-Turbomachinery design is an iterative process that can be time-consuming and expensive, especially when an extensive knowledge of the performance envelope is required. The approach described in the present paper can significantly cut the turnaround times down without jeopardizing the accuracy of the final result. A parameterization technique based on radial basis functions (RBF) is used and Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations are subsequently performed on a set of selected morphed meshes, the goal of which is to produce an aerodynamic database containing first-order, second-order and second-order cross derivatives of objectives with respect to parameters. New solutions, corresponding to any variations of the selected parameters, can thus be extrapolated thanks to the information included in the aforementioned database. In this way, a meta-model is built and can be easily explored by a genetic algorithm. This approach has been experimented on a new concept of engine cooling fan featuring low torque and high efficiency. A reference fan design has been adapted for the particular surrounding of the vehicle underhood, where the downstream flow is radially deviated from its axis by the engine. The optimization process has resulted in an efficiency improvement of three points for one of the obtained optima.Key words: Turbomachinery design / computational fluid dynamics (CFD) / parameterization / mesh morphing / meta-model / optimization / engine cooling fan Study context and reference designFan systems are used in automotive engine cooling modules to increase air flow rate through heat exchangers. These latters are dedicated to the thermal management of the vehicle, for both the engine (radiator and charge air cooler) and the cabin climate control.The willing to decrease power consumption of electrical accessories in the vehicle incites to enhance fan system efficiency and numerous studies have been performed towards this goal. Among them, an investigation [1] aimed at reducing the losses produced by the tip inverse flow, which is found between the shroud and the rotating ring attached to the blade tip. However, modifications in the blade load distribution called for an additional study [2], and performance improvements were finally observed after a blade tip readjustment. Although the rotating ring a Corresponding author: zebin.zhang@ec-lyon.fr is frequently used to limit tip flow recirculation, its contribution to shear losses is significant and might be a disadvantage to achieve low-torque design. Therefore, investigations focused on a new type of fan design without external ring.A conical hub has also been integrated to the new geometry in order to produce a down-stream semi-radial flow. This particularity is more suitable for vehicle underhood conditions, where the flow is radially deviated by the engine. For a conventional cylindrical hub fan, it has been observed that the lower radius part of the fan blade contributes very little to the guidance of the air flow through the vein in the bl...
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