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Ingeciber, S.A. Av. Monforte de Lemos, 189. 28035 – Madrid. Spain Phone: +34 91 386 2222 C.I.F.:A-78348950 www.ingeciber.com [email protected]

Your engineering partner

FEM structural analysis and seismic qualification of a power transformer

Mechanical Engineering and CFD analysis Department

Consultancy jobs descriptions and case studies

April 2017 Ed.

http://www.ingeciber.com/

mailto:[email protected]

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Your Engineering Partner

INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION TO INGECIBER ....................................................................................... 4

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS .......................................... 5

2.1 CONSULTANCY ........................................................................................................................................ 5

2.2 EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................................. 5

3. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................ 6

4. CONSULTANCY JOBS DESCRIPTION & PROJECT´S REFERENCE ............................. 7

4.1 THERMAL, STRUCTURAL AND FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF A HEAT EXCHANGER. ASME VIII DIV.2 P5 .......... 8

4.2 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A TRUNNION VALVE IN VARIOUS OPERATION CASES ................................. 9

4.3 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF A DRY TRANSFORMER ............................................................................. 10

4.4 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF GAS ANALYZERS ....................................................................................... 11

4.5 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF AN AIR VALVE .......................................................................................... 12

4.6 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF A VALVE ACTUATOR ................................................................................ 13

4.7 SEISMIC ANALYSIS OF VALVE: DUNKIRK LNG TERMINAL PLANT ........................................................... 14

4.8 STATIC STRUCTURAL & LINEAR BUCKLING ANALYSIS OF AN ELEVATOR´S STRUCTURE ........................ 15

4.9 ANALYSIS OF A BIG DIMENSION CIRCULAR SUPPORT BEAM ................................................................ 16

4.10 VIBRATIONAL ANALYSIS OF A GAS OIL STORAGE COLUMN .................................................................. 17

4.11 VIBRATIONAL ANALYSIS CRYOPLANT BUILDING ITER. FUSION FOR ENERGY ........................................ 18

4.12 ANALYSIS OF AN OFF-SHORE PLATAFORM'S BEDPLATE ....................................................................... 19

4.13 HELICOPTER PLATFORM WITH NONLINEAR CONTACT ......................................................................... 20

4.14 EARTHQUAKE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT ......................................................................... 21

4.15 STRUCTURAL & FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF A CONDENSER ACCORDING TO ASME VIII DIV.2 ..................... 22

4.16 STRUCTURAL & FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF AN INDUSTRIAL EXCHANGER FOLLOWING ASME VIII DIV.2 ... 23

4.17 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A BUOY THAT TRANSFORMS WAVE ENERGY INTO ELECTRIC POWER ....... 24

4.18 INNOVATIVE NUMERICAL METHODOLOGIES FOR STRUCTURAL OPTIMIZATION ................................. 25

4.19 FSI ANALYSIS OF A PROTOTYPE VESSEL FOR WASTE TREATMENT ........................................................ 26

4.20 CFD STUDY OF A DRONE AIRCRAFT ....................................................................................................... 27

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4.21 CFD STUDY OF EXHAUST GASES IN A POWER TURBINE ........................................................................ 28

4.22 CFD ANALYSIS USING CFD++ OF A SEPARATOR VESSEL OF HYDROCARBONS ....................................... 29

4.23 CFD VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF A HOWELL-BUNGER VALVE INSTALLED AT A DAM ................................ 30

4.24 FLOW AND AERATION STUDY IN A WWTP REACTOR ............................................................................ 31

4.25 WIND ACTION IN A WIND TURBINE FIELD ............................................................................................. 32

4.26 WIND ACTION ON A SOLAR PLANT ....................................................................................................... 33

4.27 ANALYSIS OF WIND EFFECT ON AN HELIOSTAT .................................................................................... 34

4.28 CFD STUDY OF CHANNELING INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................... 35

4.29 CFD STUDY OF A STORAGE AND PUMPING POOL ................................................................................. 36

4.30 ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF AN EXPLOSION'S EXPANSIVE WAVE ................................................ 37

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1. INTRODUCTION TO INGECIBER

INGECIBER S.A. is a pioneering company in the field of calculations using mathematical

models, also known as Computer Aided Engineering (CAE). Established in 1986, Ingeciber’s

main business was the use, distribution, technical support and training of users of the FEM

software ANSYS for 25 years. For five years, Ingeciber has performed the same activities

with the FEM software PATRAN/ MSC NASTRAN and now Ingeciber distributes a Structural

FEM software called CivilFEM.

CivilFEM, FEM software developed by Ingeciber, emerged by using ANSYS’s own

programming for the civil calculations performed in the company a globally unique

customization of ANSYS for Civil Engineering analyses. Since 2010, Ingeciber has also been

developing a new version of the software called CivilFEM powered by Marc, the first version

of which came out on 2015.

Ingeciber business lines

INGECIBER S.A, after 30 years of offering CAE services, has a team of more than 30 highly-

qualified professionals, of whom 85% of them are engineers, and more than 1,000

companies have hired our services so far. A charter member of Technet-Alliance – an

association made up of more than 50 CAE companies located in 22 countries, with more

than 2,500 CAE engineers-, Ingeciber offers continuous development of new CAE

technologies and their practical application in the calculations and projects we perform.

CONSULTANCY

MECHANICALEngineering

CFD

CIVILEngineering

CAE Software DISTRIBUTION

MECHANICAL CAE software

CFD software

CIVIL CAE software

EDUCATION

Int'l UNED-Ingeciber

FEA MASTER'S

ICAEEC

FEA e-learning platform

CAE onsitetraining

Software DEVELOPMENT

CivilFEMpowered by MARC

CivilFEMfor ANSYS

R&D PROJECTS

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2. INTRODUCTION TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENTS

2.1 CONSULTANCY

Ingeciber has two engineering departments, the Mechanical and CFD Engineering

department and the Civil Engineering department. The engineering departments have dealt

with different projects using FEM and CFD software, such as structural analyses, heat

transfer, fluid analysis using CFD software, electromagnetism, rigid/flexible solid mechanics

– mechanical systems, etc. The industries and sectors related to these analyses have been

Petrochemical Industry, Oil & Gas sector, Water Industry and Renewable Energy. Some

examples of the work performed by the Mechanical and CFD Engineering department are

shown in following sections of this paper.

The FEM and CFD software available for the engineering departments to use to perform

these analyses are: ANSYS, CivilFEM for ANSYS, CivilFEM powered by Marc, CFD++, XFlow

and modeFRONTIER.

2.2 EDUCATION

International online FEA Master's program of UNED

For over twenty-two years, Ingeciber has collaborated with UNED University on the

International Master’s in Theoretical and Practical Application of the Finite Element Method

and CAE Simulation, and more than 3,600 students have graduated.

The Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments of Ingeciber are in charge of the

Specialized Module’s application and practical subjects of Dynamic Analysis, Nonlinear

Analysis, Heat Transfer Analysis, Advanced Steel Structures Analysis, Composites, Fluid

Mechanics, Advanced Concrete Structures Analysis and Geotechnics.

The global interest received for this Master´s Program motivated us to expand it into

English. By partnering with local companies who help support and promote this program

within their specific regions, we have made participating and studying this program possible

from anywhere in the world. This demonstrates that UNED´s Master’s FEA program has

obtained worldwide acceptance and prestige.

Complete information about the Master’s is available at www.uned.es/mastermef

http://www.uned.es/mastermef

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International online CAE Education CENTER – ICAEEC

The goal of this online International Education CENTER created by Ingeciber is to

develop a new series of online CAE Power courses based on industry standard tools using

real world examples that provide students with real experience that they can use in the

workplace.

Unlike OEM based training courses, which are built around theoretical exercises, ICAEEC

Power CAE courses are designed to give students the practical knowledge and skills needed

to perform complex engineering analysis at their job.

Complete information about ICAEEC is available at www.icaeec.com

3. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

More information about the different business lines of Ingeciber is available at the websites

shown below:

Ingeciber website: www.ingeciber.com

CivilFEM website: www.civilfem.com

Int’l UNED-Ingeciber FEA Master’s: www.uned.es/mastermef

Int’l online CAE Education CENTER: www.icaeec.com

Ingeciber Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ingeciber

Ingeciber Twitter: @Ingeciber. https://twitter.com/Ingeciber

http://www.icaeec.com/

http://www.ingeciber.com/

http://www.civilfem.com/

http://www.uned.es/mastermef

http://www.icaeec.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ingeciber

https://twitter.com/Ingeciber

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4. CONSULTANCY JOBS DESCRIPTION & PROJECT´S REFERENCE

•Supports & Frameworks

•Outstanding Structures

•Machinery's specific components

•Linear & nonlinear buckling

•Fatigue - cyclic load analysis

•Spectrum analysis. Seismic qualifications.

•Blast furnace component analysis

•Industrial plant component analysis following regulatory compliance

•Maximun stress analysis following ASME VIII Div. 2

•Structural loads, ratcheting and cyclic loading following ASME VIII Div. 2

•Thermal exchangers, aircooler and condenser analysis

•Pressure Vessels

•Analysis following regulatory compliance (RCC-MR, EN-13445, etc.)

•CFD analysis

Mechanical analysis

synopsis

•Nonlinear materials (plasticity, hyperelasticity, etc.)

•Structural instabilities (nonlinear buckling)

•Friction and frictionless contacts between components

•Geometric nonlinear analysis

•Composites

•Bolt analysis

Structuralnonlinear analysis

•Modal analysis

•Harmonic analysis

•Lineal and nonlinear transient analysis

•Spectrum analysis. Seismic qualifications.

•Free vibration analysis (PSD)

•Rotordynamic

StructuralDynamic analysis

•Themal isolation analysis of Pipes

•Thermal isolation design of train black boxes: Outstanding solutions.

•Thermal cycle simulations in air cooling systems for automotive industry.

•Testing storage design for dissipation system and material property characterization.

•Thermal analysis of valves.

• Fire fighting door thermal-structural analysis.

• Thermal analysis of cryogenic systems

Thermal

analysis

•External aerodynamic CFD analyses: aircrafts, wind turbines, buildings, etc

•Internal aerodynamic CFD analyses: equipment refrigeration, HVAC, gas distribution in installations, etc

•Hydrodynamic CFD analyses: ducts, water canals, pipelines, pumps installations, valves, mixing installations, waste-water treatment plants, etc

•Other CFD analyses: multiphase simulations, moving geometries, FSI simulations, combustion, reactions, supersonic, transonic, etc

CFD analysis

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4.1 THERMAL, STRUCTURAL AND FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF A HEAT EXCHANGER.

ASME VIII DIV.2 P5

Finite Element Analysis of different components of the heat exchanger (tube sheet and

salt chamber) according ASME VIII Div.2 Part 5. Different checking were performed

according the norm: Plastic collapse, Ratcheting and Cyclic loading

8 different operation cases were studied with different pressure and thermal conditions.

A detailed submodel were created to study the union between the shell and the salt

chamber.

9


4.2 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A TRUNNION VALVE IN VARIOUS OPERATION

CASES

The purpose of this study was basically to verify structural parts of a trunnion valve under

different operational loads such as internal pressure, bolt preload, opening and closing

torque, etc.

Different structural loads in the main

parts of the valve were analyzed.

Nonlinear contacts were used to

gather the separation effects caused

by the pressure on the bolted

flanges.

An interesting part of the study was

the analysis of the closing ball

subjected to the effects of the

pressure that is compressing an

internal hyperelastic gasket.

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4.3 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF A DRY TRANSFORMER

The purpose of all these studies was to perform seismic qualifications of a dry transformer

to check that all its structural parts work properly during a seismic event.

All the components of the transformer were

analyzed, including the steel frame, the coils,

the coil supports (that were modeled with a

spring element and an equivalent stiffness to

simplify the model), the steel core and the

aluminum electrical conductor.

11


4.4 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF GAS ANALYZERS

The purpose of all these studies was to perform seismic qualifications of an analyzer in an

industrial plant to check that all its structural parts work properly during a seismic event.

All the components of the

analyzer were analyzed, including

the bolts.

It was important to analyze the

structural parts of the analyzer to

avoid loss of functionality during

the earthquake.

12


4.5 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF AN AIR VALVE

• The purpose of all these studies was to perform seismic qualifications of an air valve to

check that all its structural parts work properly during a seismic event.

• In order to validate the components under seismic loads, the seismic classification (A+,

A, B or C) as well as the component location (height) has to be taken into account to

determine the spectrum that has to be applied to the analyzer in the FEM analysis. As

far as we know, the customer can’t determine the exact place where the component is

going to be installed, so the height is not known either. Therefore, the spectrum

structural validation has been performed using the simplifications specified in Annex 9

of G-DK-0-090-8302-CT-G-0003, which is used for general validation of the components

where the installation height is not known

13


4.6 SEISMIC QUALIFICATION OF A VALVE ACTUATOR

The purpose of all these studies was to perform seismic qualifications of a valve actuator

to check that all its structural parts work properly during a seismic event.

The valve actuator

requires structural

supports as shown in the

image on the left. The

results are shown in the

image on the right.

14


4.7 SEISMIC ANALYSIS OF VALVE: DUNKIRK LNG TERMINAL PLANT

The purpose of all these studies was to perform seismic qualifications of a valve to check

that all its structural parts work properly during a seismic event.

In order to validate the components under seismic loads, the seismic classification (A+, A, B

or C) as well as the component location (height) has to be taken into account to determine

the spectrum that has to be applied to the analyzer in the FEM analysis. As far as we know,

the customer can’t determine the exact place where the component is going to be

installed, so the height is not known either. Therefore, the spectrum structural validation

has been performed using the simplifications specified in Annex 9 of G-DK-0-090-8302-CT-

G-0003, which is used for general validation of the components where the installation

height is not known.

FEM Software used: ANSYS Workbench

15


4.8 STATIC STRUCTURAL & LINEAR BUCKLING ANALYSIS OF AN ELEVATOR´S

STRUCTURE

The purpose of this analysis was to

perform a structural and buckling

analysis due to different loading

hypothesis in an elevator´s structure.

The images on the left and on the

right represent global and local

buckling modes in the elevator´s

structure respectively.

The image below represents the

displacement results in a local model

of the beam placed at the top of the

structure where the elevator´s cabin

is connected.

16


4.9 ANALYSIS OF A BIG DIMENSION CIRCULAR SUPPORT BEAM

The project comprises the analysis and sizing of a

circular support beam of several pieces of

equipment for Talara’s refinery in Peru.

It was required to validate the circular support

beam subjected to different load cases due to the

supported equipment, including wind and

earthquake loads.

Some simplifications were adopted to avoid meshing

the all the equipment. The inertial effects of the non

modeled region were taken into account through

modifying the applied loads.

Displacement results due to the combining load cases

with all the loads acting at the same time are shown

in the image on the right.

A detailed submodel, including

beam stiffeners ensures the

validation of the general FEM

model.

17


4.10 VIBRATIONAL ANALYSIS OF A GAS OIL STORAGE COLUMN

The purpose of this study was to recreate the vibration response of a column whose

vibrations were measured onsite. The goal was to attenuate the amplitude of the response,

modifying the design by adding stiffeners.

The acceleration

response at the

right represents the

results of a

frequency response

analysis due to the

harmonic load when

the Steam Hammer

is not acting

The acceleration response shown below represents the results of a transient response analysis

due to a steam hammer impulsive load.

As a final verification, the effects of

the impulse load on the column

were checked through local sub-

models shown in the images on the

right and below.

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4.11 VIBRATIONAL ANALYSIS CRYOPLANT BUILDING ITER. FUSION FOR ENERGY

The project consists in the vibration analysis in an

ITER´s plant building produced by a set of

rotative machines (compressors) for the final

customer Fusion For Energy. The objective was

to verify that the maximum amplitude of vibration

in a range of frequencies was not over an

allowable value for all the structural parts of the

building.

As shown in the image at the left the stratum

composed by rock (pink), soil (blue) and

compacted fill (red) was modeled.

The amplitude of displacements, accelerations

and velocities in critical measure points of the

building where checked along the working

frequency range of the rotative machines.

19


4.12 ANALYSIS OF AN OFF-SHORE PLATAFORM'S BEDPLATE

The goal of this work is to perform a self-weight, normal modes and pressure pulse analyses of

a bedplate installed on an off-shore platform

• Self-weight analysis: Structural Static analysis considering gravity to study the efects of

the motor and the motor’s pump on the bedplate. It has been performed an Eurocode

3 checking.

• Modal analysis: A modal analysis has been performed to determine the bedplate’s

vibration characteristics: Natural frequencies, Mode shapes and Mode participation

factors. These frequencies has been compared with the frequency of rotation of the

motor to see if the resonance phenome occurs.

• Pressure pulse: Four different transient analysis has been performed following the

customer specification.

Figs 1 and 2: Bedplate FE model and 3rd natural frequency

Figs 3 and 4: Pressure pulse and Results for Y direction

20


4.13 HELICOPTER PLATFORM WITH NONLINEAR CONTACT

This equipment is part of a project of design and installation of a removable loading

platform in helicopters AS350 & AS355.

A nonlinear model with contact

definition between the platform

and the helicopter´s floor was

analyzed, applying different

cases of inertial loads in the

three orthogonal directions. The

image below shows the

displacement results due to

lateral acceleration in –Y

direction.

21


4.14 EARTHQUAKE ANALYSIS OF INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

The purpose of this study was to study the response of several pieces of industrial

equipment under the elastic response spectrums O.B.E. and S.S.E.

22


4.15 STRUCTURAL & FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF A CONDENSER ACCORDING TO ASME

VIII DIV.2

The purpose of this study was to validate a condenser following the ASME VIII Div.2

including the load cases:

Self-weight empty

Self-weight full

Internal pressure

Vacuum pressure

Loads in nozzles

Earthquake condenser empty

Earthquake condenser full

Fatigue analysis

Some detail of the bolted unions and the results are shown in the images below.

23


4.16 STRUCTURAL & FATIGUE ANALYSIS OF AN INDUSTRIAL EXCHANGER

FOLLOWING ASME VIII DIV.2

The purpose of this study was to validate an industrial exchanger following the ASME VIII

Div.2 including a fatigue analysis.

The cyclic transition between operational loads with different pressure and temperature loads

can cause a fatigue crack in the material.

24


4.17 STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A BUOY THAT TRANSFORMS WAVE ENERGY

INTO ELECTRIC POWER

The purpose of this analysis was to verify the structural integrity of an energy converter

buoy that uses the energy of sea waves to generate electric energy.

The images below show the structural FEM model of the buoy as well as the results of a

transient analysis at the instant 11.353 seconds.

A diagram with different wave

theories is shown in the image on

the left. A linear wave theory must

be applied as a load in a first

approximation. Nonlinear theories

must be applied in regions close to

the coast while a linear theory can

be applied in high seas.

Buoy

25


4.18 INNOVATIVE NUMERICAL METHODOLOGIES FOR STRUCTURAL

OPTIMIZATION

This project is aimed at providing two numerical methods that define the optimized

configuration of civil steel frame structures through semi-automatic processes. To

increase structural performances, satisfy code checking and obtain the reduction of the

overall production costs, the topology optimization method is exploited to define the

conceptual configuration of the structures, later parametrically optimized through a

multi-objectives analysis.

FEM Software used: CivilFEM powered by Marc and ANSYS

Optimization software: modeFRONTIER

Initial structure’s design

Final design after performing the optimization process

26


4.19 FSI ANALYSIS OF A PROTOTYPE VESSEL FOR WASTE TREATMENT

The purpose of this CFD analysis was to study the behavior of a solid waste mixture,

modeled as a high density fluid, due to the pressure and temperature increasing process

carried out in a rotative extrusion machine. The software used was XFlow.

The study of the pressure in the pressure chamber of the conic reduction region is one

of the main points.

The calculation of the stream tracers is useful for checking particle behaviour.

Finally, a study of the return of the mixture to previous chambers was performed, showing

undesirable flow-back of the fluid in some regions (see image below).

27


4.20 CFD STUDY OF A DRONE AIRCRAFT

The purpose of this study was to perform a CFD analysis to optimize the aircraft,

obtaining the optimal stabilizer angle that determines the maximum velocity of the

drone as well as the drag, lift and pitch coefficients. The software used was XFlow.

Force coefficients and moment coefficients were obtained as function of the velocity

and the drone angle, as is shown in the images below.

The Velocity field focusing on the wings showed the reason for the stall when the

critical angle of attack is exceeded. In the image below two main airflow separations

can be observed after the stall angle.

28


4.21 CFD STUDY OF EXHAUST GASES IN A POWER TURBINE

The purpose of this CFD analysis was to study the behavior of the fluid in a region

between a turbine exhaust (green) and a boiler (red) that are part of the co-generation

projects of Altamira and Bajío for which three different phases were studied. The

software used was CFD++, developed by the company Metacomp Technologies®.

Phase I was the study of the

prototype designs provided by the

customer, analyzing the gas flux from

the turbine.

Phase II concerned the study of the

designed geometry modifications

provided by the customer for both

installations, analyzing the fresh air

flux from the fresh air inlet (the blue

section from the first image on the

left).

In Phase III, the analysis was

performed in the modified

installations with gas flux from the

turbine to check that the flux behavior

had not deteriorated with the

modifications implemented in Phase

II.

29


4.22 CFD ANALYSIS USING CFD++ OF A SEPARATOR VESSEL OF HYDROCARBONS

The client is developing a separator vessel of hydrocarbons to commercialize it in the Oil & Gas

industry.

They have experience in this projects, so they want to check the behavior of some design

elements which were included in this vessel.

Oil distribution on the vessel

This EDP simulation checks that the oil behavior is totally affected by the corrugated plates

introduction. The oil tends to stand in the top part because of the density difference, the plates

additional resistance and the oil accumulation in the plates walls.

Oil distribution on the vessel

30


4.23 CFD VIBRATION ANALYSIS OF A HOWELL-BUNGER VALVE INSTALLED AT A

DAM

The goal of this study is to analyze using CFD techniques the hydraulic working of the Howell-

Bunger valve placed at the Aguilar de Campoo (Palencia) Dam, which is subjected to unusual

vibrations.

Three phases:

Phase 1: Study of the actual configuration of the pipe and the valve

Phase 2: Study of the pipe with some correcting measures (guides)

Phase 3: Optimization of the installation place of the guides

Guides installed in the pipe

Turbulences on the pipe

Pipe schema. The valve is placed at the outflow

31


4.24 FLOW AND AERATION STUDY IN A WWTP REACTOR

The design of a reactor of a Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) has to focus towards

a uniform movement of sludge to prevent formation of prone to sedimentation and

proper aeration dead zones to encourage aerobic digestion of organic wastes. A design

raised in carousel reactor with an aeration system consisting of surface aerators, is

expected that the surface agitation of the sludge allow enter enough air into the device.

Phases:

Generation of three-dimensional geometric model of the WWTP reactor with flowing accelerators and surface shakers.

Fluid domain extraction, establish boundary conditions and fluids provided for installation devices.

As a result the flow characteristics established and dragging the oxygen introduced by surface

shakers shown. Aeration is very localized and insufficient, because below the surface there are

shakers much of the flow is not aerated.

Following this study finding alternative was approved for a more effective aeration.

32


4.25 WIND ACTION IN A WIND TURBINE FIELD

The aerodynamic behavior of a wind turbine field is conditioned by the adjacent terrain.

The register of the wind in the zone is limited

and the wind tunnel studies do not capture the

orography characteristics with the presence of

moving wind turbines.

To obtain more accurate and realistic results,

tackling the study with computational fluid

dynamics (CFD) techniques was proposed. The

conventional software with their traditional

approach, based on the finite volumes method,

are not sufficient to accurately study such a big

domain with the presence of wind turbines in

movement.

The software used was XFlow, with the

assistance and knowledge of the Mechanical

Engineering and CFD Department.

The topographic surface of the area was

introduced in the software and the 28 wind

turbines which form the wind turbine field

were placed accurately. The extension of the

terrain studied was 432 km2. The rotation

degree of freedom of the blades was allowed

and the wind was defined with a real wind profile of the area. The adaptive refinement

of the lattice allowed the capture of the movement of the blades and their influence on

the wind distribution.

33


4.26 WIND ACTION ON A SOLAR PLANT

Solar panels that make up a

solar plant are exposed to

weather actions, among which

are the strong winds that occur

occasionally. This was the case

of the solar garden in Vejer de la

Frontera, which in April 2011

suffered damage due to the

wind.

The case of study is the wind

around the solar array so that

checkpoints where

anemometers are placed get the

same values than those

observed in both speed and

wind direction. In this situation,

the wind speed on the exact

location of the solar plant and

solar panels affected is analyzed.

The results show that the surrounding orography alters the behavior of the wind and when the

conditions observed in April 2011 are reproduce , the solar farm area is swept by winds of over 115

km / h, which exceeds the design strength panels.

Phases:

Generation of three-dimensional geometric model of the terrain in the area of solar plant.

Imposition of boundary conditions that define the observed wind and verification by sensors

placed on the position of the reference anemometers.

34


4.27 ANALYSIS OF WIND EFFECT ON AN HELIOSTAT

The design and dimensioning of

equipment exposed to wind actions

requires a thorough aerodynamic

analysis. In the case of a heliostat, the

large size of the mirror determines its

wind resistance.

To address this analysis in time and

reasonable price, the best option is the

three-dimensional simulation using CFD

programs. Two situations were simulated:

the mirror in a vertical position subjected

to a wind of 100 km/h, and the mirror in

the safety position under a wind of 150

km/h.

Data of the drag, the tilting in the column

base, and lift force and torque turning of

the upper joint is obtained. These latest

actions come from the deflection of the

air flow when the mirror is folded.

Phases:

Adequacy of generating three-dimensional geometry and fluid surrounding the heliostat

domain.

Meshing of the fluid domain with special caution in the details of geometry and elements of

the boundary layer. The final calculation mesh consists of 22 million elements.

Definition of wind action conditions.

Resolution of the simulation and monitoring of the resultant forces.

Analysis of results and conclusions

35


4.28 CFD STUDY OF CHANNELING INFRASTRUCTURE

The predicted works for the

channeling of the water in

Argamasilla ravine included

different secondary streams. The

aim of the channeling is to

alleviate the constant floods that

regularly affect the city of Écija

(Sevilla).

The 2D simulation didn’t allow us

to tackle the complete channeling

analysis. Furthermore, it was

necessary to analyze the transient

evolution of the incoming flood

and not assume a steady state

flow. For this reason, a

tridimensional study of the

incoming flood was modeled with

ANSYS-CFX, taking into account

the elevated water level in the Genil River, which is where the simulated channeling

flows into.

The simulation shows the behavior of the flood in a transient regime, with a return

period of 50 years in the last section of the Argamasilla ravine channeling. The results

showed that the initially projected solution did not take into account the behavior of the

flood at the initial moment. When the flood finds its outlet blocked by the Genil River,

the water impacts against the upper wall and emerges through the upper ventilation

grids, creating a water jump which returns back through the internal part of the duct.

This study and its results were used for the correct installation redesign.

36


4.29 CFD STUDY OF A STORAGE AND PUMPING POOL

A deflector wall was placed at the entrance of a

sea water storage and pumping pool. To

homogenize the flux, two apertures were

created in the sides of the inflow catchment

area. The operation of the pool revealed a

problem in the bottom covering just in front of

the lateral apertures. The objective of the

simulation was to determine the causes of the

failure and to determine the optimum

operation level to avoid the lateral flux

damaging the covering.

A sequence of CFD simulations with

different operation modes was

proposed, varying only the water level

on the pool. The water level determines

the mass of water in the inflow

catchment area. Its interaction with the

incoming flux disturbs the proportion of

water which is alleviated through the lateral apertures and the velocity of this flux.

This study, which was

performed with ANSYS-CFX

allowed us to understand the

origin of the problem detected

and to define the optimum water

level to guarantee the correct

hydraulic behavior of the pool.

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4.30 ANALYSIS OF THE EVOLUTION OF AN EXPLOSION'S EXPANSIVE WAVE

The structural design of a building in an oil & gas plant has to take into account the

dynamic behavior of the building due to an expansive wave produced by a near

explosion.

The analysts have to measure the building to satisfy the codes. The critic point is to

know the time evolution of the over pressure pulses and the places of the building more

exposed.

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