about the ENSURE(TM) project of the NURIS's Commercialization Office
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The Project leader professor of the School of Engineering Luis Rojas, Chief Researcher Saltanat Ospanova, as well as engineers Nurgeldy Praliyev and Amanbek Omirkhan are working on the ENSURETM project, the aim of which is developing technologies to enhance the efficiency of centrifugal pumps using structural elements of surface roughness.
The point is that there are no analogues that apply this technology in centrifugal pumps. Our technology allows to increase the efficiency of pumps by 5-10% with no additional operating costs.
How it works?
Energy consumption of centrifugal pumps account for 20% in the chemical and 60% in the oil and gas sectors of the total energy consumption of electric motors in the industries. However, most centrifugal pump systems operate in conditions diverged from the best efficiency point, which on average leads to a drop in efficiency by approximately 20%.
ENSURE is a unique technology that aims to improve the performance of centrifugal pumps for which the impellers are in recirculation mode and therefore behave like blunt bodies. The novel technology accelerates the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the boundary layer of the impeller passages reducing the form drag due to a moderate increase in friction.
Surface structural elements (turbulators) have been successfully used in the flow systems of pipes (e.g., heat exchangers), wind turbine blades with a high angle of incidence, aircraft wings, sporting goods (e.g. golf balls, swimming suits, etc.).
Engineering elements are applied to the surface of the impeller blade of the centrifugal pump.
ENSURE is a unique technology that aims to improve the performance of centrifugal pumps for which the impellers are in recirculation mode and therefore behave like blunt bodies. The novel technology accelerates the transition from laminar to turbulent flow in the boundary layer of the impeller passages reducing the form drag due to a moderate increase in friction.
Surface structural elements (turbulators) have been successfully used in the flow systems of pipes (e.g., heat exchangers), wind turbine blades with a high angle of incidence, aircraft wings, sporting goods (e.g. golf balls, swimming suits, etc.).
Engineering elements are applied to the surface of the impeller blade of the centrifugal pump.
Figure 1.
Laboratory centrifugal pump unit.
Laboratory centrifugal pump unit.
A prototype impeller with turbulators was made for the laboratory pump at AEO Nazarbayev University. To date, the research work in the laboratory has been completed (see Figure 1), and the project team has completed a patent application to protect the proposed technology.
Rough-surfaced impellers were printed at NURIS_Fablab (see Figure 2)
Rough-surfaced impellers were printed at NURIS_Fablab (see Figure 2)
Figure 2.
Printed impeller with triangular elements on the blade surface.
Printed impeller with triangular elements on the blade surface.
We also have an industrial partner – LLP KARLSKRONA LC AB in Shymkent; together we conduct experimental tests using new technology on the partner's equipment (see Figures 3-5).
Figure 3.
Conducting tests at Partner's premises.
Conducting tests at Partner's premises.
Figure 4.
Assembling the impellers on the shaft (plastic impellers with roughness elements).
Assembling the impellers on the shaft (plastic impellers with roughness elements).
Figure 5.
Test stand.
Test stand.
The Technology Commercialization Office of Nazarbayev University Research and Innovation System provides financial and administrative support to projects with commercial potential to the market.