A large-scale moving end-wall system has been designed and built at the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department of Virginia Tech. This system forms part of a low-speed linear compressor cascade wind tunnel, where it is used to simulate the effects of the relative motion between the blade tips and casing upon the flow. Detailed 4-sensor hot wire measurements were made at various locations downstream the cascade. The results are presented in term of mean flow field and turbulence flow field. In order to reveal the effects of moving end wall, the results also compared with the results obtained with stationary end wall. / Master of Science

<p>The fundamental design of axial compressors has matured to an exceptional level of performance due to a century of research. With the improvements in efficiency becoming increasingly difficult, attention continues to be channeled towards understanding and reducing secondary losses such as hub or tip clearance leakages, seal leakages, etc. Studies detailing the impact of seal leakages are relatively scarce due to difficulties of obtaining data in the complex rotating geometries of a high-speed compressor cavity. While the impact of seal leakages on primary passage is readily available, details inside the cavity geometry is scarce in open literature because majority of the investigations have been performed on linear cascades with slots machined as cavities or standalone labyrinth seals that fail to provide a wholesome understanding of the leakage flow and windage heating in the rotating geometries.<br></p> <p> Therefore, the principal objective of this work is to investigate flow physics in the stator cavity wells for understanding the flow path of the leakage fluid and windage heating within the cavity. A parametric model of the Purdue 3-Stage Compressor (P3S) is used to allow for rapid geometric modifications to the seal clearances in a coupled stator-cavity system. The investigations presented here consist of a series of numerical simulations using ANSYS CFX as the primary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool. Measurements performed by previous investigators are utilized to define the boundary conditions of this model. This study’s goal is to characterize the interdependence of parameters such as cavity leakage flow rate, circumferential velocity, and windage heating for understanding the flow structure inside the cavity wells and their impact on cavity temperatures. Data acquired is intended to reveal mechanisms through which cavity leakage flows affect the stator passage aerodynamics and the windage heating, both regarding their effect on the compressor performance and the details of the flow path within the cavity. Consequently, this will provide insight into how the complex cavity leakage flow influences the design considerations for optimizing stator passage aerodynamics and minimizing stator cavity heating.</p> <p>The compressor operating conditions of Nominal Loading (NL) is the focus of this CFD work since the flow field at High Loading (HL) has significant boundary layer separation. NL is closest to both the design and peak efficiency conditions where the compressor would spend the majority of its time in operation, understanding cavity flow physics at this operating condition would have a direct impact on enhancing the overall compressor performance. A CFD model of the standalone primary passage is developed first using the dataset available from experiments performed by previous investigators for establishing confidence in the primary passage flow physics. Therefore, detailed total pressure, total temperature, velocity, and flow angle data collected behind each blade row is utilized for validating the primary passage flow in the CFD model. After validating the primary passage model, measurements in the coupled cavity model are acquired to understand the flow variations as well as temperature development in the cavity due to the varying labyrinth seal clearance.</p> <p>The investigations in this work are divided into two distinct branches. First, to aid the aerodynamic research community, the flow structure inside the cavity wells is investigated to understand the impact cavity leakage flow has on the compressor efficiency and on its interactions with the primary flow path. Secondly, for understanding the development and rise of temperature in the cavity wells, i.e., the windage effect, are performed to aid the thermo-mechanical research community so that the material choices and stress analysis of the cavity components can be optimized. Hence, the trends in the data acquired provide the aerodynamic, mechanical, and secondary flow system designers an indication of the complexities of the flow within shrouded stator cavities and provide insight into designing and optimizing more complex geometries.</p><p>Results from this investigation describe how increasing seal clearance deteriorates the stator performance and enables the cross-passage migration of low momentum fluid to worsen hub corner separation. The simulations also state the case for re-ingestion at tight seal clearances as the 3D streamlines show heated efflux emerges from the upstream cavity interface, dwells near the hub, and gets recirculated back into the cavity inlet well. Radial variations inside the cavity wells show high cavity temperatures with excessive cavity due to re-ingestion, while the cases that avoid re-ingestion are observed at the lowest temperatures. These radial variations also identify the cavity leakage flow path and the development of circumferential velocity. Lastly, the total pressure loss, total temperature rise and windage heating, all show a strong dependence on circumferential velocity development, which is inherently dependent on the labyrinth seal clearances.<br></p>

The tip leakage vortex is responsible for the generation of stagnation pressure losses inside the compressor along with the outbreak of rotating stall and surge. The current paper analytically proved that a part of the losses is proportional to the vortex circulation squared. The evolution of this circulation has been investigated as part of a parametric study which tested several clearance heights. The work consists in adopting a simplified single blade configuration to study the physics of the flow by means of wind tunnel experiments and numerical calculations. Upon visualising the main features of the flow, a model based on the study of jet in crossflows was implemented to describe the tip clearance flow for small gap sizes. For big gaps, the flow is assumed to behave as an isolated wing tip vortex which circulation is easily computed by the so called lifting line theory. The main vortical structures highlighted by the topology of the flow justified the use of the model of a jet in crossflow for small gap sizes. This model was challenged by experimental and numerical data and proved to well predict the evolution of the clearance vortex circulation for an increasing clearance height although some numerical results remain further away from the model. / Gapvirveln är ansvarig för lufttryckförluster i motorn av ett flygplan och kan orsaka utbrottet av kompressorstall och pumpning. Artikeln bevisade matematiskt att en del av de här förlusterna är proportionell mot gapvirvelncirkulationen upphöjd. Utvecklingen av den där cirkulationen undersöktes med hjälp av en parametrisk studie som provkörde flera gapstorlekar. Arbetet bestå av att adoptera en förenklad enda blad konfiguration för att studera flödes fysik med vindtunnel experiment och flödesberäkningar. Efter att man analyserar flödes viktigaste egenskaper genomfördes en modell baserad på studien av en jet i ett korsflöde. Den här modellen används för att beskriva flödet för små gapstorlekar. För stora gap antar man att flödet beter sig som en vingspetsvirvel som cirkulationen kan beräknas utan svårighet med hjälp av lyftledningsteorin. Flödes topologi visualiserades tack vare numeriska beräkningar och legitimerade användningen av modellen av en jet i ett korsflöde för små gapstorlekar. Teoretiska, experimentella och numeriska resultat jämfördes och bevisade att modellen väl förutsäger utvecklingen av gapvirvelncirkulationen mot gapstorlek även om några numeriska resultat är långt från modellen.

The once through steam generator (OTSG) is a single pass counter flow heat exchanger in which primary pressurized water from the core is circulated. Main Feedwater is injected in an annular gap on the outer periphery of the steam generator shroud such that it aspirates steam to preheat the feedwater to saturation temperature. An important component of the OTSG and enhanced once through steam generator (EOTSG) is the auxiliary feedwater system (AFW), which is used during accident/transient scenarios to remove residual heat by injecting water through jets along the outer periphery of the heat exchanger core directly on to the tubes at the top of the OTSG. The intention is for the injected water, which is subcooled, to spread into the tube nest and wet as many tubes as possible. In this project, the main objectives were to use first principles Computational Fluid Dynamics to predict the number of wetted tubes versus flow rate in the EOTSG at the AFW injection location above the top tube support plate. To perform the fluid analysis, the losses in the bypass leakage flow and broached hole leakage flow were first quantified and then used to model a 1/8th sector of the EOTSG. Using user defined functions (UDF), the loss coefficients of the leakage flows were implemented on the 1/8th sector of the EOTSG computational model to provide boundary conditions at the bypass flow and leakage flow locations With this method, the number of tubes wetted in the sector of EOTSG for various AFW flow rates was found. Results showed that the number of wetted tubes was in very close agreement to that predicted by experimental-analytical methods by the sponsor, AREVA. With the maximum flow rate of 65 l/s a total of 318 tubes were wetted and the percentage of tubes wetted with broached holes was 8.7%. The analysis on the bypass leakage flow showed that the loss coefficients was a function of the mass flow rate or the flow Reynolds number through the gap and it increased as the Reynolds number increased from 300 to 1600. The experimental and computational loss coefficients agree to within 15% of each other. In contrast, the constant loss coefficient of 1.3 used by AREVA was much higher than that obtained in this study, particularly in the low Reynolds number range. As the Reynolds number approached 3000, the loss coefficients from this study approached the value of 1.3. This value of the loss coefficient was implemented for the bypass flow leakage in the 1/8th sector of the EOTSG model. The analysis on the broached hole leakage flow was performed using a single hole, five holes, and one, two, four and eight rows of broached holes in order to characterize the loss coefficients. The one hole and five hole computational models were validated with experiments. The computational models showed the presence of voids in the leakage flow through the tube support plate (TSP), which were not observed (visually) in the experiments. The characterization of the broached hole leakage in the one, two and four rows showed that the loss coefficient of the control broached hole increased as the number of rows increased. These results indicated that for the same height of water on the TSP, the resistance to leakage flow increased as the number of tubes increased. They also indicated that leakage flow through the broached holes was not solely a function of the height of water above the TSP but also the surrounding geometrical topology and the flow characteristics. However, the analysis done for eight rows showed that the loss coefficient became constant after a certain number of rows as the loss coefficient differed by only 5% from the results of the four rows. From these results it was determined that the loss coefficient asymptotes to an estimated value of 4.0 which was implemented in the broached hole leakage flow in the 1/8th sector of the EOTSG. Computational models of the 1/8th sector of the EOTSG were implemented with the respective loss coefficients for the bypass and leakage flows. Results showed that as the AFW flow rate increased, the percentage wetted tubes increased. The data matched closely with AREVA's experimental-analytical model for flow rates of 14.5 l/s and higher. It was also deduced that complete wetting of the tubes is not possible at the maximum AFW flow rate of 65 l/s. / Master of Science

Aujourd’hui, la fabrication des turbomachines est conditionnée par des normes de plus en plus restrictives. L'enjeu industriel pour les chercheurs est d'envisager des solutions optimales visant à réduire les sources de perte d'énergie, d'instabilité et du bruit, en particulier l'écoulement de jeu (débit de fuite). Des actions préliminaires ont été élaborées à Arts & Métiers ParisTech sur le rotomoulage du ventilateur axial de refroidissement d'automobile. L'idée de ce travail est d'utiliser la forme creuse induite par le rotomoulage afin de l'exploiter dans le controle de l'écoulement de jeu radial par soufflage rotatif. Pour cela, la virole comporte des trous d'injection orientés de façon à réduire simultanément le débit de fuite et le couple. Dans ce travail, trois parties ont été traité. La première concerne la réalisation du ventilateur par rotomoulage. La deuxième concerne l'étude expérimentale menée dans le banc d'essai ISO 5801. Cette étude comporte la réalisation d'un montage dédié au contrôle par soufflage rotatif, la métrologie menée pour la détermination des performances globales et la caractérisation de la vitesse axiale du sillage proche. La troisième partie traite la modélisation numérique des conditions expérimentales rentables ensuite l'extrapolation du travail vers des taux d'injection importants. Pour ce dernier, on arrive à annuler le débit de fuite avec un gain considérable du couple mettant ainsi le ventilateur en autorotation. / Nowadays, the manufacture of turbomachinery is conditioned by more and more restrictive rules. The industrial challenge for researchers has to consider optimal solutions to reduce sources of energy loss, instability and noise, particularly the tip clearance flow (leakage flow rate). Preliminary actions have been developed at Arts & ParisTech on rotational molding process used for the automobile cooling axial fan. The idea of this work is to use the hollow shape induced by rotational molding process in order to exploit it in the control of tip clearance flow through rotary steady air injection. For this, the shroud ring is composed of injection holes oriented in such away to reduce both of leakage flow rate and the torque. In this work, the thesis focuses on three parts. The first concerns the build of the fan by rotational molding process. The second concerns the experimental study carried out in the ISO 5801 test bench. This study involves the realization of drive system dedicated to rotary steady air injection, metrology for performance determination and the characterization of the near wake axial velocity. The third part deals with the numerical modeling of efficient experimental conditions, then the extrapolation of work towards high injection rates. For this latter, it is possible to cancel leakage flow rate with a considerable gain of the torque thus putting the fan in autorotation.

This study presents the results of an experimental study that investigates the effects of uniform/waveform tip injection along the camberline on the total pressure loss characteristics downstream of a row of Low Pressure Turbine (LPT) blades. The experiments are performed in a low speed cascade facility. This injection technique involves spanwise jets at the tip that are issued from a series of holes along the camber line normal to the freestream flow direction. The injection mass flow rate from each hole is individually controlled using computer driven solenoid valves and therefore the flow injection geometrical pattern at the tip can be adjusted to any desired waveform shape, and can be uniform as well as waveform along the camber. Measurements involve Kiel probe traverses for different injection scenarios 0.5 axial chords downstream of the blades. Results show that, instead of performing uniform mass injection along the camberline, by selecting an appropriate waveform injection pattern one can reduce the total loss levels of the blade, including the tip leakage loss as well as the wake losses.

L'écoulement de jeu est un phénomène très important dans les turbomachines. Il provient du mouvement relatif entre la pale et la paroi d'extrémité, et la différence de pression à travers la pale. L'écoulement de jeu est extrêmement complexe pour sa nature tridimensionnelle et instable, et son existence conduit à de nombreux effets défavorables, par exemple, les pertes de performance aérodynamique et les émissions de bruit. C'est pourquoi l'écoulement de jeu a motivé de nombreuses recherches expérimentales et numériques. Afin d'améliorer la compréhension du écoulement de jeu et le bruit de large bande associé, une campagne de recherche a été menée au LMFA. En ce qui concerne l'écoulement de jeu, cette campagne de recherche comprend une expérience avec des technologies de mesure avancées, un calcul zonal LES et une série de calculs RANS / URANS. L'expérience et les simulations considèrent une configuration simple de l'écoulement de jeu à un faible nombre de Mach. Les résultats expérimentaux et numériques sont analysés de façon systématique et approfondie dans la présente étude. Enfin, des efforts sont déployés pour la modélisation et la prédiction du bruit à large bande avec des résultats expérimentaux et numériques. On observe dans l'expérience un système à multiple-tourbillon, avec une tourbillon de jeu intense. Les différentes analyses sur les caractéristiques d'écoulement montrent un bon accord entre l'expérience et le ZLES dans la région du écoulement de jeu. L'approche zonale (RANS-LES) s'avère être un outil puissant pour fournir une description détaillée du écoulement de jeu, avec un coût de calcul limité. Cependant, les calculs RANS et URANS surestiment globalement la diffusion de la tourbillon. En outre, l'oscillation du tourbillon de jeu est étudiée en utilisant des champs instantanés de PIV et l'amplitude d'oscillation est évaluée. La réponse dynamique de la tourbillon de jeu est également étudiée avec URANS aux fréquences choisies. Deux modèles de prédiction du bruit en champ lointain, correspondant à deux sources acoustiques différentes, sont reformulés et mis en oeuvre avec les données de champ proche des simulations numériques. Ces prédictions sont comparées aux mesures à champ lointain. En utilisant les données ZLES, le modèle de l’écoulement de jeu sur-estime le bruit généré dans la région de jeu. Le modèle de bruit de bord de fuite est implémenté avec les données ZLES et les données RANS et fournit une très bonne prédiction dans une large bande de fréquence. / The tip-leakage flow is a common flow feature in turbomachines. It originates from the relative motion between the blade tip and the end-wall, and the pressure difference across the blade. The tip-leakage flow is extremely complex for its three-dimensional unsteady nature, and its existence leads to many unfavourable effects, such as aerodynamic performance losses and noise emissions. These issues have motivated extensive experimental and numerical researches from both aerodynamic and aeroacoustic points of view. In order to improve the understanding of the tip-leakage flow and its associated broadband noise, a research campaign has been carried out at LMFA. Regarding the tip-leakage flow, this research campaign includes an experiment with advanced measurement technologies, a zonal LES computation and a series of RANS/URANS computations. Both the experiment and the simulations consider a single-airfoil configuration at low Mach number. Experimental and numerical results are analysed systematically and thoroughly in the current study. Finally, efforts are put on the broadband noise modelling and prediction based on the experimental and numerical results. A multi-vortex system with an intense tip-leakage vortex is observed in the experiment. The various analyses of the flow characteristics show a good agreement between the experiment and the ZLES in the blade tip region. The zonal (RANS-LES) approach proves itself to be a powerful tool to provide a detailed description of the tip-leakage flow, with a limited computational cost. However, the RANS and URANS computations globally over-estimate the diffusion of the tip-leakage vortex. Furthermore, the random oscillation of the tip-leakage vortex is investigated using PIV instantaneous flow fields and the wandering amplitude is evaluated. The dynamic response of the tip-leakage vortex is also studied with URANS at selected frequencies. Two far-field noise prediction models, corresponding to two different acoustic sources, are reformulated and implemented with the near-field data from the numerical simulations. These predictions are compared to the far-field measurements. Using the ZLES data as input, the blade-tip self-noise model is found to over-estimate the noise generated in the blade-tip region. The trailing-edge noise model is implemented with the time-averaged ZLES and the RANS near-field data, and yields a very good prediction within a broad range of frequency.

Ce travail de thèse, mené dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE entre Snecma, le CERFACS et le LMFA, s’inscrit dans un contexte d’amélioration des performances et d’extension de la plage de fonctionnement des compresseurs de type axial équipant les turboréacteurs. L’une des principales difficultés rencontrée dans cette démarche concerne la maîtrise des écoulements dans la zone de jeu en tête des aubes rotors et qui peuvent entraîner une perte de stabilité du système (pompage et décollement tournant).Une solution technologique prometteuse pour améliorer la stabilité est le traitement de carter qui consiste en un dispositif passif complexe de fentes implantées au carter au droit des rotors. En vue d’en améliorer sa conception, les travaux de thèse visent plus particulièrement à approfondir la compréhension des mécanismes d’action grâce à une approche numérique CFD avec le code elsA développé par l’ONERA et le CERFACS, en modélisation stationnaire et instationnaire. Ces travaux s’articulent autour de trois axes principaux. Le premier a eu pour objectif de développer un outil numérique d’aide à la compréhension des mécanismes d’action des traitements de carter et de diagnostic de leur efficacité. Le principe de l’outil, qui est une extension du modèle initialement proposé par Shabbir et Adamczyk, repose sur une évaluation des contributions des termes des équations de Navier-Stokes stationnaires et instationnaires sur un volume de contrôle pris dans l’écoulement. Dans le cas pratique, cela revient à quantifier les efforts appliqués sur le fluide. Le second axe traite de l’analyse des mécanismes d’action des traitements de carter axisymétriques dans deux compresseurs axiaux : l’un subsonique à carter cylindrique (CREATE) et l’autre transsonique à carter conique (NASA Rotor 37). Les enseignements de cette étude indiquent que ce type de géométrie est marqué par son effet d’aspiration de fluide dans la veine. Ce mécanisme est d’autant plus amplifié par un phénomène d’interaction complexe des fentes avec l’écoulement de jeu et la proximité de l’intrados de l’aube adjacente. Cette partie s’est également attardé à la réponse des rainures à un phénomène instationnaire de type sillage de roue amont. Les résultats ont montré que les fentes amortissent les fluctuations de gradient de pression adverse. Le troisième axe porte sur l’analyse des mécanismes des traitements de carter non-axisymétriques à travers l’étude numérique d’un cas test transsonique à carter cylindrique (CBUUA). Le mécanisme d’action améliorant la stabilité de la machine tient en la capacité des fentes à limiter la migration dans la direction circonférentielle du vortex de jeu. Les résultats montrent que ce type de géométrie est caractérisé par son effet de réinjection d’air qui vient ré-énergétiser l’écoulement proche carter. / This thesis work, conducted as part of a CIFRE agreement between Snecma, CERFACS and LMFA, deals with the context of improving performance and extending the operating range of axial compressors fitted turbojets. One of the main difficulties in this approach is the flow control in the rotor tip region, which can cause the loss of the system stability (surge and rotating stall). A promising technology known to bring substantial stability is the casing treatment. This passive control device consists of slots of complex geometry within the rotor casing. In order to improve its design, the thesis aimed specifically at improving the understanding of their mechanisms through a numerical approach using the CFD code elsA developed by ONERA and CERFACS, with steady and unsteady approaches. This work focused on three main axes. The first concerns the development of a numerical tool to support the understanding of casing treatment mechanisms and the diagnosis of their efficiency. The principle of the tool, which is an extension of the model originally proposed by Shabbir and Adamczyk, is based on an assessment of the contributions of the terms of the steady and unsteady Navier-Stokes equations on a control volume taken in the flow. In practice, this permits to quantify the forces applied to the fluid. The second axis deals with the analysis of the flow mechanisms induced by axisymetric casing treatments in two axial compressors : one subsonic with a cylindrical casing (CREATE) and the other transonic with a conical casing (NASA Rotor 37). The findings of this study indicate that this type of geometry is characterized by its bleeding effect. This mechanism is further amplified by a complex phenomenon of interaction between grooves, tip leakage vortex and the proximity to the pressure side of the adjacent blade. This part has also dwelt on the groove’s response to unsteady upstream stator wakes. The results showed that the slots are able to damp fluctuations of adverse pressure gradient. The third area concerns the analysis of the flow mechanisms induced by non-axisymmetric casing treatment through the numerical study of a transonic compressor with cylindrical casing (CBUUA). The mechanism leading to an enhancement of the stability results in slots ability to limit the migration in the circumferential direction of the tip leakage vortex. The results show that this type of geometry is characterized by its effect of re-injection of fluid that comes re-energize the near casing flow.

Tato diplomová práce otevírá otázku možnosti zlepšení vlastností kompresoru za pomoci numerické simulace proudění. Hlavním cílem je zvýšení operačního rozsahu na jednom stupni axiálního kompresoru s využitím zařízení pro pasivní kontrolu proudu umístěných ve skříni kompresoru. Prvně bylo prověřeno chování víru ve štěrbině mezi lopatkou a skříní následně celkové charakteristiky původního rotoru. Při snižování hmotnostního průtoku simulace odhalila zvýšený vliv koncového výru na hlavní proud. Navíc byl největší koncový vír v režimu blízkém odtrhávání proudění. Z tohoto důvodu byly pro kontrolu koncového víru navrženy čtyři verze drážkování implementováním sinusové úpravy geometrie. Tři ze čtyř testovaných verzí ukázaly možnost výrazného zvýšení rozsahu stabilního proudění. Nicméně prodlužení operačního rozsahu mělo za následek snížení celkové účinnosti. Na konec této práce jsou navrženy doporučení pro další výzkum.

External gear machines (EGMs) are used in a variety of industries ranging from fluid power machinery to fluid handling systems and fuel injection applications. Energy efficiency requirements and new trends in hydraulic technology necessitate the development of novel EGMs optimized for efficiency and reliability in all of these applications. A crucial piece in the novel EGM development process is a numerical model that can simulate the operation of EGM and predict its volumetric and hydro-mechanical performance.<div><br></div><div>The EGM simulation models developed in the past have focused mostly on the challenges related to the modeling of the theoretical behavior and elementary fluid dynamics, and determining appropriate modeling schemes. Key aspects related to the flow and geometry are either considered in a simplified manner or not considered at all. In particular, the current simulation models assume the fluid to be Newtonian and the leakage flows to be laminar. However, EGMs working in fluid handling applications operate with non-Newtonian fluids. Further, in fuel injection applications, due to low fluid viscosity and high operating speed, the internal leakage flows may not remain laminar.</div><div><br></div><div>With respect to the geometric aspects, the gears in EGMs are prone to manufacturing errors that are not accounted by any simulation model. In addition, there is no method available in the literature for accurately modeling the leakage flows through curve-constricted geometries in EGMs. Further, the goal of current simulation tools is related to the prediction of the volumetric performance of EGMs. However, an equally important characteristic, hydro-mechanical performance, is often ignored. Finally, the energy flow during EGM operation can result in the variation of the fluid temperature. Thus, the isothermal assumption of current simulation tools is another major limitation.</div><div><br></div><div>The work presented in this dissertation is focused on developing numerical methodologies for the modeling of EGMs that addresses all the aforementioned limitations of the current models. In this work, techniques for evaluating non-Newtonian internal flows in EGMs is developed to permit an accurate modelling of EGMs working with non-Newtonian fluids. For fuel injection EGMs, flow regime at the tooth tips of the gears is investigated and it is shown that the flow becomes turbulent for such EGMs. A methodology for modeling this turbulent flow is proposed and its impact on the performance of EGMs is described. To include gear manufacturing errors in the simulation model, numerical techniques are developed for modeling the effects of two common gear manufacturing errors: conicity and concentricity. These two errors are shown to have an opposite impact on the volumetric efficiency of the EGM. For the evaluation of flows through curve-constricted leakage paths in EGMs, a novel flow model is developed in this work that is applicable for a wide range of geometry and flow conditions. Modeling of the hydro-mechanical efficiency of EGMs is accomplished by developing methodologies for the evaluation of torque losses at key interfaces. Finally, to account for the thermal effects in EGMs, a thermal model is developed to predict the temperature distribution in the EGM and its impact on the EGM performance.</div><div><br></div><div><div>To validate the numerical methodologies developed in this work, several experiments are conducted on commercial gear pumps as well as on a custom apparatus designed and manufactured in the course of this research work. The results from the experiments are found to match those obtained from the simulations which indicates the validity of the methodologies developed in this work. </div><div><br></div><div>These numerical methodologies are based on the lumped parameter approach to allow the coupling with mechanical models for gear micromotion and permit fast computations so that the model can be used in optimization algorithms to develop energy efficient and reliable EGMs.</div><div><br></div><div>The methodologies described in the dissertation are useful for accurate analysis of a variety of EGMs working with different types of fluids and at wide range of operating conditions. This capability will be valuable for pump designers in developing novel better performing EGM designs optimized for various applications.</div><div><br></div></div>