• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.80-85
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• 2014

High-volume low-speed (HVLS) fans are one category of ceiling fan installed in large enclosings such as warehouses, large barns and health clubs in order to generate comfortable air circulation. As a rotary blade, aerodynamic performance of a HVLS fan is predominantly related to its airfoil(s), and the pitch and twist angles. This paper first, investigates the effects of airfoil on the performances of three different HVLS fans with NACA 5414, 6413 and 7415 airfoils. The fans have six untwisted blades with the diameter of 6 m and rotate at 60 RPM. The blades pitch angels are $12^{\circ}$, $12^{\circ}$ and $13^{\circ}$, respectively. The results are presented in the form of the aerodynamic forces and moments, volumetric flow rate and streamlines. Regarding the volumetric flow of air, the results show that the model with NACA 7415 has the best performance. Hence, two other HVLS fans with the same airfoil but, with four and five blades are studied in order to investigate the effects of number of blades. From the point of view of air circulation still the six-bladed fan is the best one; however, the five-bladed fan is more efficient in power consumption.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 1998

Aerodynamic performance tests and flow measurement were carried out for several radial impellers of NACA 65-810 airfoil. The data base obtained are to be used for verifying the methods of flow analysis and CFD codes. The effects of numbers and span of blades on the performances, efficiency and impeller exit flow are investigated in the present study. The flow rate on the performance curve is proportional to the span of the blade for the same value of fan pressure rise. The magnitude of radial velocity component at the impeller exit gradually decreases from the hub to shroud side. The magnitude of tangential velocity component gradually increases from the hub to shroud side. The way of variations of velocity is the same at the diffuser exit, however, becomes more uniform. The pressure rise performance increases with blade number at the small flow coefficients, however, decreases with the number of blade at the large flow coefficients. This shows that flow guidance in important at the low flow rate and the friction becomes significant at the high flow rate.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.46-54
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• 2008

This study presents a numerical optimization to optimize an axial flow fan blade to increase the efficiency. The radial basis neural network is used as an optimization method with the numerical analysis by Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations using SST model as turbulence closure. Four design variables related to airfoil maximum camber, maximum camber location, leading edge radius and trailing edge radius, respectively, are selected, and efficiency is considered as objective function which is to be maximized. Thirty designs are evaluated to get the objective function values of each design used to train the neural network. Optimum shape shows the efficiency increased by 1.0%.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.02a
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• pp.82-110
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• 1998

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.25-29
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• 2005

Axial fan is used for the supplement of large amount of flows. Axial blowers show relatively high efficiency of the system. The present model of axial fan is for cooling a condenser in an air-conditioning unit that exhibits tendency toward compact size. In order to realize the compact model, the width of an axial blade should be cut down in axial distance. Main interest lies on the performance of the axial blowing system with blades having shorter chord length. One of the important design parameters for axial fan is the shape of the blades of it. Design of blades includes the cross-sectional shape and its dimension, including the chord length. We consider two types of blades; one is NACA airfoil with normal chord length and the other is with shortening chord length by $10\%$ of normal airfoil. Axial blower with the modified blades is essential for the compact model of an air-conditioner. The other design parameters are same in the two cases. Using a wind tunnel follows ASHRAE standards carries out evaluation of performance of the system. Detail of flows around the blades is prepared by velocity measurements using PIV. According to performance estimation, the axial blower with short chord blade show quite close to the performance results, including flow rate and pressure rise, of the standard one. The reason of the two similar results is that the flowpatterns depend on Reynolds number based on the chord length of a blade. In this investigation, the critical chord length is found, in which the flows near the airfoil are so unstable and the performance of the system is decreased. A series of figures is for the detail information on the flow.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.12a
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• pp.91-98
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• 2000

Developed is a computer program for the prediction of the aero-acoustic performance characteristics such as discharge pressure, efficiency, power and noise level in the basic design step of axial flow fan. The flow field and the aerodynamic performance of fan are analyzed by using the streamline curvature computing scheme with total pressure loss and flow deviation models. Fan noise is assumed to be generated due to the pressure fluctuations induced by wake vortices of fan blades and to radiate via dipole distribution. The vortex-induced fluctuating pressure on blade surface is calculated by combining thin airfoil theory and the predicted flow field data. The predicted aerodynamic performances, sound pressure level and noise directivity patterns of fan by the present computer program are favorably compared with the test data of actual fan. Furthermore, the present computer program is shown to be very useful in optimizing design variables of fan with high efficiency and low noise level and in analyzing their design sensitivities.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.59-64
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• 2010

A design method of Sirocco fan is developed for constructing 3-D impeller and scroll geometries, and for predicting both the aerodynamic performance and the noise characteristics of the designed fan. The aerodynamic blading design of fan is conducted by blade angle, camber line determinations and airfoil thickness distribution, and then the scroll geometry of fan is designed by using logarithmic spiral. The aerodynamic performance of designed fan is predicted by the meanline analysis with flow blockage, slip and pressure loss correlations. Based on the predicted performance data, fan noise is predicted by two models for cutoff frequency and broadband noise sources. The present predictions for the performance and the noise level of actual fans are well agreed with measurement results.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.48-53
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• 2010

A computerized design system of axial fan is developed for constructing 3-D blade geometry and predicting both aerodynamic performance and noise. The aerodynamic blading design of fan is conducted by blade angle distribution, camber line determination, airfoil thickness distribution and blade element stacking along spanwise distance. The internal flow and the aerodynamic performance of designed fan are predicted by the through-flow modeling technique with flow deviation and pressure loss correlations. Based on the predicted internal flow field and performance data, fan noise is predicted by two models for discrete frequency and broadband noise sources. The present predictions of the flow distribution, the performance and the noise level of actual fans are well agreed with measurement results.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.555-565
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• 2021

The goal of this study is to improve flow and noise performances of existing backward-curved blade centrifugal fan system used for circulating cold air in a refrigerator freezer by optimally designing airfoil shape. The unique characteristics of the system is to drive cold airflow with two volute tongues in combination with duct system in a back side of a refrigerator without scroll housing generally used in a typical centrifugal fan system. First, flow and noise performances of existing fan system were evaluated experimentally. A P-Q curve was obtained using a fan performance tester in the flow experiment, and noise spectrum was measured in an anechoic chamber in the noise experiment. Then, flow characteristics were numerically analyzed by solving the three-dimensional unsteady Navier-Stokes equations and noise analysis was performed by solving the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkins equation with input from the flow simulation results. The validity of numerical results was confirmed by comparing them with the measured ones. Based on the verified numerical method, blade inlet and outlet angles were optimized for maximum flow rate using the two-factor central composite design of the response surface method. Finally, the flow and noise performances of a prototype manufactured with the optimum design were experimentally evaluated, which showed the improvement in flow and noise performance.

• Journal of Drive and Control
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

This paper presents research on methods for the reduction of forklifts' noise level for the increased comfort and safety of its operator. A cooling fan with a high air volume flow rate installed in the forklift acts as an important design parameter which efficiently cools the heat exchanger system, helping to transfer internal heat from the engine room to the outdoors with both transmitted and diffracted opening noises. The cooling fan contributes significantly to both the forklift's emitted sound power and the operator room's noise level, thereby necessitating research on the forklift's reduction of acoustic power level and transmission. A noise analysis for various fan models with a biomimetic design based on eagle-wing geometry was conducted. In addition to the acoustic power generation, the aerodynamic performance of the cooling blade is also strongly influenced by the design of airfoil distribution, thereby requiring optimization. The cooling fans were fabricated and installed in the forklift in order to check the efficacy of the forklift engine's cooling, and the final version of the fan was measured for its ability to lower acoustic power level and cool the engine room. This study explains the aerodynamic and acoustic features of the designed fans with the use of BEM analysis and forklift test results.