Fluid engineering, FHNW School of Engineering and Environment

Fluid engineering involves the assessment of flows by determining and analysing force effects, pressures and velocities. This knowledge is important for the development, design and improvement of flow or flow-conducting components and the associated processes.

At the institute, fluid engineering encompasses modeling, testing, and validation to enable well-founded, efficient, and application-oriented improvements. Examples of applications include the design of atomizing nozzles, cooling channels, compressors, or turbines. Such designs investigate the influence of different dimensions and operating conditions to achieve maximum efficiency and performance. Applications range from low-pressure to high-pressure systems, including considerations of phase changes, among others.

The institute has extensive experience and expertise in test rig development. This allows the creation of realistic testing environments for fluid engineering challenges. The test rigs make it possible to simulate various conditions and scenarios to examine problematic operating states and develop concrete solutions. In addition, flow simulations (CFD) and optical measurement techniques are used to visualize and analyze flows. Airflows can also be studied in our instrumented wind tunnels (Göttingen and supersonic wind tunnels).

A concrete example of our work at the institute is the successful development of new energy-efficient snow lances. The technical know-how in fluid engineering, combined with laboratory experiments, was essential to optimize both the lance design and operating conditions, maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.