DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS OF SIROCCO TYPE FANS BY MEANS OF COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND STEREOSCOPIC PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY

SUMMARY This paper treats the investigation of the complex internal flow in Sirocco type fans by means of both numerical and experimental methods. In order t o improve the design and efficiency of these fans, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with high-quality, high-resolution structured and unstructured grids are used. Simulations are ve rified by both integral measurements at a high-precision chamber test rig according to ISO 58 01 and by means of Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (Stereoscopic PIV). Comparison between numerical and experimental data shows a high consistency. Performance curves and efficiencies can be predicted with less than five per cent deviation in a wide operating range.