Academic management

      Fluid Machinery and Systems (Máquinas y Sistemas Fluidodinámicos) is a mandatory subject in the third year of the English Degree in the Escuela Politécnica de Ingeniería de Gijón, in the module of the Mechanical Engineering branch. It is a 6 ECTS credit subject in which, collude fundamental physics and mathematical aspects of a basic topic that govern the fluid flow together with practical aspects of a technological Engineering course.

      Fluid Machinery is a complex and rich discipline, whose study becomes a cornerstone in the formation of Engineering professionals, due to its strong relationship with other technical and technological disciplines. Its knowledge is fundamental to develop the basic sciences related to the Engineering field and the modern applied sciences such as Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Energy.

      The specific skills and competences to be acquired in this subject could be summarized in the "Knowledge of the basic principles of Fluid Machinery and their application to the solution of problems in the Engineering field. The calculation of piping circuits, channels and fluid systems", as is described in the Attachments of the Ministry Order OM CIN/351/2009 of the 9th of February, about the competences to be acquired by students of Technical Engineering.

      Finally, and as main objectives of the specific competences, this subject would provide the students with the following knowledge.

• Apply the principles of the Fluid Mechanics to the solution of Engineering problems, keeping in mind and adopting the corresponding simplifications in each practical application.
• Be able to understand the different variables of the fluid field and analyze the fluid dynamic processes from the values of these variables.
• Be able to understand the geometries and working conditions of advanced turbomachinery or positive displacement machines.
• Design, calculate, model, analyze and understand the operation of hydraulic and ventilation systems.

      It is strongly recommended that the students have passed the subject "Fluid Mechanics" previously, in order to have acquired the skills and competences needed to apply the basic principles in a technological field. Particularly, it is highly recommended that the students have the following:

• knowledge of the basic equations that govern the flow motion.
• Concepts on the boundary layer, potential flow and energy conservation equation.
• Viscous flow in pipes and turbulence.
• Unsteady flows.
• Dimensional analysis, similitude and model theory.

      It is expected that the students would acquire the general competences CG1 a CG12 y CG14 a CG15 of the Degree Verification Report.

      The specific competences that are to be acquired in the present subject are CC2 and CM3, and particularly, the skill "knowledge of the basic principles of the Fluid Mechanics and their application to the solution of problems in the field of Engineering, calculation of flow through pipes, open channels and fluid systems". Besides, it is expected that the students would acquire the competence CM6 in the Degree Verification Report, expressed as the "knowledge of the basic principles and working  parameter of the fluid machinery and systems". At the end o fthe lectures, these competences must conduct to learning results. Particularly, the students should:

• Understand and apply basic fluid machinery and systems (RFM-1).
• Be able to experimentally measure the different fluid variables and perform experimental measurements of the performance and working parameters of fluid machinery (RFM-2).
• Be able to design, calculate, project and operate the different fluid machinery (RFM-3).
• Be able to model, analyse and optimise the working conditions of fluid machinery and systems (RFM-4).
• Understand and work with the technical specifications, standards and mandatory regulations related to the fluid machinery and systems (RFM-5).

The subject comprises 150 working hours of the student, out of which, 60 hours are the course itself (lectures, laboratory sessions, group tutorials and evaluation sessions) and 90 hours are devoted to the individual work of the student (Moodle and other individual works and studying of the material). The contents of the subject are structured in six chapters, namely:

• Chapter 1: Introduction and basic concepts.
• Chapter 2: Positive displacement machines.
  • Geometries.
  • Basic fluid power concepts.
  • Oleohidraulic and pneumatic circuits.
• Chapter 3: Introduction to turbomachines.
  • Energy equation. Efficiencies.
  • Performance curves. Nominal conditions. Similitude.
  • Machine and circuit.
• Chapter 4: General theory for turbomachinery flows.
  • Euler equation for turbomachinery flows.
  • Geometries.
  • Generating machines: pumps, fans and compressors.
  • Receptioning machines: turbines
• Chapter 5: Pumping systems.
  • Regulation and control. Static and dynamic forces.
  • Cavitation.
• Chapter 6: Fans and ventilation systems.
  • Air circulationg systems.
  • Noise generation.

Professional orientation:

This subject provides basic knowledge and skills for the design, evaluation and operation of systems and machinery in which fluids perform an energy exchange. It presents a heavy practical character and with imbrication in the daily tasks of many engineering companies dedicated to the energy sector, the supply and supply of liquids and gases, power generation, transport or transformation in industrial processes. It is also applicable in the design of equipment and maintenance of facilities.

Commitment with the environment:

The subject also shows an intimate relationship with current concepts such as sustainability, social responsibility towards the Environment or ecological transition. In particular, they deal in depth with issues related to the saving and energy efficiency of installations, pumping systems or fluid-mechanical machinery and the main technologies for generating renewable energy, such as wind and hydraulic turbines, are addressed in detail.

      The subject distribution foresees 60 hours at the university and 90 student individual working hours. For the detailed plan, it has been considered 2 lecturing hours per week throughout the 14 weeks of the semester, so that 28 lecturing hours are available. Also, 14 practical sessions at the class have been planned (14 weeks and one hour per week). Finally, 14 hours of laboratory sessions and simulation have been planned (7 sessions of two hours, having one each two weeks).

      The working methodology can be structured in four items: group tutorials with the teacher, individual work, group works and laboratory sessions. The final mark will be closely related to the student performance in all these four items.

Exceptionally, if the limiting conditions do require so, some online activities could be implemented. In such cases, the student will be previously informed

For the ordinary evaluations, the final mark of the course is a weighted average between the mark of a written exam and the mark corresponding to a variety of complementary activities undertaken during the classes. The written exam accounts for a 70% in the final mark, while the other activities represent the other 30%. A minimum mark of 4.0 points (on a 0-10 scale) in the written exam is compulsory to pass the subject, regardless the mark corresponding to the other activities. If the mark of the exam is below 4.0, then the final mark of the subject will be limited to a maximum of 4.0 points regardless of the mark for the rest of the activities, meaning that it is impossible to pass the subject without a minimum of 4.0 out of 10.0 in the exam's mark.

The marks obtained for the laboratory work and for the complementary activities are valid for the January, May and July evaluations of the current academic course. For the extraordinary evaluations, the written exam will be the only test to be carried out, and its mark (on a 0-10 scale) will be weighted by a 0.7 factor. Therefore, the maximun mark in these extraordinary evaluation is 70%, if the student did not do any of the lab and other activities.

The "differenced evaluation" will be considered exactly the same as the extraordinary one.

All the evaluations will consider:

-         Cleanness and general lay-out of written documents.

-         Adequate essay writing,

-         Clarity, exposition logic and explanation details.

-         Adequate use of magnitude units. Lack of coherence in the dimensions of variables in equations will be considered a series fault.

-         Reasonable values for the resulting calculations, avoiding absurd data or physically impossible.

      Usually, the exam will be a standard written one, with the student in the room. If along any academic year any limiting conditions show up, the written exam can be changed to an online version, keeping the mark weights and other global requirements within the subject. In such exceptional cases, the students will be previously notified.

Main references:

• Blanco, E.; Velarde, S.; Fernández, J.; 1994, “Sistemas de Bombeo”; Universidad de Oviedo.
• Douglas, J.F., Gasidrek, J.M., Swaffield, J.A., 1995, "Fluid Mechanics: Part VII on Fluid Machinery, theory, performance and application".
• González, J., Ballesteros, R., Parrondo, J.L.; 2005; “Problemas de oleohidráulica y neumática”; Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Oviedo (EdiUno).
• Lakshminarayana, B.; 1996; “Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer of Turbomachinery”, Wiley.

Complementary text books:

• Blanco, E.; Ballesteros, R.; 1994; “Análisis de incertidumbre en Mecánica de Fluidos”; Universidad de Oviedo.
• Brennen, C.E.; 1994; “Hydrodinamics of Pumps”; ETI-Oxford.
• Cherkassky, V., 1980, "Pumps, Fans and Compressors", Mir Publishers (Moscow).
• Dixon, S.L.; 1981; “Termodinámica de las turbomáquinas”; Dossat.
• Horlock; 1985; "Axial Flow Compressors", Krieger.
• Karassik, I.; 1983; “Bombas centrífugas. Selección, operación y mantenimiento”, CECSA.
• Labonville, R.; 1991; “Circuits Hydrauliques”, Ecole Politechnique du Montreal.
• Lecuona, A.; Noguiera, J.I; 2000, “Turbomáquinas”; Ed. Ariel.
• McKenzie, A.B.; 1997; “Axial flow fans and compressors”, Ashgate.