Numerical and experimental investigation of axial fan with trailing edge self-induced blowing

Abstract

Axial fans often show adverse flow conditions at the fan hub and at the tip of the blades. In the present paper, a modification of conventional axial fan blades with numerical and experimental investigation is presented. Hollow blades were manufactured from the hub to the trailing edge at the tip of the blades. They enable the formation of self-induced internal flow through internal passages. The internal flow enters the internal radial flow passages of the hollow blades through the openings near the fan hub and exits through the trailing edge slots at the tip of the blade. The study of the influence of internal flow on the flow field of axial fan and the modifications of aerodynamic characteristics of the axial fan have been made. The numerical and experimental results show a comparison of integral and local characteristics of the axial fan with the internal flow, compared to characteristics of a geometrically equivalent fan without internal flow. The experimental results of local characteristics were performed with a five-hole probe and computer-aided visualization. A reduction of adverse flow conditions near the trailing edge at the tip of the blade was achieved, as well as boundary layer reduction on the blade suction side and the reduction of flow separation. The introduction of self-induced blowing led to the preservation of the direction of external flow, defined by blade geometry, and enabled maximal local energy conversion. The integral characteristic reached higher degree of efficiency.