SpinOffs

A blog on what's new, notable, and next in turbomachinery

image of blog Mark R. Anderson

Mark R. Anderson

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from North- eastern University M.A. from Massachusetts Institute of Tech nology Experience includes research in the area of hypersonic propulsion for X-30 and NASA’s Atmospheric Effect of Aviation Programs Spearheaded CN’s meanline development, turbomachinery geometry parameterization, and quasi-3D and full 3D CFD Vice President, Concepts NREC Chief Technology Officer President, IntegralX Incorporated, an engineering software consultancy Has authored or co-authored over 17 papers on turbomachinery, CFD, and environmental modeling.

Super Critical Carbon Dioxide Turbomachinery Design

Super Critical Carbon Dioxide Turbomachinery Design

By Mark R. Anderson
Nov 8, 2019

Why supercritical CO2? Super critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) is one of the hottest topics in the turbomachinery world right now. From my own experience, I remember when the subject occupied a few...

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Supercritical CO2, CFD, Alligators & Gladiators – Thoughts & Trends from Turbo Expo 2019

Supercritical CO2, CFD, Alligators & Gladiators – Thoughts & Trends from Turbo Expo 2019

By Mark R. Anderson
Jul 5, 2019

I recently got back from my favorite annual conference: ASME’s Turbo Expo. This year, someone thought it would be a good idea to hold it in Phoenix, Arizona…in the summertime. While that’s not the...

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The Ultimate Fluid Model: Non-Equilibrium Modeling

The Ultimate Fluid Model: Non-Equilibrium Modeling

By Mark R. Anderson
May 24, 2019

In this blog series, I covered a lot of thermo-fluid options in engineering analysis, from the simplest perfect gas (When Perfect is Good Enough – Perfect Gas Models) and ideal liquid, (Fluid...

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Fluid Modeling: Liquified

Fluid Modeling: Liquified

By Mark R. Anderson
May 10, 2019

Continuing on the topic from my previous blog, Getting Real – Advanced Real Gas Models, the counterpart to the perfect gas model for liquids is the “ideal liquid” model. The ideal liquid model is...

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Getting Real – Advanced Real Gas Models

Getting Real – Advanced Real Gas Models

By Mark R. Anderson
May 3, 2019

The Refprop program The calculations in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Refprop program are generally considered the most accurate thermo-fluid models available. The...

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Going Through a Phase – Modeling Phase Change with Cubics

Going Through a Phase – Modeling Phase Change with Cubics

By Mark R. Anderson
Apr 26, 2019

When fluids undergo a phase change (see Phase Change - Make Mine a Double), it typically has a very significant effect of the flow behavior and energy level of the system. Some examples of this are:...

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Simple Stall - Video Blog - Part 2

Simple Stall - Video Blog - Part 2

By Mark R. Anderson
Apr 12, 2019

Our CTO, Mark Anderson, takes a fundamental look at simple stall and its impact on turbochargers stability and range. This is the second video in this 2-part series. Be sure to watch Part 1 first!

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Simple Stall - Video Blog - Part 1

Simple Stall - Video Blog - Part 1

By Mark R. Anderson
Apr 5, 2019

Our CTO, Mark Anderson, takes a fundamental look at simple stall and its impact on turbochargers stability and range. This is the first video in this 2-part series.

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Performance Corrections for Compressor Maps

Performance Corrections for Compressor Maps

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 29, 2019

Turbomachinery performance is almost always analyzed and tested with a fixed inflow condition. In other words, the assumption is that the inflow fluid temperature and pressure is defined and...

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What's Better than Perfect? Semi-Perfect Gas Models

What's Better than Perfect? Semi-Perfect Gas Models

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 8, 2019

In a previous blog, Fluid Phenomena Primer: Energy Versus Temperature, Specific Heat, I explained the behavior for gas phase fluids and how the temperature is affected at high energy levels. In...

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Phase Change - Make Mine a Double!

Phase Change - Make Mine a Double!

By Mark R. Anderson
Feb 22, 2019

As I’ve always said, there’s as much thermodynamics in a glass of beer, as there is in a power plant. Don't believe me? Read on. Phase change is common phenomena that we see all the time. We’re most...

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When Perfect is Good Enough - Perfect Gas Models

When Perfect is Good Enough - Perfect Gas Models

By Mark R. Anderson
Feb 15, 2019

What is a perfect gas? A perfect gas is one that has a linear variation in energy with respect to temperature and a linear variation in pressure with respect to temperature at constant volume. The...

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Fluid Phenomena Primer: Energy Versus Temperature, Specific Heat

Fluid Phenomena Primer: Energy Versus Temperature, Specific Heat

By Mark R. Anderson
Feb 8, 2019

As one might expect, the temperature of a substance typically increases as energy is added to it. This is the case with most substances in all phases. The exception is when a substance crosses to a...

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Specific Speed Performance Effects

Specific Speed Performance Effects

By Mark R. Anderson
Jan 18, 2019

In my last blog, Specific Speed Demystified, I covered the mathematical definition of specific speed and how it relates to flow and work coefficient. The concept of specific speed has been a guiding...

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Specific Speed Demystified

Specific Speed Demystified

By Mark R. Anderson
Jan 11, 2019

In my blog Flow Coefficient and Work Coefficient, I outlined the basic concept behind the flow and work coefficient. These nondimensional parameters are widely used to characterize axial and radial...

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Radial Compressor Geometry Primer - Video Blog

Radial Compressor Geometry Primer - Video Blog

By Mark R. Anderson
Nov 30, 2018

Below is a 4 minute video blog from Mark Anderson, Concepts NREC's Chief Technology Officer, on the geometry of radial compressors. In it, he details the various parts of the compressor wheel,...

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Splitter Design for Radial Compressors  - Video Blog

Splitter Design for Radial Compressors  - Video Blog

By Mark R. Anderson
Oct 19, 2018

Below is 3 minute video blog from Mark Anderson, Concepts NREC's Chief Technology Officer, on splitter design for radial compressors. Click on the small thumbnail image below to launch the full-size...

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Early Water Handling

Early Water Handling

By Mark R. Anderson
Aug 24, 2018

I am fascinated by ancient cultures. After my recent visits to Roman ruins in Central Europe (see A Turbomachinery Engineer's Summer Vacation), I began to wonder how far back mankind’s mastery of air...

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The Challenges & Cures of CFD Solution Failures

The Challenges & Cures of CFD Solution Failures

By Mark R. Anderson
Aug 3, 2018

Computational fluid dynamic analysis (CFD) has become a standard part of the turbomachinery design process. Within Concepts NREC’s Agile Engineering Design System, FINE/Turbo, from our Partner NUMECA...

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A Turbomachinery Engineer's Summer Vacation

A Turbomachinery Engineer's Summer Vacation

By Mark R. Anderson
Jul 26, 2018

This year's ASME Turbo Expo in Norway inspired me to tack on a vacation to explore European cities on my bucket list. Being an engineer, and student of ancient cultures, part of my trip included...

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Flow Coefficient and Work Coefficient Applications

Flow Coefficient and Work Coefficient Applications

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 29, 2018

In my last blog, I explored the concept of the flow and work coefficient. In this blog, I will explore the practical application of the two parameters in machine selection and optimization.

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Flow Coefficient and Work Coefficient

Flow Coefficient and Work Coefficient

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 22, 2018

Two often used quantities to characterize turbomachinery are flow coefficient and work coefficient. The two are generally represented as Φ for flow coefficient and φ for work coefficient. The...

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Reaction Versus Impulse Type Turbomachinery

Reaction Versus Impulse Type Turbomachinery

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 8, 2018

The universe of turbomachinery consists of many different design concepts that are radically different from one another. Each class of machine has a particular flow and power range that is best...

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The Value of Visualizing Velocity Vectors

The Value of Visualizing Velocity Vectors

By Mark R. Anderson
Nov 9, 2017

Beyond being a fun tongue twister, visualizing the velocity vectors is probably the most useful and intuitive information available in turbomachinery design. Many fundamental parameters can be...

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Turbomachinery in Fire Fighting

Turbomachinery in Fire Fighting

By Mark R. Anderson
Oct 5, 2017

I was a firefighter (we never call ourselves firemen) for more than ten years. While this was only a part time, volunteer gig, I was a turbomachinery developer and modeler as my full-time job....

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Measuring Aerodynamic Blockage

Measuring Aerodynamic Blockage

By Mark R. Anderson
Aug 23, 2017

Aerodynamic blockage is a comparatively simple parameter to measure and reveals important aerodynamic performance data. Aerodynamic blockage is directly related to the displacement thickness concept...

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The Best CFD Averaging Methods for Distortion

The Best CFD Averaging Methods for Distortion

By Mark R. Anderson
Aug 9, 2017

Three-dimensional flow fields typically have some degree of distortion in the flow properties and flow profiles across a given cross section. These distortions can be quite significant in regions...

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How Manufacturing Methods Impact Performance 3 Examples

How Manufacturing Methods Impact Performance 3 Examples

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 27, 2017

Some of my other blogs have touched on how important it is to consider manufacturing methods during the design phase. This one will show exactly how manufacturing methods impact performance. We will...

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Design Elements that Affect Machining Time in Turbomachinery

Design Elements that Affect Machining Time in Turbomachinery

By Mark R. Anderson
Mar 9, 2017

The primary options for laying out an impeller (i.e. flank milled versus point milled, open versus covered impellers, integral versus welded shrouds) determine the basic manufacturing process (see ...

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Manufacturing Methods Used for Turbomachinery

Manufacturing Methods Used for Turbomachinery

By Mark R. Anderson
Feb 22, 2017

There are two dominant manufacturing methods used to produce turbomachinery parts – Casting and 5-axis machining. This blog will explore some of the applications and restrictions of these two methods.

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The Need for Computational Tools for Predicting Compressor Performance in Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles

The Need for Computational Tools for Predicting Compressor Performance in Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles

By Mark R. Anderson
Feb 7, 2017

Supercritical CO2 cycles have the potential to significantly improve efficiency and reduce emissions in power generation. However, the unique fluid dynamic properties of supercritical CO2 that enable...

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The Future of Turbomachinery Software

The Future of Turbomachinery Software

By Mark R. Anderson
Sep 9, 2016

The turbomachinery and software industries have evolved, in tandem, to high levels of maturity. On the engineering side, improved modeling capability and access to more powerful computational...

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