A numerical investigation of flow and performance characteristics of a small propeller fan using viscous flow calculations

The present work is aimed at investigating an unusual variation in flow and performance characteristics of a small propeller fan at low flow rates. A performance test of the fan showed dual performance characteristics, i.e., radial type characteristics at low flow rates and axial type at high flow rates. Dual performance characteristics of the fan are numerically investigated using viscous flow calculations. The Finite Volume Method is used to solve the continuity and Navier-Stokes equations in the flow domain around a fan. The performance parameters and the circumferentially averaged velocity components obtained from the calculations are compared with the experimental results. Numerical values of the performance parameters show good agreement with the measured values. The calculation simulates the steep variations of performance parameters at low flow rates and shows the difference in the flow structure between high and low flow rates. At a low flow coefficient of ϕ=0.2, the flow enters the fan in an axial direction and is discharged radially outward at its tip, which is much like the flow characteristics of a centrifugal fan. The centrifugal effect at low flow rates makes a significant difference in performance characteristics of the fan. As the inlet flow rate increases, flow around the fan changes into the mixed type at ϕ=0.24 and the axial discharge at ϕ=0.4.