Harnessing Fusion Innovations: LTCloud Drives Automotive and Oil & Gas Advancements
Amidst the ever-evolving landscape of technological breakthroughs, the fusion of expertise from one industry with the needs of another often sparks remarkable innovations. Such is the case with LTCloud, a cutting-edge parametric Finite Element (FE) modeling and analysis tool originally developed within the realm of fusion research, now finding its applications in both the automotive and oil & gas sectors.
LTCloud : an analysis and modelling tool designed for fusion
LTCloud emerged from the extensive expertise of the LTCalcoli Team in employing Abaqus for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) within tokamak components. Crafted to meet the demanding requirements of fusion projects, LTCloud represents a fusion-derived parametric FE modeling and analysis tool designed for complex component design. Its inception was rooted in the fusion context, where intricate designs demanded precise analysis and modeling to ensure optimal performance and safety.
Revolutionizing Automotive Design
The first foray of LTCloud beyond fusion found its home in the automotive industry, particularly in Italy. Leveraging its capabilities, the technology was transferred to facilitate the thermal analysis of automotive components, notably the valves within engines. Through a collaborative effort, a parametric model was developed in-house and shared via LTCloud, allowing for swift exploration of various design parameters affecting the valve’s thermal performance.
Figure 1 Isometric and Section View of the Valve
A section of valve passing through the flap connection show the geometry of the bearing and spacers.
Figure 2 – section showing flap connection to valve with bearing and spacers
This collaboration empowered automotive engineers with faster product design optimization, enabling them to swiftly investigate the thermal behaviors of valves under different engine power regimes. By modulating inputs and parameters, the customer gained valuable insights into optimizing valve performance, without the need for costly and time-consuming experimental tests. For the donor, LT Calcoli, this marked a significant expansion of their services into thermal calculations within the automotive sector, enhancing their portfolio and expertise.
Figure 3 – FE model for Thermal Analysis
Innovating Oil & Gas Pipelines
The journey of LTCloud continued as it found its second application in the oil & gas industry, once again in Italy. This time, LTCloud was employed to conduct FE thermal transient parametric simulations of pipe junctions, crucial for offshore applications. By simulating the welding of coated pipes and analyzing temperature distributions, the technology enabled engineers to optimize parameters to ensure the integrity of the pipeline coatings.
Figure 3- Pipe Junction schematic view
Figure 4 – FE mesh of Parametric Model in Abaqus
Figure 5 – Position of points of interest for Temperature evaluation along axial and circumferential coordinates
Figure 6 – Temperature variation in function of time in a point of the pipe
Through LTCloud, the receiver in the oil & gas sector bypassed costly experimental tests, instead leveraging parametric simulations to identify optimized parameters for pipe laying processes in offshore contexts. This not only led to cost savings but also streamlined the design process, enhancing overall efficiency and productivity. Meanwhile, for the technology donor, LT Calcoli, this venture further solidified their expertise in parametric modeling and expanded their capabilities in programming large-scale models, enriching their know-how and service offerings.
Continuing the Innovation Journey
The journey of LTCloud exemplifies the transformative potential of technology transfer, bridging the gap between industries and fostering innovation. From its origins in fusion research to its applications in the automotive and oil & gas sectors, LTCloud underscores the power of collaboration and adaptation in driving progress. As industries continue to intersect and innovate, such stories serve as beacons of inspiration, paving the way for future advancements fueled by cross-industry synergy and expertise exchange.