b'Plant & Process | Engineer InnovationHarnessing the Power of the WindBy Jo Loenders, Product Management Engineer, ZF Wind PowerThe use of SimcenterTM FlomasterTMThese paths are rarely naturally equalin Simcenter Flomaster dont require software allows a significantwith regards to pressure drop, so it isnew validation. And with the ability to streamlining of the developmentnecessary to implement restrictions indetermine flow rates and pressures process. From the very beginning,some lines to ensure the flow isanywhere in the model, the verification creating the fluid model is easy andbalanced. In Simcenter Flomaster, theof the system against test data from intuitive. Model construction is done byFlow Balancing functionality allows thisflow measuring devices under realistic simply adding predefined componentsto be done directly instead of through acircumstances was easy.to the schematic and connecting themtime consuming iterative design as designed. When it is necessary toprocess. For each flow path, it is possibleFor ZF Wind Power, the use of make changes to the model it is asto simply set the desired flow rate in theSimcenter Flomaster leads to an simple as replacing components,part that needs to be sized, such as anefficient way of developing oil changing connections, or editing in orifice, pipe, or valve, and the softwaredistribution networks for their wind the Simcenter Flomaster model, insteadcalculates the required size. turbine gearboxes. It allows for the of updating input data or evenreduction in design resources and changing the coding in the ExcelThe use of Simcenter Flomaster alsovalidation effort giving a good return on calculation sheet.meant the possibility of a simple andinvestment. The use of Simcenter quick validation of the models sinceFlomaster within ZF Wind Power has It is also possible to reduce the designeach component comes with validationresulted in an efficient way of time needed to size distribution lines fordata and results. This means that unlikedeveloping oil distribution networks for required flow rates. In wind turbinein-house programming where each timewind turbine gearboxes. ngearboxes there is always more thandesign changes require code changes one flow path that requires fluid flow.and thus new validation, model updates Figure 2. Simcenter Flomaster oil distribution model Figure 3. Flow meter verification testing19'