Eco-design of a small size industrial fan for ceramic tile cooling

In this paper, the one-dimensional design and the three-dimensional numerical analysis through computational fluid dynamics simulations of a small size fan are carried out. The fan in consideration provides the airflow used for controlling the surface thermal gradient of ceramic tiles between the dryer and the digital printing stage. An experimental campaign performed on a backward-curved centrifugal fan prototype with an optimized air blowing device demonstrates that fan performances (efficiency and air flow rate) meet the eco-design demands and the air velocity field at the blowing device outlet is suitable to obtain the expected heat exchange. The new cooling system can also reduce acoustic emissions up to 3 dB(A) with respect to the existing one.