Unsteady flow condition of contra-rotating small-sized axial fan

Small-sized axial fans are used as air cooler for electric equipments.But there is a strong demand for higher power of fans according to the increase of quantity of heat from electric devices.Therefore,higher rotational speed design is conducted,although,it causes the deterioration of efficiency and the increase of noise.Then,the adoption of contra-rotating rotors for the small-sized axial fan is proposed for the improvement of performance.In the case of contra-rotating rotors,it is necessary to design the rotor considering the unsteady flow condition of each front and rear rotor.In the present paper,the fan performance of the contra-rotating small-sized axial fan with 100mm diameter at a designed and a partial flow rates is shown,and the unsteady flow conditions at the inlet and the outlet of each front and rear rotor are clarified with unsteady numerical results.Furthermore,the relation between the performance and the unsteady flow condition of the contra-rotating small-sized axial fan is discussed and the methods to improve the performance are considered.     

Pressure measurement on casing wall and blade rows interaction of contra-rotating axial flow pump

An application of contra-rotating rotors has been proposed against a demand for developing higher specific speed axial flow pump. The blade rows interaction between front and rear rotors should be clarified for its stable operation and reduction of unsteady losses. In this paper, the static pressure distributions on casing wall are provided by measuring with the phase locked sampling method. The measurements are carried out for two types of the rear rotors with different blade number and chord length, and it is found that, for both types of rotors, the unsteady pressure fluctuations are more remarkable in the front rotor than in the rear rotor and they are caused by the rear rotor pressure field. The effects of pressure fluctuations will be discussed in more details toward understanding the blade rows interaction in the contra-rotating axial flow pump.     

Performance test and flow measurement of contra-rotating axial flow pump

An application of contra-rotating rotors has been proposed against a demand for developing higher specificspeed axial flow pump.In the present paper,the advantage and disadvantage of using contra-rotating rotorsare described in comparison with conventional type of rotor-stator,based on theoretical and experimentalinvestigations.The advantages are as follows:(1)The pump is inherently designed as smaller sized and atlower rotational speed.(2)A stable head-characteristic curve for flow rate with negative slope appears.(3)As the rear rotor rotational speed is varied as independent control of front rotor,the wider range of highperformance operation is obtained by rear rotor speed control in addition to front rotor speed control.Thedisadvantages are as follows:(1)The structure of double shaft system becomes complex.(2)The pumpperformance is inferior at over flow rate as the rear rotor loading is weakened.(3)The blade rows interac-tion from rear rotor to front rotor more strongly appears.Then the rear rotor design is a key to achievehigher pump performance.Some methods to overcome these disadvantages will be discussed in more detailstoward wider usage of contra-rotating axial flow pump in various industrial fields.     

Experimental analysis of flow structure in contra-rotating axial flow pump designed with different rotational speed concept

As a high specific speed pump, the contra-rotating axial flow pump distinguishes itself in a rear rotor rotating in the opposite direction of the front rotor, which remarkably contributes to the energy conversion, the reduction of the pump size, better hydraulic and cavitation performances. However, with two rotors rotating reversely, the significant interaction between blade rows was observed in our prototype contra-rotating rotors, which highly affected the pump performance compared with the conventional axial flow pumps. Consequently, a new type of rear rotor was designed by the rotational speed optimization methodology with some additional considerations, aiming at better cavitation performance, the reduction of blade rows interaction and the secondary flow suppression. The new rear rotor showed a satisfactory performance at the design flow rate but an unfavorable positive slope of the head-flow rate curve in the partial flow rate range less than 40% of the design flow rate, which should be avoided for the reliability of pump-pipe systems. In the present research, to understand the internal flow field of new rear rotor and its relation to the performances at the partial flow rates, the velocity distributions at the inlets and outlets of the rotors are firstly investigated. Then, the boundary layer flows on rotor surfaces, which clearly reflect the secondary flow inside the rotors, are analyzed through the limiting streamline observations using the multi-color oil-film method. Finally, the unsteady numerical simulations are carried out to understand the complicated internal flow structures in the rotors.     

Influence of tip clearance on performance of a contra-rotating fan

Influences of tip clearance on the tip flow and associated loss mechanism in a contra-rotating axial flow fan has been studied in the paper, based on three dimensional numerical results. The results with different tip clearance are compared in terms of stage efficiency, relative total pressure loss coefficient, flow angle. It is found that the efficiency of the contra-rotating fan changes almost linearly with increment of the tip clearance, however, efficiency of the rear rotor is observed to decrease more dramatically than that of the forward rotor given same tip clearance variation. The analysis on the flow structure indicates that the tip region flow field is qualitatively similar in both rotors. However, with the same clearance value, the leakage flow in the rear rotor is effected by a tip leakage vortex of greater intensity caused by relative loading levels and the inter rotor interaction.     

Performance analysis of mini centrifugal pump with splitter blades

Design method for a mini centrifugal pump is not established because the internal flow condition for these small-sized fluid machines is not clarified and conventional theory is not suitable for small-sized pumps. Then, a semi-open impeller for the mini centrifugal pump with 55mm impeller diameter is adopted in this research to take simplicity and maintenance into consideration. Splitter blades are adopted in this research to improve the per- formance and internal flow condition of mini centrifugal pump having large blade outlet angle. The performance tests are conducted with these rotors in order to investigate the effect of the splitter blades on the performance and internal flow condition of the mini centrifugal pump. A three dimensional steady numerical flow analysis is con- ducted to analyze rotor, volute efficiency and loss caused by a vortex. It is clarified from the experimental results that the performance of the mini centrifugal pump is improved by the effect of the splitter blades. Flow condition at outlet of the rotor becomes uniform and back flow regions are suppressed in the case with the splitter blades. Further, the volute efficiency increases and the vortex loss decreases. In the present paper, the performance of the mini centrifugal pump is shown and the flow condition is clarified with the results of the experiment and the nu- merical flow analysis. Furthermore, the performance analyses of the mini centrifugal pumps with and without the splitter blades are conducted.     

The effect of blade outlet angle on performance and internal flow condition of mini turbo-pump

Mini turbo-pumps having a diameter smaller than 100mm are employed in many fields; automobile radiator pump, ventricular assist pump, cooling pump for electric devices, washing machine pump and so on. Further, the needs for mini turbo-pumps would become larger with the increase of the application of it for electrical machines. It is desirable that the mini turbo-pump design is as simple as possible due to restriction to make precise manufactures. But the design method for the mini turbo-pump is not established because the internal flow condition for these small-sized fluid machineries is not clarified and conventional theory is not conductive for small-sized pumps. Three types of rotors with different outlet angles are prepared for an experiment and a numerical analysis. The performance tests are conducted with these rotors in order to investigate the effect of the blade outlet angle on performance and internal flow condition of mini turbo-pumps. It is clarified from the experimental results that head of the mini turbo-pump increases and maximum efficiency flow rate shifts to larger flow rate according to the increase of the blade outlet angle, however the maximum efficiency decreases with the increase of it. In the present paper, the performance of the mini turbo-pump is shown and the internal flow conditions are clarified with the results of the experiment and the numerical flow analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the blade outlet angle on the performance are investigated and high performance design with simple structure for the mini turbo-pump would be considered.     

Performance and flow condition of small-sized axial fan and adoption of contra-rotating rotors

Small-sized axial fans are used as air coolers for electric equipments. But there is a strong demand for higher power of fans according to the increase of quantity of heat from electric devices. Therefore, higher rotational speed design is conducted, although it causes the deterioration of the efficiency and the increase of noise. Then the adoption of contra-rotating rotors for the small-sized axial fan is proposed for the improvement of the performance. In the present paper, the performance and the internal flow condition of the small-sized axial fan are shown as a first step of the research for the contra-rotating small-sized axial fan and the important points to apply contra-rotating rotors to the small-sized axial fan are discussed. Furthermore, the numerical flow analysis is conducted to investigate the performance of the contra-rotating small-sized axial fan and internal flow conditions and pressure distributions are clarified and the effect of contra-rotating rotors is considered.     

Features of Rotating Stall Cell in a Diagonal Flow Fan（in Case of Mid-loading Rotor）

The structure and behavior of rotating stall cell were experimentally clarified in a diagonal flow fan. The specific-speed of the fan was 1140 (r/min, m3/min, m), and the total pressure-rise coefficient at design flow-rate was 0.345. The static pressure on outer casing wall and the total pressure at rotor inlet and outlet were measured using a high response pressure transducer. The measured data were processed by the use of DPLA technique, and the structure and behavior of rotating stall cell were obtained. As a result, the stall cell extent for circumferential and spanwise direction and the pressure distributions inside stall cell were clarified. The details of stall cell propagation were also shown.     

罗茨泵内部流场数值模拟研究

罗茨泵在运行中由于各种原因会出现振动大、噪音大、泄漏等问题,获得罗茨泵的流动信息对预知及解决故障问题具有非常重要的意义,建立罗茨泵流场数学模型,用CFD软件对其内部流场进行模拟,获得并分析内部介质的压力场、速度场、流量脉动曲线、进出口压差对流量影响。研究结果表明:两转子间隙处压差最大,形成较高涡流;排气口两侧有明显的涡流;出口流量在转子转动初始阶段达到峰值;进口流量和进出口压差成反比,进口流量的脉动系数和进出口压差成正比。验证了CFD数值模拟的准确性,为对罗茨泵的进一步研究和整体优化奠定了基础。     

空冷汽轮发电机转子风道中气体运动流场分析

针对转子高速转动的特点,分析了转子风道气体运动状态,建立了数值计算模型.分析结果表明,转子风道气体运动是由风扇和转子高速转动共同作用的结果,以吸入式空冷汽轮发电机通风结构为例,转子以3 000 r/min转速绕轴高速转动可以使风道中进风量由0.14 kg/s增加到0.21 kg/s,必须考虑转子转动对风道中气体运动的影响;粘性模型应选择无粘,相同条件下转子风道出口风速模型试验和数值模拟结果对比表明,数值模拟结果符合工程实际.转子风道中气体运动流场合理计算模型应为:以吸入式风扇和转子风道进口为进出口边界条件,流体边界条件考虑转子转动,墙边界条件中反映管壁表面粗糙度的相对粗糙度系数和常量分别取为k~+_s=500～1000和C_(ks)=1.0,粘性模型选择无粘,可用此计算模型对空冷汽轮发电机转子风道中气体运动流场进行分析.     

Unsteady internal flow conditions of mini-centrifugal pump with splitter blades

Mini centrifugal pumps having a diameter smaller than 100mm are employed in many fields. But the design method for the mini centrifugal pump is not established because the internal flow condition for these small-sized fluid machines is not clarified and conventional theory is not suitable for small-sized pumps. Therefore, mini centrifugal pumps with simple structure were investigated by this research. Splitter blades were adopted in this research to improve the performance and the internal flow condition of mini centrifugal pump which had large blade outlet angle. The original impeller without the splitter blades and the impeller with the splitter blades were prepared for experiment. The performance tests are conducted with these rotors in order to investigate the effect of the splitter blades on performance and internal flow condition of mini centrifugal pump. On the other hand, a three dimensional unsteady numerical flow analysis was conducted to investigate the change of the internal flow according to the rotor rotation. It is clarified from the experimental results that the performance of the mini centrifugal pump is improved by the splitter blades. The blade-to-blade low velocity region was suppressed in the case with the splitter blades. In addition to that, the unsteady flows near the volute casing tongue were suppressed due to the splitter blades. In the present paper, the performance of the mini centrifugal pump is shown and the unsteady flow condition is clarified with the results of the numerical flow analysis. Furthermore, the effects of the splitter blades on the performance and the unsteady internal flow condition are investigated.     

Flow fields with vortex in a small semi-open axial fan

In order to clarify the effect of tip clearance (TC) size on fan performance and the flow field at rotor outlet in a small semi-open axial fan, the experimental investigation was carried out. The tip diameter of test fan rotor was 180mm and test TC sizes were 1mm (TC=1mm) and 4mm (TC=4mm). Fan characteristics tests were carried out for two cases of TC size and three-dimensional velocity fields at rotor outlet were measured using a single slant hot-wire probe at four flow-rate conditions. As a result, it was found that the pressure — flow-rate characteristics curves for two cases showed almost the same tendency. However, the ensemble averaged velocity profiles along radial measurement stations of TC=4mm largely changed compared with that of TC=1mm in cases of small flow-rate condition. From the phase-locked averaging results, it was also found that the vortex existed in the rotor outlet flow field of high flow-rate condition for each TC case. Compared with the vortices for TC=1mm and TC=4mm, the vortex for TC=4mm was stronger than that for TC=1mm.     

Natures of rotating stall cell in a diagonal flow fan

In order to clarify the natures of a rotating stall cell, the experimental investigation was carried out in a high specific-speed diagonal flow fan. The pressure field on the casing wall and the velocity fields at the rotor inlet and outlet were measured under rotating stall condition with a fast response pressure transducer and a single slant hot-wire probe, respectively. The data were processed using the "Double Phase-Locked Averaging (DPLA)" technique, which enabled to obtain the unsteady flow field with a rotating stall cell in the relative co-ordinate system fixed to the rotor. As a result, the structure and behavior of the rotating stall cell in a high specific-speed diagonal flow fan were shown.     

The performance of a centrifugal fan with enlarged impeller

The influence of enlarged impeller in unchanged volute on G4-73 type centrifugal fan performance is investigated in this paper. Comparisons are conducted between the fan with original impeller and two larger impellers with the increments in impeller outlet diameter of 5% and 10% respectively in the numerical and experimental investigations. The internal characteristics are obtained by the numerical simulation, which indicate there is more volute loss in the fan with larger impeller. Experiment results show that the flow rate, total pressure rise, shaft power and sound pressure level have increased, while the efficiency have decreased when the fan operates with larger impeller. Variation equations on the performance of the operation points for the fan with enlarged impellers are suggested. Comparisons between experiment results and the trimming laws show that the trimming laws for usual situation can predict the performance of the enlarged fan impeller with less error for higher flow rate, although the situation of application is not in agreement. The noise frequency analysis shows that higher noise level with the larger impeller fan is caused by the reduced impeller–volute gap.     

Study on the Effects of Flow in the Volute Casing on the Performance of a Sirocco Fan

The flow at the exit from the runner blade of a centrifugal fan with forward curved blades (a sirocco fan) sometimes separates and becomes unstable. We have conducted many researches on the impeller shape of a sirocco fan, proper inlet and exit blade angles were considered to obtain optimum performance. In this paper, the casing shape were decided by changing the circumferential angle, magnifying angle and the width, 21 sorts of casings were used. Performance tests, inner flow velocity and pressure distributions were measured as well. Computational fluid dynamic calculations were also made and compared with the experimental results. Finally, the most suitable casing shape for best performance is considered.     

Numerical Analysis and PIV Measurements of Tip Vortex in an Axial Rotor with Skewed-Swept Blade at Its Leading Edge

Based on the characteristics of axial fans of outdoor units of centralized air-conditioners, using the finite-volume method, applying three-dimensional steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations coupled with Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model equation, and adopting SIMPLE algorithm, numerical analysis is made and applied to analyze the internal flow field of axial rotors with skewed-swept blade at its leading edge. This numerical simulation mainly investigates the formation and development of the tip vortex. Based on the tip vortex characteristics that have been captured, the internal flow numerical results are compared with those obtained by the PIV experiments. This comparison indicates a good agreement between numerical results and PIV results, thus proving the validity of the numerical simulation. In addition, based on the internal flow analyses of the axial rotor with skewed-swept blade at its leading edge, different flow phenomena features are presented. These flow features can be used for further improvements of the present rotor performance characteristics.     

Effects of a Kind of Non-smooth Blade on the Performance of an Axial Fan

This paper presents an experimental investigation of effects of a kind of streamwise-grooved blade on theperformance of an axial-flow fan.The flow field at 25% chord downstream from the trailing edge at hub wasmeasured using a 5-hole pressure probe at different mass-flow conditions.The fan performance of the grooveblades was compared with that of the smooth blades.The measurement results indicate that:(1)the non-smoothblades increase mass flow of the fan at the same throttle conditions except a near stall condition;(2)thenon-smooth blades reduce the relative total pressure loss in the rotor passage and increase the fan's total pressurerise at the test mass-flow conditions except the near stall condition;(3)Negative benefits are obtained at a nearstall condition when the smooth blades are replaced by the non-smooth ones.The fan mass flow decreases 0.9%while the total-pressure rise decreases 2.4% at the near stall condition.     

分流叶片周向位置设计及其对离心叶轮内部流动的影响

利用计算流体力学软件,对某高压比、高转速、小流量离心式压气机的半开式叶轮内部三维粘性流场进行了数值模拟研究。重点分析了分流叶片周向位置对叶轮内部流动和性能的影响,提出了适合此半开式离心叶轮分流叶片周向位置的设计方案。结果表明：分流叶片不同周向位置对流场影响明显,当分流叶片偏向长叶片吸力面侧时,叶轮流道内低速区增大,流动分布不均匀。研究还发现：固定分流叶片进口而将出口位置向长叶片压力面侧偏置,可以改善叶轮内部流动情况,提高叶轮性能。     

两级动叶可调轴流风机内流特征的数值模拟

采用Fluent软件对某600 MW机组配套的两级动叶可调轴流一次风机进行了全三维定常数值模拟,分析了风机第一、第二级叶轮内流特征和动叶安装角对风机性能的影响.结果表明：第二级叶轮出口总压整体呈现高压区和次高压区交替分布的特征,且比第一级叶轮的对称性差;第一、第二级叶轮叶片压力面、吸力面的总压和静压分布规律相似;第二级叶轮叶片压力面和吸力面相应位置上的静压值均大于第一级叶轮叶片;随着动叶安装角的增大,第一、第二级叶轮的总压升系数和静叶的扩压系数均增大,且第二级叶轮大于第一级叶轮,表明第二级叶轮的做功能力和静叶的扩压能力均比第一级叶轮的大.