Turbines

Mechanical Solutions, Inc. does design, analysis, and testing of all types of turbines as well as other types of turbomachinery. Please see our case histories for examples (see menu at left).

expander CFD

MSI has the experience and software to be able to design and analyze radial turbines and expanders of any degree of complexity. The picture to the left exhibits blade and vane loading as determined by a thorough 3-D CFD analysis. Detailed 3-D finite element analysis is also regularly performed on high tip speed radial turbines and centrifugal compressors by MSI.

steam turbine FEA
The design and analysis of axial turbines is also a specialty of MSI. Gas turbines as well as steam turbines, single stage or a large number of stages, existing designs or novel designs that push the limit, are part of MSI's daily work for OEMs as well as End Users. MSI serves a variety of markets including power generation, petrochemical, aerospace, and process gas. The picture at the right shows the finite element analysis model of a steam turbine undergoing re-rate. MSI was able to do a comprehensive analysis of the blade, shroud, blade/disk root, disk cross section, and disk/shaft fillet. Modifications recommended by MSI resulted in trouble-free start-up and operation.

MSI also has staff members that have worked in the gas turbine industry. Aircraft as well as aeroderivative engines are routinely analyzed or evaluated in the field. Ground-based and marine power turbine design audits have been performed for companies around the world. MSI possesses high temperature vibration, pressure and thermal monitoring instrumentation which MSI uses on a routine basis to evaluate turbine performance and troubleshoot aerodynamic or mechanical difficulties. The picture below, for example, shows an I-R thermography picture of a turbine casing and attached components in a situation where local hot-spots were suspected.

gas turbine thermography
MSI has worked with every major manufacturers equipment. Testing and troubleshooting has been performed for turbines on all six major continents, and if you have a problem in Antarctica, please keep us in mind as well!

MSI performs turbomachinery (compressor and turbine) vibration testing and analysis, stress and deformation analysis and evaluations using strain gages as well as finite element analysis and comprehensive fluid flow and heat transfer analysis.