Forward-Curved Fan Blade Bulge for Flow Separation Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drum rotor fans have low efficiency due to flow separation and eddy formation caused by forward-curved blades, and existing balancing methods are complex and inefficient, affecting the balance and stability of the rotor wheel.
Innovation Solution
A drum rotor wheel design with forward-curved blades featuring bulges on the leading edges and hollow balancing pockets that extend into the discs, minimizing flow separation, enhancing stability, and allowing for automatic or manual balancing without compromising efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If forward-curved blades are used to achieve high flow rate and pressure increase at low rotational speeds, then power density and installation space are improved, but flow separation and eddy formation occur reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A bulge is added locally at the leading edge of the blade where flow separation occurs. This localized geometric modification creates a flow control element that prevents separation without changing the overall blade curvature or other parts of the blade structure, thus maintaining high power density while reducing energy loss from flow separation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If balancing weights are added to ensure quiet, low-vibration running, then stability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing pockets are integrated directly into the blade structure during the molding process. The pockets are formed as hollow spaces within the blade itself, combining the blade structure and balancing weight accommodation into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate balancing weight installation procedures and reduces overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing pockets are pre-formed during the initial molding of the blade. By preparing the balancing structure in advance as part of the molding process rather than adding it later, the complexity of subsequent balancing operations is eliminated and the overall manufacturing process is simplified.
3Loss of energy
If bulge is added to minimize flow separation, then efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bulge structure is incorporated into the blade during the initial molding process. By forming the flow control geometry in advance as part of the standard molding sequence, no additional manufacturing steps are required, and the bulge can be produced using conventional molding techniques without increasing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a drum rotor wheel for a fan having bulges to accommodate balancing weights. A drum rotor wheel according to the invention has several blades that are curved forward. The blades have a leading edge and a trailing edge. A top disc and a bottom disc are provided on the drum rotor wheel. At least one blade of the drum rotor wheel has a bulge on its leading edge. This bulge minimizes the area of flow separation, as a result of which the magnitude of the flow separation is likewise minimized. In other words, due to the bulge, the efficiency of the drum rotor wheel is increased.