RITAL™

CAE Software for Radial Turbine Design

A meanline approach is used to design radial and mixed-inflow turbines. RITAL™ is used to design the turbine stage, analyze performance, refine parameters with data reduction, and model the machine according to several performance models. RITAL's unique Design Wizard leads the user through all the steps necessary for design, analysis, and data reduction. The meanline turbine design can easily migrate into the AxCent® program for further blade design and fluid dynamic analysis.

Components Supported by RITAL:

  • Inlet volutes
  • Nozzles
  • Rotors
  • Exhaust diffusers

Modeling

RITAL has built-in models for inlet volutes, rotor and nozzle diffusion/losses, disk friction, and other losses related to subsonic turbine performance. The same consistent model is used in both the design and analysis modes of RITAL.

Integrated Performance Map Plotting

Review design performance, analysis, and test data with flexibly plotted performance maps, updated automatically with each geometric change.

Easy Editing

View the turbine stage in an active, true-scale meridional view. Edit the parameters by double clicking on the component in the meridional view. Also edit parameters using a single text input/output file, a feature especially useful for optimization.

Table View of Results

View the results in a flexible, spreadsheet-like table format, customizable through separate filters. Create any number of filters, select what to display, and customize the labels as well.

Axial View with Velocity Triangles

Using the window view, view blades and velocity triangles at the impeller inlet and exit.

OLE Automation Support

Control RITAL from an external program through industry-standard Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) automation. OLE automation supports full control of data entry, program execution, and result retrieval. External programs can be written in Visual Basic, C++, FORTRAN, or any other language which supports the Microsoft® OLE standard.

A Real Fluid Program

RITAL calculates Real Fluid properties using optional DB Robinson Real Fluid Properties, NIST, or ASME Steam routines. Users can also incorporate their own proprietary fluid properties.

Direct Integration with AxCent®

Start AxCent automatically from inside RITAL, which automatically transfers the initial geometry to AxCent for 3D geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output for CFD and FEA stress analysis. Changes in AxCent that affect the meanline analysis will cause the meanline analysis to be rerun and all performance maps to be regenerated.

Output to AxCent®

RITAL supports the Agile Engineering Design System® process through easy transfer of meanline design information to the AxCent program for geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output to CFD and FEA programs.

partner-bg-img

Software Highlights

  • Components Supported by RITAL

    • Inlet volutes

    • Nozzles

    • Rotors

    • Exhaust diffusers

  • Modeling

    RITAL has built-in models for inlet volutes, rotor and nozzle diffusion/losses, disk friction, and other losses related to subsonic turbine performance. The same consistent model is used in both the design and analysis modes of RITAL.

  • Integrated Performance Map Plotting

    Review design performance, analysis, and test data with flexibly plotted performance maps, updated automatically with each geometric change.

  • Easy Editing

    View the turbine stage in an active, true-scale meridional view. Edit the parameters by double clicking on the component in the meridional view. Also edit parameters using a single text input/output file, a feature especially useful for optimization.

  • Table View of Results

    View the results in a flexible, spreadsheet-like table format, customizable through separate filters. Create any number of filters, select what to display, and customize the labels as well.

  • Axial View with Velocity Triangles

    Using the window view, view blades and velocity triangles at the impeller inlet and exit.

  • OLE Automation Support

    Control RITAL from an external program through industry-standard Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) automation. OLE automation supports full control of data entry, program execution, and result retrieval. External programs can be written in Visual Basic, C++, FORTRAN, or any other language which supports the Microsoft® OLE standard.

  • A Real Fluid Program

    RITAL calculates Real Fluid properties using optional DB Robinson Real Fluid Properties, NIST, or ASME Steam routines. Users can also incorporate their own proprietary fluid properties.

  • Direct Integration with AxCent®

    Start AxCent automatically from inside RITAL, which automatically transfers the initial geometry to AxCent for 3D geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output for CFD and FEA stress analysis. Changes in AxCent that affect the meanline analysis will cause the meanline analysis to be rerun and all performance maps to be regenerated.

  • Output to AxCent®

    RITAL supports the Agile Engineering Design System® process through easy transfer of meanline design information to the AxCent program for geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output to CFD and FEA programs.

  • Inlet volutes

  • Nozzles

  • Rotors

  • Exhaust diffusers

RITAL has built-in models for inlet volutes, rotor and nozzle diffusion/losses, disk friction, and other losses related to subsonic turbine performance. The same consistent model is used in both the design and analysis modes of RITAL.

Review design performance, analysis, and test data with flexibly plotted performance maps, updated automatically with each geometric change.

View the turbine stage in an active, true-scale meridional view. Edit the parameters by double clicking on the component in the meridional view. Also edit parameters using a single text input/output file, a feature especially useful for optimization.

View the results in a flexible, spreadsheet-like table format, customizable through separate filters. Create any number of filters, select what to display, and customize the labels as well.

Using the window view, view blades and velocity triangles at the impeller inlet and exit.

Control RITAL from an external program through industry-standard Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) automation. OLE automation supports full control of data entry, program execution, and result retrieval. External programs can be written in Visual Basic, C++, FORTRAN, or any other language which supports the Microsoft® OLE standard.

RITAL calculates Real Fluid properties using optional DB Robinson Real Fluid Properties, NIST, or ASME Steam routines. Users can also incorporate their own proprietary fluid properties.

Start AxCent automatically from inside RITAL, which automatically transfers the initial geometry to AxCent for 3D geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output for CFD and FEA stress analysis. Changes in AxCent that affect the meanline analysis will cause the meanline analysis to be rerun and all performance maps to be regenerated.

RITAL supports the Agile Engineering Design System® process through easy transfer of meanline design information to the AxCent program for geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output to CFD and FEA programs.

Components Supported by RITAL

  • Inlet volutes

  • Nozzles

  • Rotors

  • Exhaust diffusers

Modeling

RITAL has built-in models for inlet volutes, rotor and nozzle diffusion/losses, disk friction, and other losses related to subsonic turbine performance. The same consistent model is used in both the design and analysis modes of RITAL.

Integrated Performance Map Plotting

Review design performance, analysis, and test data with flexibly plotted performance maps, updated automatically with each geometric change.

Easy Editing

View the turbine stage in an active, true-scale meridional view. Edit the parameters by double clicking on the component in the meridional view. Also edit parameters using a single text input/output file, a feature especially useful for optimization.

Table View of Results

View the results in a flexible, spreadsheet-like table format, customizable through separate filters. Create any number of filters, select what to display, and customize the labels as well.

Axial View with Velocity Triangles

Using the window view, view blades and velocity triangles at the impeller inlet and exit.

OLE Automation Support

Control RITAL from an external program through industry-standard Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) automation. OLE automation supports full control of data entry, program execution, and result retrieval. External programs can be written in Visual Basic, C++, FORTRAN, or any other language which supports the Microsoft® OLE standard.

A Real Fluid Program

RITAL calculates Real Fluid properties using optional DB Robinson Real Fluid Properties, NIST, or ASME Steam routines. Users can also incorporate their own proprietary fluid properties.

Direct Integration with AxCent

Start AxCent automatically from inside RITAL, which automatically transfers the initial geometry to AxCent for 3D geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output for CFD and FEA stress analysis. Changes in AxCent that affect the meanline analysis will cause the meanline analysis to be rerun and all performance maps to be regenerated.

Output to AxCent

RITAL supports the Agile Engineering Design System® process through easy transfer of meanline design information to the AxCent program for geometry generation, rapid loading analysis, throughflow analysis, and output to CFD and FEA programs.

Product Support

Customer-driven Improvement
AxCent has been continuously improved with annual releases since 1983. Nearly two hundred licenses shared by nearly four hundred users worldwide make AxCent the most mature and robust turbomachinery design software available today. Each year, the most requested features from Concepts NREC’s formal ballot process are incorporated into the new AxCent release.
Technical Support
Our support staff in North America, Europe, and the Far East includes experienced turbomachinery designers. Our software maintenance plan, Agile Products Support (APS), features traditional software upgrades, a help line, and regular design reviews conducted by our engineering staff, who also teaches our renowned turbomachinery courses.
Documentation
Documentation features make AxCent easy to use and include comprehensive HTML HELP plus step-by-step tutorials. User guides for designing radial and axial machines include Designing Axial Machines With AxCent and Designing Radial Machines With AxCent. Both guides are available in print or in searchable PDF format.
Screenshot 2023-09-29 152809_MStg_Turb

Multi-Stage Turbine Design

The diversification of radial turbine applications and the need to use a broader set of real fluids in those applications is driving the need to design to pressure ratios that necessitate multiple stages of expansion. GOOD NEWS: RITAL is now capable of modeling multi-stage designs! By integrating our AXIAL solver, which is not specific to axial machines, and implementing a hood connection model between the stages, a designer is now able to create multi-stage radial turbine designs to achieve pressure ratios never before possible with this meanline design tool.
Watch Webinar Recording

RITAL Brochure

A meanline approach is used to design radial and mixed-flow turbines, Concepts NREC’s RITAL™ CAE software program is used to design the turbine stage, analyze performance, refine parameters with data reduction, and model the machine according to several performance models. RITAL’s unique Design Wizard leads the user through all the steps necessary for design, analysis, and data reduction. The meanline turbine design can easily migrate into the AxCent® program
for further blade design and fluid dynamic analysis.

Download Brochure
RITAL

Find Your Rep

Our Sales Offices are strategically located around the globe to service all your turbomachinery needs.

Upcoming Events

Tradeshows, Workshops, Webinars and more.

I came to the realization that we needed some objective insight.

We were working well with the OEM but even with our combined efforts, we were struggling to get a critical compressor to pass performance on their test stand. Although I'd never directly done business with Concepts NREC I was familiar with them and their capability so I chose to contact them when I came to the realization that we needed some objective insight. Concepts NREC fielded my cold call and immediately engaged their expertise in a complex problem that was also challenged by schedule constraints. They provided increased understanding of an already complex CFD which resulted in increased confidence that the proposed solution would succeed on the next test stand attempt (which it did!). We are pleased to have had the help of Concepts NREC and now have a well-performing compressor in our process.”

Bryan Barrington

Senior Advisor - Machinery Engineering

Related Blog Articles

CFD-based Throughflow Analysis: Bridging the Gap Between 1D and 3D Analyses
CAE Software
CFD-based Throughflow Analysis: Bridging the Gap Between 1D and 3D Analyses
by Steve Kohr, Director of Software Product Management & UX
Many of us have come to appreciate the expedience that 1D (meanline) analysis provides when scoping out a new design or revisiting a legacy design for use in a new application. However, we also know that this approach to design is heavily reliant on empirical models. Inherent in this design approach is, or should be, the acceptance that these empirical models are highly useful but obviously limiting and maybe not necessarily universally applicable. We are accepting the tradeoff of fidelity for time.
Continue Reading
The Gyroscopic Effect
CAE Software
The Gyroscopic Effect
by Thomas Gresham, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
This post covers one of the fundamental issues that makes rotordynamics a unique subject: The Gyroscopic Effect. The gyroscopic effect can be observed in the behavior of spinning tops, fidget spinners, inertial navigation systems, and many types of turbomachinery. If you have ever tried to tilt an object while it is spinning, then you may have noticed this effect.
Continue Reading
Part 2: Hydrogen Turbomachinery Design
CAE Software
Part 2: Hydrogen Turbomachinery Design
by Mark R. Anderson, Chief Technical Officer, Concepts NREC
Hydrogen is attracting a lot of interest in different circles these days from: propulsion, to energy storage, to personal transportation. The most obvious benefit of hydrogen fuel is a total lack of carbon in the exhaust products. This is rare for a fuel that’s a fairly high energy substance to begin with. More specifically, its high energy in terms of energy per unit of weight but somewhat less so in terms of volume.
Continue Reading
See More SpinOffs