Carlos Santolaria-Morros

Numerical Calculation of Pressure Fluctuations in the Volute of a Centrifugal Fan

In this work, a numerical model has been applied in order to obtain the wall pressure fluctuations at the volute of an industrial centrifugal fan. The numerical results have been compared to experimental results obtained in the same machine. A three-dimensional numerical simulation of the complete unsteady flow on the whole impeller-volute configuration has been carried out using the computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT®. This code has been employed to calculate the time-dependent pressure both in the impeller and in the volute. In this way, the pressure fluctuations in some locations over the volute wall have been obtained. The power spectra of these fluctuations have been obtained, showing an important peak at the blade passing frequency. The amplitude of this peak presents the highest values near the volute tongue, but the spatial pattern over the volute extension is different depending on the operating conditions. A good agreement has been found between the numerical and the experimental results.

Unsteady Flow Pattern Characteristics Downstream of a Forward-Curved Blades Centrifugal Fan

The results of an experimental investigation of the flow at two exit radial locations of a forward-curved blades centrifugal fan are presented. Hot wire techniques were used to obtain steady velocity components and velocity unsteadiness levels (rms value of the components of velocity fluctuation) for different operating conditions, Globally speaking, the data reveal a strong flow asymmetry, with considerable changes in both magnitude and direction along the different circumferential positions. Particularly, big differences appear between the circumferential positions closer to the volute tongue and the other ones. The periodic character of the velocity signals due to the passing of the blades, clearly observed around the impeller, is missed in the vicinity of the volute tongue, where the main contribution to the velocity fluctuations appears to be random. Based on the measured velocity signals, velocity unsteadiness of the flow is determined analyzing the main contributions as a function of the flow rate and the measurement position. High levels of velocity unsteadiness were observed near the volute tongue, mainly at low flow rates.

Experimental Study on the Aeroacoustic Behavior of a Forward-Curved Blades Centrifugal Fan

In this paper, an aeroacoustic study on a forward-curved blades centrifugal fan has been carried out. As a first step, the fan performance curves, i.e., total pressure, power, efficiency and sound power level versus flow rate were obtained, showing its unstable behavior over a wide operating range. Second, the fan sound power level spectra for several working conditions were determined. For this purpose a normalized installation for testing in laboratory was designed and constructed. Afterwards, the velocity and pressure fields, both at the inlet and outlet planes of the impeller were measured using hot wire probes and pressure transducers, for different operating conditions. Finally, the aeroacoustic behavior of the fan was determined measuring the vorticity field at the impeller outlet, which is known to be related to tonal noise generation. This relation is worked out using the theory of vortex sound, developed by several authors during the second half of this century. The paper shows that the generation of tonal noise is produced at the blade passing frequency and it increases with the flow rate. Although the main contribution to fan noise generation is due to mechanical sources, the bands in which aerodynamic noise is generated by these fans correspond to frequencies especially unpleasant to the human earl Therefore, the research presented in this paper may be of considerable interest, establishing a starting point for the design of quieter and more efficient fans.

Total unsteadiness downstream of an axial flow fan with variable pitch blades

Variable pitch axial flow fans are widely used in industrial applications to satisfy variable operating conditions. The change of the blade pitch leads to a different rotor geometry and has a major influence on the unsteady operation of the machine. In this work, an experimental research on an axial flow fan with variable pitch blades has been carried out. First of all, the fan performance curves has been obtained. Then the flow field has been measured at ten radial locations both at the inlet and exit rotor plane using hot wire anemometry. Velocity components and total unsteadiness were determined and analyzed in order to characterize the influence of pitch blade and operating conditions on the flow structure

Numerical Prediction of the Aerodynamic Tonal Noise in a Centrifugal Fan

In this work, a numerical study about the aerodynamic tonal noise generation in an industrial centrifugal fan with backward curved blades has been carried out. A three-dimensional numerical simulation of the complete unsteady flow on the whole impeller-volute configuration has been performed. Special attention has been focused on the impeller-volute interaction phenomena, analysing the influence of the distance between the impeller and the volute tongue. The numerical results have been contrasted using previous experimental investigations carried out in the same machine.Copyright

Experimental Determination of the Tonal Noise Sources in a Centrifugal Fan

In this work, an experimental study about the aerodynamic tonal noise sources in an industrial centrifugal fan with backward-curved blades has been carried out. Acoustic pressure measurements at the fan exit duct and pressure fluctuation measurements on the volute surface (specially in the vicinity of the volute tongue) have been made for different flow rates. The correlation of both pressure signals can lead to determine the zone of effective acoustic radiation. As was expected, the tonal noise generation is concentrated on the meridional plane of the impeller discharge, near the volute tongue and presents a strong dependence with the flow rate.Copyright

Evaluation of Interaction and Blockage Effects for Multi-fan Units used in Public Transport HVAC Systems

Abstract A specific type of centrifugal fan named the “squirrel-cage” is broadly used in parallel configurations within an evaporator unit of HVAC systems for public transport. In these units, interaction effects arise, both between fans themselves and between fans and the structural elements. Blockage effects, such as the electrical motor, the evaporator gate and some aesthetic covering may also appear when these external elements are located very close to the fans aspiration nozzles. In this work, an experimental study of different configurations enables the determination of the minimum distances between the elements of the multi-fan unit, in order to minimise these interaction effects and, as a consequence, the problems related to them. Also, the quantitative influence of different motor sizes, covering solutions and the evaporator gate on the fans performance have been determined. Appreciable performance losses were found due to these blockage effects, thus recommendations to avoid the location of any external element close to the fans aspiration nozzles are proposed. The practical conclusions obtained in this work could be of interest to manufactures of HVAC systems subjected to installation size restrictions and where fan performance be optimized with low fabrication costs. This is usually the case for many HVAC systems, not only in the public transport applications considered in this paper.

Evaluation of design criteria for squirrel-cage fans used in public transport HVAC systems

This article completes a thorough review of the leading squirrel-cage fans, currently used for HVAC urban transport units, in terms of geometry and both aerodynamic and noise performance. Based on a twin-impeller, forward-curved centrifugal configuration, benchmarking with up to 15 different commercial units from several manufacturers has been carried out in this study, ranging the most significant geometrical and operational parameters for comparison. Experimental data concerning best efficiency points, overall efficiency range, noise generation, and performance have been obtained in a test facility built according to standardized industrial normative. The analysis of the obtained results is applied to select the best alternatives among those analyzed, focusing on energy efficiency and minimum noise generation criteria. In this way, the most important design criteria are established in order to get more efficient and less noisy ventilation systems.

Influence of the Pressure Load in the Efficiency of a Longitudinal Ventilation System in Road Tunnels

The longitudinal ventilation system (LVS) efficiency in road tunnels is conditioned by geometric and operational parameters. Typical geometric parameters are the length of the tunnel, its slope and the transversal section. All these factors are generally fixed and thus not modifiable in the regular operation of the facility. On the other hand, operational parameters, like the working fans layout, the environmental conditions or the traffic density are case-sensitive and susceptible to influence the baseline performance of the ventilation system. In the present study, different pressure gradients, established between inlet and outlet location of the jet fan influence, are analyzed. This static resistance is shown to have a significant impact on the momentum transfer established between the jet expansion and the bulk flow inside the tunnel. For moderate pressure gradients, the jet discharged from fan is relativity well-mixed, allowing to reach uniform flow conditions in the streamwise direction. When the adverse pressure gradients become severe, the high-velocity flow is blocked, unable to mix out in the inter fan spacing and losing spanwise uniformity. At critical conditions, large recirculation areas can be developed within primary flow structures, generating turbulence and important energy losses, and even inducing reverse flow at the tunnel exit. The extreme operating conditions of a longitudinal ventilation system in a road tunnel have been studied using a 3D numerical simulation. Preliminary analysis for grid sensitivity and election of an accurate turbulence closure were performed to guarantee a valuable modeling. Following, systematic computations over a cluster of PC’s were executed using the well-tested Fluent code. RANS modeling with RSM scheme allowed a satisfactory description of three-dimensional vortical structure in the recirculation zones, especially for adverse pressure gradients. At this point, numerical results have provided a comprehensive overview of the mechanism associated to the momentum transfer of the jet expansion, comparing the performance for zero-pressure gradients with those observed for adverse conditions. Also, this paper gives valuable information about practical limits of the LVS, advancing operational conditions that compromise the ventilation efficiency.Copyright

Numerical 3D Simulation of a Longitudinal Ventilation System: Memorial Tunnel Case

In this work, a numerical 3D simulation of a longitudinal ventilation system is developed to analyze the fire behavior inside a road tunnel. Recent disasters, like crashes in the Mont Blanc tunnel (France, 1999) or San Gottardo (Italy, 2001), have shown the need for better integral actions during possible fire incidents. The minimum delay time, required for starting the jet fans, or the evolution of the smoke patterns inside the tunnel are critical issues when rescue plans are designed. Some methods to study the smoke propagation during a fire are: pseudo-thermal scale models, full scale test and numerical models. Several contributions using the first method can be found in references [1], [2] and [3]. However it is very difficult to extrapolate the results from this kind of models. The second method (full scale test) is the most expensive of all and only two of them have been conducted recently: EUREKA Project [4] and the Memorial Tunnel Fire Ventilation Test Program [5]. The last method (numerical models) it is now under development. The objective of this work is to validate a numerical model, to predict the behavior of the smoke generated during a fire incident inside a road tunnel, comparing its results with previous experimental data collected in the Memorial Tunnel Project. In addition, a good agreement was achieved, so a methodology to predict the performance of a longitudinal ventilation system in case of fire was accurately established.Copyright