Improving the performance of the condenser fan in a subway train against the effects of crosswind flow by placing barriers

Abstract

In this paper, the effect of crosswind flow and barrier placement on the performance of the condenser fan in a subway train is investigated. In addition, the amount of heat transfer on the condenser tubes is also analyzed. At different velocities of the train, variations in the velocity profile and drag force are determined for various geometries including triangular, rectangular, symmetric triangular barriers, and a barrier with parallel lines outside of the fan. Navier–Stokes, energy equations, and k– ω turbulence model have been used for the numerical modeling of the turbulent and incompressible flow. The results show that due to the created vortices behind the triangular and rectangular barriers, a negative velocity on the outflow of the fan is observed. Also, the symmetric triangular barrier minimizes the rotational flow on the top of the fan, and parallel paths have the most impact on the improvement of the fan's performance due to the elimination of all rotating flows. Finally, variations in temperature on the condenser tubes in the presence of barriers that are placed in the middle gap between the holes on the top of the condenser tubes are determined. These barriers move the crosswind flow toward the condenser tubes and decrease the output air temperature of the condenser.