Analytical and numerical investigation of the optimum pressure distribution along a low-pressure axial fan blade

Abstract

In the field of axial flow turbomachines, the two-dimensional cascade model is often used experimentally or numerically to investigate fundamental flow characteristics and overall performance of the impeller. The core of the present work is a design method for axial fan cascades aiming to derive inversely the optimum blade shape based on the requirements of the impeller and not using any predefined aerofoil profiles. While most design strategies based on the aerofoil theory assume constant total pressure at all streamlines, i.e. free-vortex flow, this paper investigates the possibility of varying the total pressure along the blade and based on that, an analytical expression of the outlet blade angle is determined. When computing the blade profile at a specified radius, critical parameters reflecting on the flow characteristics are observed and adjusted (i.e. sufficient lift and controlled deceleration of the flow on the contour) so that the resulting profile is derived for minimum losses. The validation of this design strategy is given by the numerical results obtained when employed as an optimization tool for an industrial fan: 10–20 per cent absolute increase in the static efficiency of the optimized impeller.