugal fans for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless. Creation of splitter blades is also possible.

Integrally Geared Compressor Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Integrally-Geared Centrifugal Compressor Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of multi-stage multi-shaft centrifugal compressors for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible.

Mixed Flow Compressor Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Mixed-Flow Compressor Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of combinations of axial and centrifugal stages for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures). Impellers may be axial, axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible and use of IGV is possible.

Mixed Flow Turbine Preliminary Design Module

Radial and axial stages can be designed separately or together to search for most efficient distribution of pressure ratio, rotation speed, etc. while accounting for overall machine size for any compressible fluid. Configurations with and without inlet volutes (different volute types are available) and nozzles can be designed.

Multi-Stage Centrifugal Compressor Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Multi-Stage Centrifugal Compressor Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of multi-stage centrifugal compressors for any compressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures) on a shaft. Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible and use of IGV is possible.

Multi-Stage Centrifugal Pump Preliminary Design Module

The AxSTREAM® Multi-Stage Centrifugal Pump Preliminary Design software module can perform the conceptual design of multi-stage centrifugal pumps for any incompressible fluid (single-species fluids and mixtures) on a shaft. Impellers may be axial-radial, radial or diagonal, diffusors can be vaned or vaneless and volutes can be designed as well. Creation of splitter blades is also possible and use of IGV is possible.

Radial Turbine Preliminary Design Module

Radial configurations with and without inlet volutes (different volute types are available) and nozzles can be designed and users can choose to design for inlet metal angle or incidence angle for the impeller, for any compressible fluid.