An Experimental Study on the Flow Characteristics of Axial Flow Fan with Centrifugal Sub-Blade

Abstract

A new type axial flow fan with centrifugal sub-blades has been designed and fabricated in the present study. We investigated velocity and pressure distributions in downstream flow fields of the fan experimentally to detect the detailed flow characteristics of new axial flow fan and an existing axial flow fan. Two-dimensional velocity components were probed by applying a particle image velocimetry system and pressure distributions were measured by Pitot tube and micro-manometer. Our results show that the velocity and pressure distributions at the flow fields of the new fan are quite different from the existing fan, and that the centrifugal sub-blades in the new fan can improve the performance characteristics in view of kinetic energy.