Invited Lecture I − jointly organized by OS1, OS3 and OS9
July 5th (Sunday) 11:50–12:30 RoomA
Pump Design Method Enhancement Based on a Combination of Detailed 3D
Geometry, High-Fidelity CFD, and Design Space Exploration
Lecturer
Dr. Oliver Velde (CFturbo GmbH)
Dr. Oliver Velde graduated with a Diploma degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Technology Dresden in 1996 and received his PhD from the same institution in 2002. After holding various positions in industry,he joined CFturbo as a Senior Scientist in 2008. He is responsible for the development and implementation of turbomachinery design methods within the conceptual design package CFturbo.
Summary
Parametric 3D-CAD-systems, high-fidelity simulation CFD and FEA codes, DoE (Design of Experiment) and optimization software are today standard tools in the design of turbomachinery. Integrated workflows based on these CAE tools allow for the design of highly efficient pumps. Sound design theory is ssential for obtaining an initial design that meets the required performance targets, such as high efficiency and low axial thrust etc. But since important geometric features like fillets, balance holes, secondary flow path, back blades, to name a few, are often not explicitly represented in conventional design correlations it is a must that their influence on performance and efficiency must be considered in the design and in its validation. A more accurate and enhanced theory would include correlations that reflect the influence of those features.
The pump design theory is well established and widely used with good success when the primary flow path design is considered. However, if the above-mentioned features are present or when the pump design falls outside the range covered by current design correlations (e.g., very low specific speed or flow rate) the established design theory lacks accuracy and needs more advanced design rules.
Two examples will be presented that show how CAE tools like sensitivity analysis, optimization, and surrogate modelling are used to derive enhancements of established design theory or completely new theories. One is about considering the influence of back blades in pump impeller design, the other is about a comprehensive design method of side channel pumps. Both improvements were enabled by the systematic application of design space exploration methods together with parametric geometry modelling and high-fidelity CFD simulations.
Invited Lecture II − jointly organized by OS1, OS6 and OS11
July 5th (Sunday) 15:50–16:30 RoomA
Experimental Investigation of a Single-Stage Centrifugal Liquid Methane Pump
Lecturer
Mr. Christopher Groll (German Aerospace Center (DLR))
Christopher Groll obtained his Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering form Delft University of Technology in 2018. Having been accepted into DLR’s German Graduate Trainee Programme he supported numerical as well as experimental activities of the European Space Agency aimed at the investigation of the environmental impact of solid propellant rocket motor exhaust. He currently works as a researcher in the DLR Institute of Space Propulsion’s Turbomachinery Group where he focuses on the design, manufacturing and testing of propellant pumps with a special interest in the simulation and mitigation of cavitation in cryogenic liquids.
Summary
Centrifugal pumps play an essential role in a wide range of high thrust chemical liquid propellant rocket engines. While high combustion chamber pressures enable compact and performant rocket engines, low propellant tank pressures allow minimizing the structural mass of the rocket. These opposing goals are united by employing turbopumps, single or multi-stage pumps driven by a turbine. Utilizing combustion chamber coolant to drive the turbine allows for a simple and compact engine cycle design. As overall engine mass
shall be minimal, small turbomachinery and therefore high rotational rates are usually encountered. In combination with low pump inlet pressures cavitation becomes a mayor concern when designing and operating these pumps.
This lecture presents the findings of an experimental campaign investigating the cavitating and non-cavitating performance of the liquid Methane pump of DLR’s Liquid Upper stage demonstrator EngiNe (LUMEN), an expander-bleed rocket engine producing 25 kN of thrust.
The test specimen, an additively manufactured centrifugal pump, as well as the experimental setup, a combination of one of DLR’s cryogenic test cells and the recently commissioned mobile modular turbopump testbench, are introduced in detail. Pump characteristics recorded for multiple speeds are presented and compared to data obtained during full engine operation. The impact of increased cavitation on pump performance is investigated in separate test sequences. Here the pump inlet pressure is lowered until a loss in delivered head is detected while volume flow as well as rotational rate are actively controlled. Data collected for different load points and rotational rates is compared and found to reenforce safety margins imposed for LUMEN engine operation. As post-test inspections reveal no damage, manufacturing and design methods applied to this pump are accepted for the next generation of machines.
Invited Lecture III − jointly organized by OS2 and OS5
July 6th (Monday) 15:20–16:00 RoomA
Technology Development and Sea Trials of an Ocean Wave Energy Converter: Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Future Opportunities
Lecturer
Prof. Abdus Samad (Indian Institute of Technology Madras)
Prof. Abdus Samad is Professor and Head of the Department of Ocean Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), India. He received his B.Tech. and M.Tech. degrees from Aligarh Muslim University, India, and his Ph.D. from Inha University, South Korea. Prior to joining IITM in 2010, he worked at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He was a Brain Pool Fellow at Seoul National University in 2015. He received the India Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in 2011 at the University of Nottingham, UK, and the Pace Fellowship at the University of Hawaii. His research interests include marine renewable energy, fluid machinery, computational fluid dynamics, optimization, artificial intelligence applications in engineering, and offshore oil and gas systems. He has published more than 180 journal articles, authored a book, edited several volumes, and holds multiple patents. He currently leads research on wave energy conversion and offshore renewable energy systems at the Wave Energy and Fluids Engineering Laboratory (WEFEL) at IITM.
Summary
Ocean wave energy has the potential to become an important component of the future renewable energy mix, particularly for coastal nations with significant wave resources. Despite decades of research worldwide, the commercialization of wave energy technologies remains limited due to numerous technical, economic, and operational challenges. This keynote presents the journey of developing a point absorber wave energy converter at IIT Madras, from concept development and numerical modeling to laboratory testing, prototype fabrication, and sea trials along the Indian coastline.
The presentation discusses the major engineering challenges encountered during technology development, including hydrodynamic design, power take-off selection, structural reliability, mooring design, survivability, deployment logistics, and operation in a harsh marine environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the gap between laboratory performance and real-sea operation, highlighting lessons learned from multiple field deployments and testing campaigns. The challenges associated with technology scaling, system integration, environmental loading, reliability, and maintenance are also discussed. Sea-trial results from the Sindhuja-I wave energy converter are presented to illustrate the opportunities and limitations of small-scale wave energy systems in the Indian Ocean. The experiences gained have highlighted the practical challenges associated with technology maturation, field deployment, performance assessment, scalability, and cost reduction. The sea trials have also demonstrated the importance of iterative design improvements and field validation in advancing wave energy technologies from laboratory prototypes toward real-world applications.
Future directions for wave energy research and commercialization are presented, emphasizing the need for sustained field testing, multidisciplinary collaboration, supportive policy frameworks, and innovative engineering solutions to accelerate the deployment of reliable, resilient, and economically viable marine renewable energy systems.
Invited Lecture IV − jointly organized by OS3 and OS4
July 7th (Tuesday) 10:50–11:30 RoomA
Intake Aerodynamic Technology Investigations for Aircraft Engines
Lecturer
Mr. Yoshinori Oba (IHI Corporation)
Yoshinori Oba received his Master of Engineering degree of University of Tokyo in 1994. He joined the Advanced Technology Department, Aero Engine-Space Division of Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries in 1997. He worked in the CFD and aerodynamic technology development of jet engines from 1997 to He investigated jet noise suppression technologies like “Notch Nozzle” or “Micro Jet Nozzle” to minimize aerodynamic loss through “Japanese Environmentally Compatible Engine for Small Aircraft Project (ECO-Engine Project)” and “Japanese-French Jet Noise Collaborative Program” supported by NEDO from 2006 to 2013.
From 2011 to 2014, He joined PW1100G-JM geared turbofan engine project for A320neo aircraft to design fan and structural guide vane which achieve high aerodynamic performance and noise suppression by collaboration with Pratt & Whitney. He became the manager of “System and Environment Technology Group” of IHI Corporation in 2016. He is continuing to develop latest technologies and integration design including the inlet and the exhaust nozzle for future aircraft engines.
Summary
For demands of lower specific fuel consumption and environmental impact of aircraft transport, turbofan engine development continues towards ever increasing bypass ratio in engines. In designing higher bypass
ratio engines, the larger fan diameter and nacelle size result in increase in nacelle drag and weight. A short intake and slim-line nacelle are needed technologies to minimize the impact of larger fan diameter on nacelle aerodynamic performances and weight in the future civil aircraft. However, a short intake may reduce internal aerodynamic diffusion capability and increase risk of fan inlet distortion due to occurrence of boundary layer separation on inlet surfaces. The flow phenomena that occur in an intake are investigated using a small rotating fan test rig in Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using test data validated the technical capabilities in experimental methods and CFD analysis that will contribute to the development of future fuel-efficient aircraft engines.