Validation of Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis Methods to Determine Hydrodynamic Coefficients of a BOP Stack

Drilling riser systems are subjected to hydrodynamic loads from vessel motions, waves, steady currents and vortex-induced motions. This necessitates a proper structural analysis during the design phase using techniques such as finite element analysis (FEA). Common approaches within the FEA packages approximate the individual components including BOP/LMRP (Blow-Out Preventer/Lower Marine Riser Package), subsea tree and wellhead using 2D or 3D beam/pipe elements with approximated effective mass and damping coefficients. Predicted system response can be very sensitive to the mass, hydrodynamic added mass and drag of the large LMRP/BOP/Tree components above the wellhead. In the past, gross conservative estimates on the hydrodynamic coefficients were made and despite this, design criteria were generally met. With the advent of large sixth-generation BOP stacks with the possibility of additional capping stacks, such approximations are no longer acceptable. Therefore, the possibility of relying on the more detailed capability of computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis for a better calculation of these coefficients is investigated. In this paper, we describe a detailed model developed for a 38:1 scaled down BOP and discuss the subsequent predictions of the hydrodynamic coefficients. The model output is compared against the data from the concurrent tests conducted in an experimental tow tank. The comparison demonstrates that computational FSI can be an effective and accurate tool for calculating the hydrodynamic coefficients of complex structures like BOPs

Experimental investigation into the fault response of superconducting hybrid electric propulsion electrical power system to a DC rail to rail fault

Hybrid electric propulsion aircraft are proposed to improve overall aircraft efficiency, enabling future rising demands for air travel to be met. The development of appropriate electrical power systems to provide thrust for the aircraft is a significant challenge due to the much higher required power generation capacity levels and complexity of the aero-electrical power systems (AEPS). The efficiency and weight of the AEPS is critical to ensure that the benefits of hybrid propulsion are not mitigated by the electrical power train. Hence it is proposed that for larger aircraft (~200 passengers) superconducting power systems are used to meet target power densities. Central to the design of the hybrid propulsion AEPS is a robust and reliable electrical protection and fault management system. It is known from previous studies that the choice of protection system may have a significant impact on the overall efficiency of the AEPS. Hence an informed design process which considers the key trades between choice of cable and protection requirements is needed. To date the fault response of a voltage source converter interfaced DC link rail to rail fault in a superconducting power system has only been investigated using simulation models validated by theoretical values from the literature. This paper will present the experimentally obtained fault response for a variety of different types of superconducting tape for a rail to rail DC fault. The paper will then use these as a platform to identify key trades between protection requirements and cable design, providing guidelines to enable future informed decisions to optimise hybrid propulsion electrical power system and protection design

Investigation of surface properties of silicone rubber samples with nanofillers

An investigation was carried out to quantify the impact on insulation properties of room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber material when adding selected nanofillers, such as Silica, ATH and their combinations. In particular, the hydrophobic surface properties of the material are examined in details. Static, advancing and receding angles were measured under unpolluted conditions. The effect on material properties of salt deposit densities and non-soluble material deposit densities of the surface pollution layer were evaluated for all test samples. The results obtained in this work provide an initial indication of what may constitute suitable percentage levels and best nanofiller combinations to be adopted in future investigations and possible applications

Modeling HTS non-insulated coils: A comparison between finite-element and distributed network models

High-temperature superconducting (HTS) non-insulated (NI) coils have the unique capability to bypass current through conductive turn-to-turn contacts, mitigating the possibility of a catastrophic failure in the event of a quench. However, this turn-to-turn conductivity leads to a significant increase in the coil decay/charging time constant. To understand this phenomenon, several modeling techniques have been proposed, including the lumped and distributed network (DN) circuit models, and more recently the finite-element (FE) models. In this paper, the decay results obtained from modeling HTS NI pancake coils using both a DN model and a 2D FE model approach are evaluated and compared. Steady-state fields, and transient charging and decay behaviors are calculated with each model and the results compared. Key differences are highlighted, including the computation speed and the capturing of various physical phenomena. Both models exhibit non-exponential decay during initial coil discharge due to current redistribution between the inner and outer turns. In addition, the FE model exhibits other effects arising from current redistribution in both the radial and axial directions, including remanent magnetization, and variation of the “apparent total inductance” during charging. Simulations of sudden discharge have also been analyzed using the common “lumped circuit” formula. This shows that extracted values for the apparent surface contact resistance between coil windings can differ by more than a factor of 5 from the initial input value. Our results confirms the optimal choice of architecture for future NI coil models and emphasize that caution should be exercised when interpreting experimental results using the lumped circuit approach