Title: Numerical study of flow parameters and entropy generation on a centrifugal fan

Authors: A. Behzadmehr, Y. Mercadier

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran; Genie Mecanique, Universite de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada. ' Genie Mecanique, Universite de Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

Abstract: A whole backward-inclined centrifugal fan has been simulated using three-dimensional elliptic governing equations to calculate the flow field and entropy generation. Dissipation term in the energy equation is not neglected and used to calculate the generation of entropy. The standard k-ε turbulence model has been adopted and the numerical model has been validated by experimental results. It is shown that entropy generation could be used to localise the energy losses throughout the machine to improve the efficiency of a well-designed fan. The contours of pressure, velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and entropy generation have been presented at the entrance region, as well as at the blade passage.

Keywords: entropy generation; centrifugal fans; computational fluid dynamics; CFD; flow parameters; exergy; turbulence modelling; fan design; pressure; velocity; turbulent kinetic energy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2009.023346

International Journal of Exergy, 2009 Vol.6 No.1, pp.80 - 92

Published online: 19 Feb 2009 *

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