Optimal Design of Axial Flow Fan Using Numerical Simulation

In this paper, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the standard k−ε turbulent model and Multiple Reference Frame model were used to simulate the performance of axial flow fan. The simulation results were compared with the existing experimental data, and the reliability of the existing numerical simulation method was verified. Then, the variable velocity circulation design method was used to redesign the fan blades. Four types of blades were established using different circulation indexes (m = 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0). The performance of the four redesigned fans was calculated by numerical simulation. The influence of circulation index on configuration parameters was studied. Results show that the efficiencies of the redesigned fans were higher than the original one. The efficiency of optimal designed fan could reach 70%, which is 35% higher than the original fan. Besides, the influence of the selected value of design efficiency, lift coefficient, and c/R during the design process on the fan efficiency was also discussed in the paper.