• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.12
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• pp.1728-1738
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• 2001

Measurements have been made in an automotive HVAC b1ower for two different centrifugal fans. This work is directed at improving the performance of a conventional forward-curved centrifugal fan for a given small blower casing. Mean velocities and pressure have been measured using a miniature five-hole probe and a pressure scanning unit connected to an online data acquisition system. First, we obtained the fan performance versus flow rates showing a significant attenuation of unstable nature achieved with the new fan rotor in the surging operation range. Second, aerodynamic characterizations were carried out by investigating the velocity and pressure fields in the casing flow passage for different fan operating conditions. The measurements stowed that performance coefficients are strongly influenced by flow characteristics at the throat region. The main flow features ware common in both fans, but improved performance is achieved with tole new fan rotor, particularly in lower flow rate legions. Based on the measured results, design improvements were carried out in an acceptable operation range, which gave considerable insight into what features of flow behavior ware most important.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.302-312
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• 2004

This work developed improved slip factor model and correction method to predict flow through impeller in forward-curved centrifugal fan. Both steady and unsteady three-dimensional CFD analyses were performed to validate the slip factor model and the correction method. The results show that the improved slip factor model presented in this paper could provide more accurate predictions for forward-curved centrifugal impeller than the other slip factor models since the present model takes into account the effect of blade curvature. The correction method is provided to predict mass-averaged absolute circumferential velocity at the exit of impeller by taking account of blockage effects induced by the large-scale backflow near the front plate and flow separation within blade passage. The comparison with CFD results also shows that the improved slip factor model coupled with the present correction method provides accurate predictions for mass-averaged absolute circumferential velocity at the exit of impeller near and above the flow rate of peak total pressure coefficient.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.916-923
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• 2000

Numerical study of three-dimensional turbulent flow in a forward curved centrifugal fan is presented. Standard $k-{\varepsilon}$ turbulence model and non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinates arc used to consider the turbulent flow field and complex geometry. Finite Volume approach is adopted for discretization scheme and structured grid system is used to help convergence. Multiblock grid system is used for flow field and divided into five domains that are inlet, outlet, impeller, tip clearance and scroll. It is assumed that the flow field is steady and incompressible. These numerical results are compared with the experimental data inside a rotor and at the fan outlet. Most important flow features are captured through this numerical approach. Finally details of flow field inside a fan are described and analyzed.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.48-53
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• 2001

A centrifugal fan design code was developed and included in $DasignFan^{TM}$. This program generates forward -curved and backward-curved bladed centrifugal fan data. With the inverse design concept used in the code, the period of designing a fm, which has given aerodynamic performance with minimal acoustic noise, is significantly shortened.. A centrifugal fan design code, developed in this study and included in $DasignFan^{TM}$, predicts the aerodynamic performance by using mean-line analysis and various loss models. In the period of design a lift force distribution between pressure side and suction side of blade is calculated. And then it is used to calculate steady loading noise from the impeller.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.2 no.2 s.3
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• pp.46-56
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• 1999

This study is on the performance prediction and design of a sirocco fan. Slip coefficient is very important factor for the performance analysis of a centrifugal-type fan. Because generally used slip coefficient equations of backward curved centrifugal fan are not appropriate for forward curved sirocco fan, in this study a proper slip coefficient equation for a sirocco fan is suggested. Using this equation performance prediction program for sirocco fan is composed of and also included the total noise prediction that include the turbulent noise at the fan inlet and boundary layer noise. A comparison between the values obtained from performance prediction program and experimental values shows that the program predicts the sirocco fan performance in a practical rate.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.02a
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• pp.63-72
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• 1998

This study Is on the performance prediction and design of sirocco fan. Slip coefficient is very important factor for the performance analysis of centrifugal-type fan. Because generally used slip coefficient equations of backward curved centrifugal fan are not appropriate for forward curved sirocco fan, in this study a proper slip coefficient equation for sirocco fan is suggested. Using this equation performance prediction program for sirocco fan is composed and also included the total noise prediction that include turbulent noise at the fan Inlet and boundary layer noise. A comparison between the values obtained from performance prediction program and experimental values shows that the program predicts the sirocco fan performance in a practical rate.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.174-180
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• 1998

Numerical study of three-dimensional turbulent flow in a forward curved centrifugal fan is presented. Standard $k-{\varepsilon}$ turbulence model and non-orthogonal curvilinear coordinates are used to consider the turbulent flow field and complex geometry. Finite Volume approach is adopted for discretization scheme and structured grid system is used to help convergence. Multiblock grid system is used for flow field and divided into five domains that are inlet, outlet, impeller, tip clearance and scroll. It is assumed that the flow field is steady state and incompressible. This numerical work is performed with commercial CFD-ACE code developed by CFD Research Corporation, and the results are compared wi th the experimental data

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.529-535
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• 2001

A centrifugal fan design code was developed and packaged together with iDesignFan／sup TM／ as new models. This code generate centrifugal forward curved and backward curved bladed impeller optimally. It also predicts the aerodynamic performance and the overall sound pressure level of the rotating fan by assuming steady blade loading. The overall sound pressure level is used as an input parameter from the third loop of the designing process to acquire the most silent fan for the given aerodynamic performance parameters. With this kind of inverse design concept used in the code, the period of designing a fan is significantly shortened. A centrifugal fan design code, developed in this study and included in iDesignFan／sup TM／, predicts the aerodynamic performance such as design flow rate and static pressure. The aerodynamic performance in the design and off-design conditions is calculated by using the mean line analysis. For the steady loading calculation, the lift force distribution in a blade is used.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.12a
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• pp.122-128
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• 2000

Aerodynamic optimization of an automotive air-conditioning blower is a hard task because of the highly complex flow phenomena related to three-dimensional flow separations and the unsteady nature caused by the interaction between primary and secondary air flows throughout the fan. In this paper, an aerodynamic study on a forward-curved centrifugal fan has been carried out Firstly we obtained the fan performance curves versus flow rates showing its unstable nature in the surging operation range. Secondly aerodynamic characterizations were carried out by investigating the velocity and pressure fields in the casing flow passage using a 5-hole pilot probe, at different operating conditions. Surface flow pattern near the cut-off area exhibits similar flow behavior above the best efficiency operating point, although the pressure level increases substantially with the Increase of flow rate. Vorticity in the casing passage flow occurs in all (low rates, downstream from the r-Z plane $\theta$=120 deg., where the position of its core changes with the circumferential location. Although complex, the general flow behavior were common, giving insight in its main aerodynamic features.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.12a
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• pp.111-115
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• 2002

The objective of this work is to develop improved slip factor model and correction method to predict flow through impeller in forward-curved centrifugal fan by investigating the validity of various slip factor models. Both steady and unsteady three-dimensional CFD analyses were performed with a commercial code tn validate the slip factor model and the correction method. The results show that the improved slip factor model presented in this paper could provide more accurate predictions for forward-curved centrifugal impeller than the other slip factor models since the presented model takes into account the effect of blade curvature. The comparison with CFD results also shows that the improved slip factor model coupled with the present correction method provides accurate predictions for mass-averaged absolute circumferential velocity at the exit of impeller near and above the flow rate of peaktotal pressure coefficient.