Abstract
The paper presents research on increasing the efficiency of industrial centrifugal fans, which are the third highest energy-consuming group of devices. This problem is related to the frequent incompatibility of the fan characteristics with the flow conditions of the installation in which they are operated, which lowers efficiency and increases energy consumption. By ensuring high efficiency of these devices, it is possible to significantly reduce the operating costs of such industrial equipment. For this purpose, a unique concept of regulating the flow parameters of centrifugal fans was developed. The scientific basis of this idea is that a relatively small change in the impeller diameter of the fan significantly affects the flow rate and the pressure rise of the fan. Therefore, the idea uses variable length of the impeller blades by dividing them into a fixed and a movable part. It enables adjustment of the length of the blades, which allows extension of the range of effective and efficient operating parameters. On this basis, several technical solutions of the regulation system were developed, which were then tested using simulation and analytical methods. Two material options for the moving part of the blade have also been developed, one made of metallic materials (high-strength steel and aluminum) and the other made of composite materials. The research showed a significant influence of the mass of the movable part of the blade on the load of the control system. Therefore, ultra-light material variants were used for the impeller blades. The flow simulation tests of the new method of adjusting the fan flow parameters confirmed the effectiveness of this solution. As a result, a wider range of highly efficient centrifugal fans equipped with such a control system was obtained.
Highlights
Industrial fans are widely used in many applications, ranging from small units with a capacity of several kW, to large fans with a capacity of several MW
Based on the equations above, it can be seen that a relatively small change in the impeller diameter significantly affects the flow rate and the pressure rise of the fan. This observation led to the conclusion that it could be the basis for defining a new, effective method of controlling the flow parameters of centrifugal fans
The new method of regulating the flow parameters of centrifugal fans required the development of a special technical solution that would allow the moving part of the blade to be moved along the fixed part
Summary
Industrial fans are widely used in many applications, ranging from small units with a capacity of several kW, to large fans with a capacity of several MW. This group of machines ranks third in terms of energy consumption among all industrial devices, with an annual consumption of approximately 300 TWh of electricity [1]. As a result of this, the saving of drive energy and improvement of efficiency have become primary drivers for this technology. The market expects further development of existing fans in terms of efficiency [3]. Centrifugal fans are machines that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy, which is used to drive the fan and this energy is used for transport of the medium
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