Measurements of the Mean Flow Velocity and Velocity Fluctuations at the Exit of an FC Centrifugal Fan Rotor

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Raj ◽  
W. B. Swim
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Flow Region ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Centrifugal Fans ◽  
Visualization Techniques

The flow from a small forward curved fan rotor was studied to provide guidance for fan design. The single width fan had a 0.23 m rotor containing 48 blades. It is typical of the centrifugal fans used in small air-conditioning units. Visualization techniques and hot wire measurements showed the rotor flow to be highly turbulent and strongly three-dimensional. The inlet flow was found to fill only 3/4 of the blade span. The shroud end of the rotor was an inactive or separated region. A jet-wake pattern occurred at the blade exit in the active flow region. The inlet flow separated at the leading edge of the blade suction surface. Design changes are offered to improve the performance of FC fans.

Experimental Study of Flow Inside a Centrifugal Fan Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davis W. Hoffman ◽  
Laura Villafañe ◽  
Christopher J. Elkins ◽  
John K. Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Outlet Flow ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Three-dimensional, three-component time-averaged velocity fields have been measured within a low-speed centrifugal fan with forward curved blades. The model investigated is representative of fans commonly used in automotive HVAC applications. The flow was analyzed at two Reynolds numbers for the same ratio of blade rotational speed to outlet flow velocity. The flow patterns inside the volute were found to have weak sensitivity to Reynolds number. A pair of counter-rotating vortices evolve circumferentially within the volute with positive and negative helicity in the upper and lower regions, respectively. Measurements have been further extended to capture phase-resolved flow features by synchronizing the data acquisition with the blade passing frequency. The mean flow field through each blade passage is presented including the jet-wake structure extending from the blade and the separation zone on the suction side of the blade leading edge.

Aeroelastic Instability in Transonic Fans

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Vahdati ◽  
Nick Cumpsty
Keyword(s):  
Mass Flow ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Blade Vibration ◽  
Stall Flutter ◽  
Fan Blade

This paper describes stall flutter, which can occur at part speed operating conditions near the stall boundary. Although it is called stall flutter, this phenomenon does not require the stalling of the fan blade in the sense that it can occur when the slope of the pressure rise characteristic is still negative. This type of flutter occurs with low nodal diameter forward traveling waves and it occurs for the first flap (1F) mode of blade vibration. For this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code has been applied to a real fan of contemporary design; the code has been found to be reliable in predicting mean flow and aeroelastic behavior. When the mass flow is reduced, the flow becomes unstable, resulting in flutter or in stall (the stall perhaps leading to surge). When the relative tip speed into the fan rotor is close to sonic, it is found (by measurement and by computation) that the instability for the fan blade considered in this work results in flutter. The CFD has been used like an experimental technique, varying parameters to understand what controls the instability behavior. It is found that the flutter for this fan requires a separated region on the suction surface. It is also found that the acoustic pressure field associated with the blade vibration must be cut-on upstream of the rotor and cut-off downstream of the rotor if flutter instability is to occur. The difference in cut off conditions upstream and downstream is largely produced by the mean swirl velocity introduced by the fan rotor in imparting work and pressure rise to the air. The conditions for instability therefore require a three-dimensional geometric description and blades with finite mean loading. The third parameter that governs the flutter stability of the blade is the ratio of the twisting motion to the plunging motion of the 1F mode shape, which determines the ratio of leading edge (LE) displacement to the trailing edge (TE) displacement. It will be shown that as this ratio increases the onset of flutter moves to a lower mass flow.

Experimental Study of Flow Inside a Centrifugal Fan Using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry

2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davis W. Hoffman ◽  
Laura Villafañe ◽  
Christopher J. Elkins ◽  
John K. Eaton
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Outlet Flow ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D), three-component time-averaged velocity fields have been measured within a low-speed centrifugal fan with forward curved (FC) blades. The model investigated is representative of fans commonly used in automotive applications. The flow was analyzed at two Reynolds numbers for the same ratio of blade rotational speed to outlet flow velocity. The flow patterns inside the volute were found to have weak sensitivity to Reynolds number. A pair of counter-rotating vortices evolves circumferentially within the volute with positive and negative helicity in the upper and lower regions, respectively. Measurements have been further extended to capture phase-resolved flow features by synchronizing the data acquisition with the blade passing frequency. The mean flow field through each blade passage is presented including the jet-wake structure extending from the blade and the separation zone on the suction side of the blade leading edge.

Secondary Flow and Loss Distribution in a Radial Compressor With Untwisted Backswept Vanes

1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Sipos
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Meridional Flow ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Loss Distribution ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Radial Compressor

The unshrouded impeller and the vaneless diffuser of a single-stage radial compressor have been investigated at three flow rates. Three-dimensional velocities and pressures were measured at a tip speed of 84 m/s by an L2F-velocimeter, a slanted single hot-wire probe and piezoresistive pressure transducers. The measurements show that upstream the blading the averaged meridional inlet flow angle is about 54 degree and a periodical variation of the meridional flow angle of about 25 degree occurs near the casing wall. Further, an inlet vortex of clockwise direction appears and an initial whirl is induced. The specific work of the initial whirl corresponds to approximately 12% of the enthalpy losses between inlet pipe and diffuser outlet. In the beginning of the passage, the inlet vortex is suppressed and a solid body vortex of counterclockwise direction can be observed. At the outlet, a heavy flow deceleration at the blade suction side with subsequent separation can be seen. Increasing the flow rate decreases the wake and causes a more uniform loss distribution in this area. The measured secondary vortex flow and rotary stagnation pressure gradients are compared with test results from impellers with inducer. The incidence of the investigated impeller is greater than that of the impellers with inducer, but the wake-jet outlet flows are very similar. Inlet losses could be reduced by improving incidence angles by matching the blade angles to the inlet flow angles. Smaller blade angles at the shroud would reduce or eliminate separation at the leading edge, and the resulting reduction in low momentum fluid along the suction surface would help to avoid separation on that surface near the outlet.

Secondary Flow and Loss Distribution in a Radial Compressor With Untwisted Backswept Vanes

1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (4) ◽  
pp. 686-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Sipos
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Periodic Variation ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Inlet Flow ◽  
Loss Distribution ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Radial Compressor

The unshrouded impeller and the vaneless diffuser of a single-stage radial compressor have been investigated at three flow rates. Three-dimensional velocities and pressures were measured at a tip speed of 84 m/s by an L2F-velocimeter, a slanted single hotwire probe, and piezoresistive pressure transducers. The measurements show that upstream of the blading the averaged meridional inlet flow angle is about 54 deg and a periodic variation of the meridional flow angle of about 25 deg occurs near the casing wall. Further, an inlet vortex in the clockwise direction appears and an initial whirl is induced. The specific work of the initial whirl corresponds to approximately 12 percent of the enthalpy losses between inlet pipe and diffuser outlet. In the beginning of the passage, the inlet vortex is suppressed and a solid body vortex in the counterclockwise direction can be observed. At the outlet, a heavy flow deceleration at the blade suction side with subsequent separation can be seen. Increasing the flow rate decreases the wake and causes a more uniform loss distribution in this area. The measured secondary vortex flow and rotary stagnation pressure gradients are compared with test results from impellers with inducer. The incidence of the investigated impeller is greater than that of the impellers with inducer, but the wake-jet outlet flows are very similar. Inlet losses could be reduced by improving incidence angles by matching the blade angles to the inlet flow angles. Smaller blade angles at the shroud would reduce or eliminate separation at the leading edge, and the resulting reduction in low-momentum fluid along the suction surface would help to avoid separation on that surface near the outlet.

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Supersonic Boundary Layer Stability on the Swept Wing

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 34-38
Author(s):  
Sergey A. Gaponov ◽  
Yuri G. Yermolaev ◽  
Aleksandr D. Kosinov ◽  
Nikolay V. Semionov ◽  
Boris V. Smorodsky
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Supersonic Boundary Layer ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Swept Wing ◽  
Wing Model ◽  
Dimensional Boundary ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Good Agreement

Theoretical and an experimental research results of the disturbances development in a swept wing boundary layer are presented at Mach number М = 2. In experiments development of natural and small amplitude controllable disturbances downstream was studied. Experiments were carried out on a swept wing model with a lenticular profile at a zero attack angle. The swept angle of a leading edge was 40°. Wave parameters of moving disturbances were determined. In frames of the linear theory and an approach of the local self-similar mean flow the stability of a compressible three-dimensional boundary layer is studied. Good agreement of the theory with experimental results for transversal scales of unstable vertices of the secondary flow was obtained. However the calculated amplification rates differ from measured values considerably. This disagreement is explained by the nonlinear processes observed in experiment

Numerical Simulation of Clocking Effect on Wake Transportation and Interaction in a 1.5-Stage Axial Turbine

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Hua Ouyang ◽  
Zhao-hui Du
Keyword(s):  
Stokes Equations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Navier Stokes ◽  
Maximum Efficiency ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Navier Stokes Equations ◽  
Pressure Surface ◽  
Turbine Efficiency ◽  
Small Influence

To give insight into the clocking effect and its influence on the wake transportation and its interaction, the unsteady three-dimensional flow through a 1.5-stage axial low pressure turbine is simulated numerically using a density-correction based, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes equations commercial CFD code. The 2nd stator clocking is applied over ten equal tangential positions. The results show that the harmonic blade number ratio is an important factor affecting the clocking effect. The clocking effect has a very small influence on the turbine efficiency in this investigation. The efficiency difference between the maximum and minimum configuration is nearly 0.1%. The maximum efficiency can be achieved when the 1st stator wake enters the 2nd stator passage near blade suction surface and its adjacent wake passes through the 2nd stator passage close to blade pressure surface. The minimum efficiency appears if the 1st stator wake impinges upon the leading edge of the 2nd stator and its adjacent wake of the 1st stator passed through the mid-channel in the 2nd stator.

Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of Turbulent Flow in Volute

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akitomo Igarashi ◽  
Kazuyuki Toda ◽  
Makoto Yamamoto ◽  
Toshimichi Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Flow Conditions ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Fan Performance ◽  
Centrifugal Fans ◽  
Good Agreement

The performance of centrifugal fans is considerably influenced by the design of tongue at the re-circulation port. The flow in the volute of a centrifugal fan was studied both experimentally and numerically. In this experiment, flow angle, pressure and velocity profiles were measured at a large number of locations in the volute. The flow field in the volute passage was analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The flow was assumed to be three dimensional, turbulent and steady. The numerical simulation produced qualitatively good agreement with the experimental result. The results from experiment and numerical simulation indicated that the adoption of a re-circulating flow port improved fan performance for all flow conditions. In addition, the existence of strong secondary flow was apparent at the cross-section of the volute passage.

An experience-independent inverse design optimization method of compressor cascade airfoil

2019 ◽  
Vol 233 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Zhu ◽  
Yaping Ju ◽  
Chuhua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Design Optimization ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Inverse Design ◽  
Compressor Cascade ◽  
Suction Surface ◽  
Inverse Design Method

Most of the inverse design methods of turbomachinery experience the shortcoming where the target aerodynamic parameters need to be manually specified depending on the designers’ experience and insight, making the design result aleatory and even deviated from the real optimal solution. To tackle this problem, an experience-independent inverse design optimization method is proposed and applied to the redesign of a compressor cascade airfoil in this study. The experience-independent inverse design optimization method can automatically obtain the target pressure distribution along the cascade airfoil through the genetic algorithm, rather than through the manual specification approach. The shape of cascade airfoil is then solved by the adjoint method. The effectiveness of the experience-independent inverse design optimization method is demonstrated by two inverse design cases of the compressor cascade airfoil, i.e. the inverse design of only the suction surface and the inverse design of both the suction and pressure surfaces. The results show that the proposed inverse design method is capable of significantly improving the aerodynamic performance of the compressor cascade. At the examined flow condition, a thin airfoil profile is beneficial to flow accelerations near the leading edge and flow separation avoidance near the trailing edge. The proposed inverse design method is quite generic and can be extended to the three-dimensional inverse design of advanced compressor blades.

Flow Survey of a Forward Curved Blades Centrifugal Fan for HVAC Applications

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Breviario ◽  
Dario Brivio ◽  
Lucio Cardillo ◽  
Alessandro Corsini ◽  
Giovanni Delibra
Keyword(s):  
Total Pressure ◽  
Acoustic Emissions ◽  
Pressure Rise ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Centrifugal Fans ◽  
Flow Features ◽  
Curved Blade ◽  
New Generation

The advancements in fan technology are nowadays animated by two major drivers: the legal requirements that impose minimum fan efficiency grades for fans sold within European Union (and soon US and Asia), and the market request for better air performance and lower sound emissions. Within HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning) applications, centrifugal fans with forward curved blades are widely used due to the higher total pressure rise capability and lower acoustic emissions with respect to more efficient backward curved blades. However the continuous rise of minimum fan efficiency grades pushes the manufacturers to develop a new generation of forward curved centrifugal fans, improving previous design. Here the challenge is not only on aerodynamics, but in the overall production process, as squirrel cage fans are characterised by a cost-effective consolidated technology, based on simple blade geometries and easy series manufacturing. For example, the blades usually have circular camber lines, as results of cut cylinders. Thus, once the number of blades and the angle at the leading edge are selected, the chord and the deflection capability are constrained as well. These concurring aspects led industry to include in the design process new tools, in particular CFD, to analyse the flow features of the current generation of fans in order to understand which phenomena are to be either controlled or exploited to increase efficiency and total pressure rise. Here we present a numerical investigation on a forward curved blade centrifugal fan for HVAC applications, to highlight the flow features inside the impeller and in the critical region of coupling with the volute. The analysis was carried out with OpenFOAM, an open-source library for CFD. Computations were performed with the frozen rotor approach and validated against available experimental data.

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