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 Thermal Engineering / GEA Aircooled Systems

Research & Development

GEA is committed to ongoing research activities and programmes to provide its clients with state-of-the-art products. In a competitive market, where emphasis is placed on environmental aspects and the careful management of resources, technologically and economically optimised engineering solutions necessitate research.

 

 

Experimental studies include multi-phase flow, where the characteristics of gas-liquid flow during condensation are investigated.

The effect of wind on the performance of air-cooled heat exchangers and evaporative cooling towers is studied with the aid of numerical methods such as CFD.

 

GEA has an in-house Research and Development Division at its headquarters in Germany, dedicated to the technological development of heat exchanger products offered by the GEA group of companies. Research techniques applied by GEA include theoretical analysis, experimental investigations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Model tests in wind tunnels and CFD modelling are used to determine the operating characteristics of cooling systems in the vicinity of buildings and structures, as well as the effect of wind on the cooling system's performance. Examples include thermal and fluid-dynamic analysis and/or testing of column-top air-cooled condensers for petrochemical plants and evaporative and dry cooling systems for power stations.

Investigations into the performance of axial flow fans and the air-flow distribution in cooling systems assist us in the accurate prediction of their performance. Where possible, full scale models are constructed. Fans of up to 10 m in diameter can be installed in a test rig to investigate the air-flow through the heat exchanger configuration.

CFD Modeling of Airflow

CFD Modeling of airflow through an air cooled condenser

 

Material and corrosion tests with metallic and a large number of plastic materials are carried out under extreme conditions in special testing facilities.

In South Africa, GEA Aircooled Systems co-operates with universities and engineering consultants to investigate and improve the performance of our product range and to enable us to offer customised heat transfer systems on request. Such investigations not only constitute advances for GEA but also assist the client to gain a better understanding of the products being procured.