Numerical Simulation on Axial Flow Fan Performance with Changing Tip Clearance

Abstract

Taking the relative tip clearance as the variable, we numerically simulated the effect of tip clearance size on the performance of a straight-blade axial flow fan using the 3-D viscous flow solver. The tip clearance is referenced in the relative value. By comparing the flow field corresponding to five different values of the tip clearance 0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0% with other parameters kept constant, we concluded that the changing of the tip clearance has a great influence on the performance of the axial flow fan. Both the efficiency and the total pressure decrease with the increase of the tip clearance.