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CODE 66166
ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026
CREDITS
SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINARY SECTOR ING-IND/08
LANGUAGE Italian
TEACHING LOCATION
  • GENOVA
SEMESTER 1° Semester
TEACHING MATERIALS AULAWEB

OVERVIEW

The course deals with the fundamentals of positive displacement and dynamic fluid machines in order to analyse their functional behaviour and evaluate the key performance aspects.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the student a basic knowledge of positive displacement and dynamic fluid machines with reference to their functional behaviour and performance characteristics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course the student should achieve a basic knowledge about the operation of positive displacement and dynamic fluid machines and be able to evaluate the main performance aspects.

PREREQUISITES

It is required that the student has acquired sufficient knowledge of the basic aspects related to applied thermodynamics and fluid mechanics.

TEACHING METHODS

The module is articulated into classroom frontal lessons, which foresee not only presentation and discussion of the theoretical contents, but also some numerical applications aimed at promoting learning and comprehension.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

 

A. Positive displacement fluid machines 

  • Introductory concepts

Classification of fluid machines. The energy equation and the expression of work. Conversion efficiency in fluid machinery. Work exchange in the positive displacement fluid machines.

  • Reciprocating internal combustion engines (ICE)

Historical overview and fields of application. Basic knowledge on ICE: classification, components and nomenclature, main operational parameters. Ideal and real operation of 2 and 4 stroke engines. Indicated diagrams, indicated and brake mean effective pressure, engine power correlations. Reference thermodynamic cycles for spark ignition (SI) and diesel engines. Combustion processes: general aspects, combustion in SI and diesel engines. Part load operation of SI and diesel engines. ICE performance curves. Supercharging and turbocharging: basic plants design, application fields, operational issues. ICE emissions: pollutants formation processes and their effect on health and environment, influence of combustion process and operational engine parameters on exhaust emissions, emission control systems and aftertreatment devices for SI and diesel engines.

  • Positive displacement compressors and pumps

Reciprocating displacement compressors: operating principle, constructive characteristics, ideal and real working cycle, flow rate control systems. Rotary displacement compressors: vane, lobe, screw compressors. Volumetric pumps: alternative and rotary machines, working principle, construction types. Characteristic curves. Fluid machine-circuit matching.

B. Turbomachines

  • Types of Turbomachines and Applications

Classification and operating principles of turbomachines. Examples of applications.

  • Geometric Characteristics and Reference Systems

Characteristic planes, geometric parameters of a blade row, reference systems, and velocity triangles.

  • Fundamental Equations for the Study of Turbomachines

Continuity equation, energy equation in thermodynamic and mechanical forms in both absolute and relative reference systems. Euler's equation and its applications. Head and total absolute and relative quantities.

  • Basic Theory for the Study of Turbomachines and Characteristic Parameters

Basic theory for turbomachine analysis. Design and verification approaches. Characteristic parameters (flow and work coefficients, degree of reaction).

  • Axial and Radial Compressors

Axial compressors: velocity triangles, effect of flow rate variation, representation of transformations in the thermodynamic plane, relationship between characteristic parameters, adiabatic and polytropic efficiency. Aerodynamic loading. Centrifugal compressors: different impeller types and corresponding velocity triangles. Compressor characteristic curves. Operating limits.

  • Axial and Radial Thermal Turbines

Axial turbines: velocity triangles, aerodynamic loading, representation of transformations in the thermodynamic plane, characteristic parameters. Impulse and reaction turbine stages. Radial turbines. Adiabatic and polytropic efficiencies, characteristic curves, Smith chart.

  • Pumps

Characteristic curves, cavitation (NPSH,r and NPSH,a), pumps in series and parallel, flow regulation methods, maximum suction head, start-up.

  • Hydraulic Plants and Turbines

Hydraulic plants. Hydraulic turbines: operating principles and velocity triangles of Pelton, Francis, and Kaplan turbines.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • M. Capobianco - “Macchine volumetriche” – Appunti del corso.
  • R. Della Volpe - “Macchine” - Liguori Editore, 2011.
  • V. Dossena, G. Ferrari, P. Gaetani, G. Montenegro, A. Onorati, G. Persico - “Macchine a fluido” - CittàStudi Edizioni, 2020.
  • G. Cornetti, F. Millo - “Macchine idrauliche”, “Macchine a gas” - Il Capitello, 2015.
  • G. Ferrari - "Motori a combustione interna" - Esculapio, 2016.
  • O. Acton, C. Caputo - “Compressori ed espansori volumetrici”, UTET, 1992.
  • O. Acton - “Turbomacchine”, UTET, 1992.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam on the topics presented during the lessons and exercises.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Federico Scarpa (federico.scarpa@unige.it), the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination will be focused on the topics treated during the lessons and will be aimed at evaluating not only the fulfilment of an adequate knowledge level, but also the acquisition of critical analysis skills on the topics of the exam and the aptitude of correlation of different topics.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Please ask the professor for any additional information not included in the teaching schedule.