Development of an axial-type fan with an optimization method

Turbomachinery design is a complex problem which requires a lot of experience. The procedure may be speed up by the development of new numerical tools and optimization techniques. The latter rely on the parameterization of the geometry, a model to assess the performance of a given geometry and the definition of an objective functions and constraints to compare solutions. In order to improve the reference machine performance, two formulations including the off-design have been developed. The first one is the maximization of the total nominal efficiency. The second one consists to maximize the operation area under the efficiency curve. In this paper five optimization methods have been assessed for axial pump design: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Cuckoo Search (CS), Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) and Sequential Linear Programming (SLP). Four non-intrusive methods and the latter intrusive. Given an identical design point and set of constraints, each method proposed an optimized geometry. Their computing time, the optimized geometry and its performances (flow rate, head (H), efficiency (Á), net pressure suction head (NPSH) and power) are compared. Although all methods would converge to similar results and geometry, it is not the case when increasing the range and number of constraints. The discrepancy in geometries and the variety of results are presented and discussed. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to validate the reference and optimized machines performances in two main formulations. The most adapted approach is compared with some existing approaches in literature.

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“…• The camber coefficients are expressed according to incidence angle and the inlet solidity, and they are given by Eqs. (10) and (11).…”

Section: Inverse and Direct Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficiency of bio- and socio-inspired optimization algorithms for axial turbomachinery design

Chikh

Belaidi

Khelladi

et al. 2018

Applied Soft Computing

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“…23 Optimization techniques based upon the gradient method have been also validated to work on axial fans to improve fan efficiencies and operating pressures in other works. 24 To the best of the authors' knowledge, the work before the current work has not been conducted to this extent. The work presented is an extension of the work that has been conducted [4][5][6][7]9,25,26 with an emphasis on analyzing the best efficiency points of the fan at various fan rotational speeds, ambient pressure conditions, blade count, and the effect of interchanging the preexisting design with an airfoil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…23 Optimization techniques based upon the gradient method have been also validated to work on axial fans to improve fan efficiencies and operating pressures in other works. 24…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The best efficiency point of an axial fan at low-pressure conditions

Corona

Mesalhy

Chow

et al. 2021

Advances in Mechanical Engineering

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In the current work, the objective is to determine the best efficiency point (BEP) of an axial fan using CFD. Analyzing the performance of the fan based upon the parameters chosen can lead to the optimal design of an axial flow fan for aerospace applications where the ambient pressure varies rapidly. The 2-bladed fan chosen for the study is the Propimax 2L which is considered the base fan used for comparison of all the results of the work. The set of parameters tested were fan rotational speed, ambient pressure conditions, blade count, and the airfoil design. All the performance measures were based on overall fan efficiency. The results yield the following: an increased rotational speed led to higher efficiencies, the most efficient ambient pressure of which the fan can perform is 0.7 atm, a 5-bladed fan configuration produced the highest efficiency, and airfoil selection is critical for fan efficiency enhancements. The results demonstrated that at 0.7 atm the fan efficiency is the highest due to the changes in power consumption to the density effect. A key finding in the work is that higher blade counts do not necessarily lead to higher performing axial fans. A high cambered airfoil provided a higher flow rate at free delivery than that of the Propimax 2L design, but the rotorcraft airfoil did not yield favorable results. The analysis is focused on the fan design of cooling of the electromechanical actuators (EMAs).

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“…In terms of airfoil modification, Pascu et al (2009) and Cho et al (2009) proposed a scheme for optimizing the blade arbitrary vortex design based on the NACA-65 series airfoil, and combined different types of design and optimization algorithms in a CFD solver to increase the blade load and efficiency. Liu et al (Hongpeng et al, 2020) used three methods to minimize the drag coefficient, namely, affixing a zigzag trailing-edge to the trailing edge of the airfoil, using a slotted airfoil, and a combination of the zigzag method and the slotted airfoil.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design and Performance Analysis of Blades Based on the Equal–Variable Circulation Method

Liang

Song

Liang³

et al. 2021

Front. Energy Res.

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With the aim of improving the aerodynamic performance of axial turbomachinery, a new type of blade is designed using the equal–variable circulation method. Taking an axial flow fan as the research object, this article describes the development of a new type of turbomachinery by changing the design method and producing a blade with forward sweep. The aerodynamic performance of the fan is simulated and compared with the experimental data. The numerical results show that the equal circulation design method improves the aerodynamic performance of the blade roots, while the variable circulation design method enhances the aerodynamic performance of the blade tips. By adopting the equal–variable circulation design method, the total pressure of the experimental fan is increased by about 4%, while the efficiency remains unchanged. Forward-swept blades with an equal–variable circulation design also improve performance over the conventional blades by changing the center-of-gravity stacking line. At low flow rates, the efficiency of the experimental fan can be increased by 7.5%, and the working range of the flow is expanded. Under high flow rates, the restriction of the blade tip on the airflow is decreased and the fluidity is slightly reduced.

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Development of an axial-type fan with an optimization method

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

Efficiency of bio- and socio-inspired optimization algorithms for axial turbomachinery design

Efficiency of bio- and socio-inspired optimization algorithms for axial turbomachinery design

The best efficiency point of an axial fan at low-pressure conditions

Design and Performance Analysis of Blades Based on the Equal–Variable Circulation Method

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