An integrated experimental-numerical case study for a university course about fluid dynamic design of turbomachinery

In the paper, the development of an integrated experimental-numerical case study for a university course of Fluid Dynamic Design of Turbomachinery (FDDT) is presented. Since 2004, a FDDT course has been held at the Engineering Department of the University of Ferrara (Italy). The basic idea of the FDDT course is to introduce the basic and advanced ideas beyond the design of turbomachinery supported by the use of integrated three-dimensional tools. Within the course, great effort has been devoted to practical experience, both numerical and experimental. In particular, the study of a simple but exhaustive geometry may represent a good exercise where students can practically and effectively train. For this reason, during the FDDT course, a centrifugal pump has been studied both experimentally and numerically as a test geometry. In the paper, the phases necessary to carry out this kind of project are presented and discussed.