Effect of inlet distortion on internal flow and performance of a contra-rotating fan operating with single-stage impeller

Abstract

To establish a theoretical foundation for the rational selection of contra-rotating fans operating with a single-stage impeller under inlet distortion. Unsteady numerical simulations were conducted using the SST k-ω turbulence model to analyze the airflow fields, respectively, for the single-stage operation of front impeller (SSOFI) and the single-stage operation of rear impeller (SSORI) of the fan. The internal flow characteristics with single-stage operation under both distorted inlet condition (DIC) and uniform inlet condition (UIC) were studied. Furthermore, a comparison of the performance parameters of the fan, including total pressure and total pressure efficiency, was conducted. Focusing on the SSOFI with satisfactory operational performance of the contra-rotating fan, this study aims to reveal the propagation of inlet distortion inside the fan and reveal the influence mechanisms of inlet distortions on the performance of the fan. The results indicate that the impact of inlet distortion on the flow field is primarily concentrated in the upstream area of the front-stage impeller for SSOFI. However, the flow disturbance from the exit of the front-stage impeller to the diffuser is relatively minimal. For SSORI, the inlet distortion exacerbates the adverse effect of the front stage impeller as the front guide vane on the flow inside the rear stage impeller. The entropy loss in the two-stage impellers is significantly higher than that under the uniform inlet condition, and the turbulence level in the diffuser is intensified. While the efficiency of the fan is significantly influenced by the inlet condition and operating stages, their impact on the total pressure is small. Specifically, under uniform inlet conditions, the total pressure efficiency for SSOFI exceeds that of SSORI by 4.9 %, whereas the difference rises to 11 % under inlet distortion condition.