Prediction of Flow in Centrifugal Blower Using Quasi-Steady Rotor–Stator Models
Publication: Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 128, Issue 10
Abstract
A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based computational tool, named STREAM, is used to analyze fluid flow in a centrifugal blower. The unsteady interaction of the flow in the rotating impeller (rotor) and the stationary volute (stator) is modeled via quasi-steady rotor–stator models. Two such models are developed: one based on a local exchange of information and the other based on a circumferential averaging procedure at the rotor–stator interface. Due care is exercised to ensure that inadequate grid resolution and numerical dissipation do not smear out the small pressure rise typical of the blower considered here. Computed results based on the proposed models with multiblock structured grids are presented; global quantities such as static pressure rise, horsepower, and static efficiency, available from test data for different mass flow rates, are used to evaluate the trends predicted by the CFD results. Overall, the predictions by the proposed models are satisfactory.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Engineering Mechanics
Volume 128 • Issue 10 • October 2002
Pages: 1039 - 1049
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 16, 2001
Accepted: Feb 19, 2002
Published online: Sep 13, 2002
Published in print: Oct 2002
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