Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Turbulent Flow in Blade Passages of Centrifugal Fan Impeller
Poornanand Jandhyala and Pradip Majumdara
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA.
aMajumdar@ceet.niu.edu
ABSTRACT
A computational fluid dynamics analysis of three-dimensional turbulent flow in a single blade passage of a centrifugal fan impeller is considered in this study. Primary focus is made on the effect of flow separation and secondary flows on the performance of the impeller. A mathematical model is presented and numerical results are obtained using commercial code FLUENT. Different turbulence models, including one-equation Spalart-Allmaras model, two-equation standard κ-ε model, higher order realizable κ-ε model, and the RNG model, are considered in resolving the flow separation and recirculatory regions. The computational model demonstrated the secondary flow or slip losses in blade passages due to varying velocity gradient between the blade pressure side and suction side. While the RNG turbulence model demonstrated more detailed resolution of flow separation and recirculation in the intake region, the results for total pressure rise predicted by the RNG model and the standard κ-ε models were within 0.6%.
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