CERES will conduct research projects in order to provide industry-relevant compression and expansion technologies for future energy systems.
Artificial Intelligence tools for accelerated performance predictions and design in compressor systems
The multidisciplinary PhD project, entitled “Artificial Intelligence tools for accelerated performance predictions and design in compressor systems”, is focused on creating a smart tool that yields new blade profiles with specified performance metrics and operating and manufacturing constraints. The key outcomes of the proposed project are an alternative AI-based analysis tool for performance analysis of compressor systems and a first-of-its-kind smart generative tool for novel rotor designs using AI.
Lubricants for oil-injected positive displacement machines
The PhD project, entitled “Lubricants for oil-injected positive displacement machines”, is focused on creating an analytical and/or numerical tool for selection and evaluation of lubricants for future positive displacement machines in carbon neutral energy systems. The aimed output of the project is guidelines for using novel lubricants for PDMs in such systems.
Identification And Reduction Of Sources Of Sound In Positive Displacement Machines
This project, entitled “Lubricants for oil-injected positive displacement machines”, is focused on creating an analytical and/or numerical tool for selection and evaluation of lubricants for future positive displacement machines in carbon neutral energy systems. The aimed output of the project is guidelines for using novel lubricants for PDMs in such systems.
Theoretical and experimental investigation of screw compressor bearings
Pressure forces acting on positive displacement compressor rotors are substantial compared with turbomachinery. Bearings are therefore a key component of rotary positive displacement machines where both the high axial and radial loads must be supported. There are several bearing types available to carry such high pressure forces, with rolling element and hydrodynamic bearings commonly used in screw compressors. Experimental validation of the bearing losses is challenging due to the difficulty of isolating separate contributions to the overall mechanical losses in a real machine. This project therefore has two key aims:
Aim 1) To characterise the speed, load, and space requirements of different bearing types, and investigate opportunities for extending the current operating envelope of screw machines.
Aim 2) To specify and develop an experimental test-rig to provide focussed bearing performance measurements under controlled conditions. This will involve the development of a modular test-bed with independent control of the pressure difference, rotational speed, and lubrication conditions.
The test-rig will allow detailed investigation of bearing losses due to axial & radial loads under representative conditions for both oil-free and oil-flooded configurations. The experimental data obtained will be used to develop improved models of bearing performance for compressor and expander applications.
