Numerical design optimization of the aerodynamic performance of axial fans is carried out, maximizing the efficiency in a design interval of flow rates. Tip radius, number of blades, and angular velocity of the rotor are fixed, whereas the hub radius and spanwise distributions of chord length, stagger angle, and camber angle are varied to find the optimum rotor geometry. Constraints ensure a pressure rise above a specified target and an angle of attack on the blades below stall. The optimization scheme is used to investigate the dependence of maximum efficiency on the width of the design interval and on the hub radius. [S0098-2202(00)01602-3]

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
vortices, rotors, numerical analysis, computational fluid dynamics, optimisation, design engineering
Topics:
Design, Optimization, Rotors, Flow (Dynamics), Pressure, Fans, Chords (Trusses)
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