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An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter
Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613945685082112 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok |
| author2 | Meyer, C. J. |
| author_browse | Meyer, C. J. Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok |
| author_facet | Meyer, C. J. Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok |
| author_sort | Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127078 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:12.049Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/127078 An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok Meyer, C. J. Van der Spuy, S. J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Condensers (Steam) -- Cooling Fans (Machinery) -- Testing Axial flow compressors Blades -- Testing UCTD Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH SUMMARY: Air-cooled condensers (ACCs) utilise axial flow fans to produce airflow over heat exchangers. The size of these fans makes it challenging to determine their performance characteristics experimentally. Current methods of determining a fan's installed operating point exist, but each method contains significant inaccuracies. A new metric was investigated with the goal of improving the prediction of a fan’s installed operating point. The fan under investigation is the M-fan (7.31 m in diameter) designed for application in ACCs installed at concentrated solar power plants. Stellenbosch University has the facilities to test the model M-fan in a standardised testing facility and a large M-fan in its installed environment. Fan static pressure measurements are advantageous for use in fan characterisation due to the steep slope of the fan static pressure characteristic. The generation of thrust by an axial flow fan blade is the cause for the rise in static pressure across the fan, leading to the expectation that a proportional relationship exists between the axial fan blade loading (blade thrust) and the fan static pressure rise. The use of fan blade thrust to determine a fan’s installed operating point, in conjunction with fan power, was therefore investigated. During investigation of a model-scale system, the use of fan blade loading to determine a fan’s operating point was deemed successful. When compared to the fan characteristic curve, the measured fan power corresponded to a volume flow rate of 16.21 m3/s, whereas the flap-wise strain corresponded to a volume flow rate of 15.96m3/s. The difference between the two predicted volume flow rates is 1.55%. Following an extensive experimental analysis, the use of fan blade loading was deemed successful for use in large-scale fan performance prediction through scaling with the square of the geometrical scaling factor (GF2). A difference in fan power and fan blade loading was, however, observed between the scaled model fan characteristics and the large-scale test results. The scaling laws underpredicted the fan power by an average of 9.54 %. A further slight decrease in fan power was observed at high volume flow rates. The former shows a near-perfect correlation between an increase in blade setting angle, whereas the latter represents a similar trend to that of distorted inflow conditions. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lugverkoelde kondensors (ACCs) gebruik aksiaalvloeiwaaiers om lugvloei oor hitteruilers te produseer. Die grootte van hierdie waaiers maak dit uitdagend om hul werkspunte eksperimenteel te bepaal. Huidige metodes om die werkspunt van n waaier te bepaal bestaan egter, maar elke metode bevat aansienlike onakkuraathede. 'n Nuwe maatstaf is dus ondersoek met die doel om die voorspelling van 'n waaier se geinstalleerde werkspunt te verbeter. Die waaier wat ondersoek word, is die M-waaier (7,31 m in deursnee) wat ontwerp is vir gebruik in ACCs wat by gekonsentreerde sonkragaanlegte geinstalleer word. Die Universiteit Stellenbosch het die fasiliteite om 'n model M-waaier in 'n gestandaardiseerde toetsfasiliteit en 'n groot M-waaier in sy geinstalleerde omgewing te toets. Statiese drukmetings is voordelig vir gebruik in waaierkarakterisering as gevolg van die steil helling van die waaier statiese drukkenkromme. Die opwekking van stukrag deur 'n aksiaalvloeiwaaier se lem is die oorsaak vir die styging in statiese druk oor die waaier, wat lei tot die verwagting dat 'n proporsionele verhouding bestaan tussen die aksiale waaierlembelasting (lemstukrag) en die waaier statiese drukstyging. Die gebruik van waaierlemstukrag om 'n waaier se geinstalleerde werkspunt te bepaal, in samewerking met waaierdrywing, is dus ondersoek. Tydens 'n ondersoek wat uitgevoer is op 'n modelskaalstelsel is waaierlembelasting suksesvol gebruik om 'n waaier se werkspunt te bepaal. In vergelyking met die waaier-kenkromme, het die gemete waaierdrywing ooreen gestem met 'n volumevloeitempo van 16.21 m3/s, terwyl die aksiaale waaierlembelasting met 'n volumevloeitempo van 15.96 m3/s ooreengestem het. Die verskil tussen die twee voorspelde volumevloeitempo's is 1,55 %. Na 'n uitgebreide eksperimentele analise, is die gebruik van waaierlembelasting as suksesvol beskou vir gebruik in grootskaalse waaierwerksverrigtingvoorspelling deur te skalleer met die kwadraat van die geometriese skaalfaktor (GF2). 'n Verskil in waaierdrywing en waaierlembelasting is egter waargeneem tussen die geskaalde modelwaaier-eienskappe en die grootskaalse toetsresultate. Die skalleringswette het die waaierdrywing met 'n gemiddeld van 9,54 % ondervoorspel. 'n Verdere effense afname in waaierdrywing is by hoe volume vloeitempo's waargeneem. Eersgenoemde toon 'n byna volmaakte korrelasie tussen 'n toename in lemstelhoek, terwyl laasgenoemde 'n soortgelyke neiging as die van verwronge invloeitoestande verteenwoordig. Masters 2023-03-02T12:41:23Z 2023-05-18T07:03:12Z 2023-03-02T12:41:23Z 2023-05-18T07:03:12Z 2023-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127078 en_ZA Stellenbosch University xvii, 117 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Condensers (Steam) -- Cooling Fans (Machinery) -- Testing Axial flow compressors Blades -- Testing UCTD Van Jaarsveld, Nicolaas Vlok An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title | An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title_full | An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title_fullStr | An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title_full_unstemmed | An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title_short | An investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| title_sort | investigation into using fan blade loading as an axial flow fan performance and scaling parameter |
| topic | Condensers (Steam) -- Cooling Fans (Machinery) -- Testing Axial flow compressors Blades -- Testing UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/127078 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanjaarsveldnicolaasvlok aninvestigationintousingfanbladeloadingasanaxialflowfanperformanceandscalingparameter AT vanjaarsveldnicolaasvlok investigationintousingfanbladeloadingasanaxialflowfanperformanceandscalingparameter |