Renuda joins Société Hydrotechnique de France (SHF)

Given Renuda’s multiphase flow experience and hydro projects such as modelling water flow from source to plant and flow through pumps and turbines, joining SHF was an easy decision. SHF’s aim is to promote and develop scientific knowledge in all water resource related fields and hydro-science and foster relations between water resource professionals.

Preventing disasters by applying combustion modelling

Along with Shell Global Solution and the Universities of Cardiff, Edinburgh and Ulster, Renuda was invited by Imperial College’s Professor Yannis Hardalupas to participate in the Combustion Physics Group meeting held at the Institute of Physics in London on 17 December 2018. The objective was to discuss how modelling can be used to prevent catastrophic events into the future, or to explain the aftermath of such events. Dr Nicolas Tonello presented Renuda’s fire and detonation activities while other presentations focused on the modelling and analysis of combustion phenomena from a safety standpoint. A wide range of topics, from explosions of hydrogen fuel tanks for new hydrogen-powered vehicles to forensic analysis of major, very large scale catastrophes, such as the Buncefield oil depot fire was covered.

Formed in 1973, the Combustion Physics Group provides a forum for industrialists and academics to discuss the physical aspects of flames, ignition, detonation and related topics at a fundamental level and in the context of practical use in engines, boilers, fires and explosions.

Combustion research, where to from here?

The Special Interest Group on Combustion recently hosted talks at Cambridge University on the future and the challenges in combustion. In attendance were representatives of EPSRC, the UK Consortium on Turbulent Reactive Flow, academics and industrial representative such as Rolls Royce, Siemens and Reaction Engines. The talks highlighted the relevance of combustion today and into the future and the importance, and impact of, research on improving systems along its entire spectrum, from gas turbines to fires. Renuda was invited to present on the subject and Nicolas Tonello offered his thoughts on research in numerical combustion which included maximising its impact, ensuring its continued contribution and the importance of collaboration. Referring to Constelcom’s Constellation HPC as a service platform, he also proposed new ways of exchanging codes, data and practices, thereby opening opportunities to government funded research to the widest audience possible.

Rolls Royce aircraft engine.

Working with NAFEMS to promote CFD

Following the successful introductory multi-phase flow webinar delivered on behalf of NAFEMS and the multi-phase flow article published in the January 2018 edition of NAFEMS’s Benchmark magazine, Renuda was invited to participate in the NAFEMS CFD Working Group. We were honoured to participate in our first CFDWG remote meeting in May and to join the UK members of the group for the afternoon in Milton Keynes on the eve of the 2018 NAFEMS UK Regional Conference held in July.  Lead by Althea de Souza, Chairman of NAFEMS CFDWG, the discussions covered the core focus of CFD education and guidelines, but also STEM and how to engage with a wider audience.

Describing solver acceleration at PRACEdays18

Nicolas Tonello was invited to present Renuda’s SHAPE project in collaboration with the EPCC of The University of Edinburgh at PRACEdays18.  Held in conjunction with the European HPC Summit Week 2018 in the beautiful city of Ljubljana in Slovenia, this fifth edition of the PRACE Scientific and Industrial Conference (PRACEdays) attracted more than 340 attendees from academia and industry.  Entitled ‘Optimising 2D simulations for faster, better steam turbine design’, Renuda’s presentation described the solver acceleration which has made it possible to reduce steam turbine calculation times from days to a few hours, thereby enabling faster performance and optimisation analysis for steam turbine design.

Success in Manchester

The overwhelming consensus, from experienced Code_Saturne users, as well as those new to the open source code, was that the Salome_CFD User Meeting and training held on the 5th and 6th of June in Manchester was a resounding success, long overdue and, going forward, be an annual event.

The inaugural UK User Meeting differed from the conventional User Meeting held in France each year in that day two was set aside for free introductory and advanced training courses with the Code_Saturne Development Team on hand to offer advice and assistance.

Developed as the next-generation nuclear thermal-hydraulic simulation tool for the French civil nuclear industry and companies such as CEA, EDF, FRAMATOME and IRSN, NEPTUNE_CFD is not open-source software, however licenses may be granted on application. For more information please contact the NEPTUNE_CFD team.

neptune-cfd-support@edf.fr

Developed as the next-generation nuclear thermal-hydraulic simulation tool for the French civil nuclear industry and companies such as CEA, EDF, FRAMATOME and IRSN, NEPTUNE_CFD is not open-source software, however licenses may be granted on application. For more information please contact the NEPTUNE_CFD team.

neptune-cfd-support@edf.fr

Salome_CFD User Meeting in Manchester

Since 2007 EDF R&D has successfully hosted Code_Saturne User Meetings in France, this year, for the first time ever, a user meeting will be held in the UK. On the 5th and 6th of June 2018 EDF R&D, EDF Energy and Renuda will host the inaugural Salome_CFD User Meeting at the University of Manchester. The User Meeting provides a platform for the Code_Saturne development team to present the latest upgrades and future direction of the code and industrial and academic leader the chance to present their latest projects. Over and above the informative presentations it gives the Code_Saturne community the opportunity to share ideas and discuss its work.

Not only is this the inaugural UK User Meeting, it is the very first time that the second day has been set aside for two free training courses. Course participants can choose between basic, practical training with Salome_CFD or a free-form advanced course. Anyone new to CFD, or first-time Salome_CFD users, will be introduced to the code through a practical exercise using the Salome CAE platform and Code_Saturne CFD solver, from building a CAD model to performing simulations and analysing them using the Paravis module. Advanced users will be given an insight intoCode_Saturne’s Fire Modelling functionalities and have an opportunity to discuss specific projects with Code_Saturne developers and experts.