Development of an axial-type fan with an optimization method

Abstract

An axial-type fan that operates at a relative total pressure of 671 Pa and a static pressure of 560 Pa with a flowrate of 416.6 m3/min is developed using an optimization technique based on the gradient method. Prior to the optimization of the fan blade, a three-dimensional axial-type fan blade is designed based on the free-vortex method along the radial direction. Twelve design variables are applied to the optimization of the rotor blade, and one design variable is selected for optimizing a stator which is located behind the rotor to support a fandriving motor. The total and static pressure are applied to the restriction condition with the operating flowrate on the design point, and the efficiency is chosen as the response variable to be maximized. Through these procedures, an initial axial-fan blade designed by the free vortex method is modified to increase the efficiency with a satisfactory operating condition. The optimized fan is tested and compared with the performance obtained with the same class fan to figure out the optimization effect. The test results show that the optimized fan not only satisfies the restriction conditions but also operates at the same efficiency even though the tip clearance of the optimized fan is greater than 30%. The experimental and numerical tests show that this optimization method can improve the efficiency and operating pressures on axial-type fans.