Fluidteknik

Fluidteknik, or fluid technology, is the engineering discipline concerned with the behavior, control, and utilization of liquids and gases in engineering systems. It encompasses the principles of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and energy conversion, and spans hydraulic and pneumatic power, cooling and lubrication, and microfluidic systems. The field integrates theory, modeling, and practical design to enable efficient transport, actuation, and processing of fluids in a wide range of applications.

Core areas include fluid dynamics and gas–liquid flows, hydraulics and pneumatics, and fluid-power systems that convert fluid energy into motion and force. Thermal-fluid sciences address heat transfer and thermodynamics in fluids, while computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimental methods (flow visualization, PIV, flow meters) support design and optimization. Subfields such as lubrication, two-phase flow, multiphase engineering, and microfluidics address specialized regimes.

Typical components and equipment in fluidteknik include pumps, compressors, turbines, valves, actuators, piping networks, heat exchangers, and sensors. Control systems manage flow rates, pressures, and temperatures, while fluid-structure interaction analyzes the coupling between fluids and solid components. Materials selection and surface engineering influence friction, wear, and sealing in fluid systems.

Applications span automotive systems (braking, steering, transmission cooling), aerospace actuators, process industries, energy production (hydropower, cooling circuits), water supply and wastewater treatment, chemical processing, and medical devices, including microfluidic platforms for diagnostics. Education in fluidteknik is typically within mechanical, chemical, or aerospace engineering, with focus on modeling, experimentation, and sustainability, and ongoing research on smart fluids, energy efficiency, and multiphase flows.