Automated Procedure for Cooling-Fan Analysis and Design 2001-01-1769

Axial-flow cooling fan design has traditionally been a difficult and time-consuming enterprise, especially when elements like blade sweep (or skew) are incorporated for noise-reduction purposes. Computational fluid dynamics, or CFD, has been implemented with some success, but still requires a great deal of engineering effort and computer resources. To address the limitations of conventional Navier-Stokes CFD simulation in the fan-design process, a new computer program has been developed. The program is a three-dimensional airflow prediction tool that applies the underlying principles of CFD without the difficulties of complex model development and slow turn-around. In addition to the analysis function, the program includes a straightforward iterative design feature. In design mode, the user enters the volumetric flow rate, pressure rise, and rotating speed at the operating point, and the program converges to a solution by adjusting blade geometric parameters such as setting angle and camber.