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Experimental investigation of tip-leakage flow in an axial flow fan at various flow rates

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Abstract

We investigate the evolution of tip-leakage vortex (TLV) in a low-pressure axial flow fan using digital particle image velocimetry. The blade rotational speed is fixed at 1000 rpm, and the Reynolds number is 547000 based on the blade tip radius and tip velocity. The evolution of TLV in downstream is highly influenced by the incoming flow rate. The TLV breakup occurs for the peak efficiency and stall conditions and sometimes for a higher flow rate, but does not occur for the highest flow rate considered. Thus, the migration speed of the TLV for the peak efficiency condition is faster due to the TLV breakup than those for higher flow rates. The scatter plot of the TLV center location indicates that the TLV wanders around its mean location and the region swept by the wandering motion increases as the TLV migrates downstream. High turbulent kinetic energy exists at the phase-averaged TLV center and its upstream location, respectively, owing to the wandering motion and the interaction between the TLV and main axial flow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Hongkwon Lee, Keuntae Park & Haecheon Choi

  2. Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Haecheon Choi

Authors
  1. Hongkwon Lee
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  2. Keuntae Park
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  3. Haecheon Choi
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Correspondence to Haecheon Choi.

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Recommended by Editor Yang Na

Hongkwon Lee obtained his B.S. from the Department of Mechanical & System Design Engineering, Hongik University in 2009, and Ph.D. from the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University in 2019.

Keuntae Park obtained his B.S. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH in 2008, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University in 2010 and 2019, respectively.

Haecheon Choi obtained his B.S. and M.S. from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University in 1985 and 1987, respectively, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1992. Dr. Choi is currently a Professor at the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Seoul National University. His research interests include turbulence, flow control, CFD, and bio-mimetic engineering.

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Lee, H., Park, K. & Choi, H. Experimental investigation of tip-leakage flow in an axial flow fan at various flow rates. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 1271–1278 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0227-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0227-z

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