When it comes to training engineers, a fundamental aspect that remains essential across all engineering disciplines is an understanding of flow theory.
Flow theory encompasses not only liquids but also gasses and energy and can be found in applications in Aerodynamics, Control Engineering, Process Control Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Engines, Environmental Control and Alternative Energy to name but a few! It goes without saying that regardless of an engineer’s discipline, they will need to understand some aspects of flow theory.
However, teaching flow theory, as with any other theory, can be very dry when taught by rote. This can result in students understanding the theory but the practical applications and the ability to visualise the theory in practice is lacking. Engaging students in rote teaching methods can also prove challenging. Even by the middle of the twentieth century, specialised equipment for visually demonstrating engineering theory just did not exist, leaving tutors reliant on blackboards, textbooks, and pens and paper.
A solution to this problem arose unexpectedly on a train journey from London to Nottingham in 1958. Two strangers, Joseph Pope, a mechanical engineering professor at Nottingham University, and William Cope, a renowned clockmaker, became engaged in a conversation in their train compartment as Joseph expressed his need for practical equipment to better engage his students and demonstrate engineering principles in action. Intrigued by the challenge, William Cope was eager to see if there was a solution to this problem and whether there were more people like Joseph who wanted practical teaching equipment. This chance encounter led to the establishment of a new company called TecQuipment, a company dedicated to manufacturing equipment to practically demonstrate engineering principles to students.
As a result of this venture, the very first sale on 27th February 1959 was of a Venturi meter to Doncaster Education Committee. So right at its birth the company was producing equipment to measure flow rate.
What is flow?
If we define flow (of a liquid, gas, or energy) in its most basic form as ‘movement in a steady continuous stream.’......
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