NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF STATIC INFLOW DISTORTION ON AN AXIAL FLOW FAN

The present CFD analysis is aimed at studying the performance and flow characteristics in an axial flow fan under uniform and distorted inflow conditions. Inlet flow distortions are flow non-uniformities that cause a reduction in performance and operating flow ranges of axial flow fan. CFD simulations were carried out for the following configurations: (a) Uniform inlet condition, (b) 90 degree circumferential extent steady total pressure distortion. Total pressure values have been noted down from Ansys CFX post at the exit of the axial fan, both in distorted and uniform regions. The simulation results are analysed to obtain axial fan performance parameters like the pressure rise coefficient, flow coefficient. It is observed that the fan performance deteriorated substantially under static inflow distortion than uniform inflow. The pressure rise is reduced by 13.7% due to static inflow distortion.