An optimal volute spiral case design for centrifugal fan: theoretical and experimental studies

An inverse design problem in determining the optimal shape of volute spiral case for a centrifugal-flow fan is examined in the present study using the Levenberg-Marquardt method and a general purpose commercial code CFD-ACE+, and based on a desired airflow rate. The desired volume airflow rate can be obtained by multiplying the airflow rate of an existing fan by a constant number which is > 1. The shape of the redesigned volute case is generated using the equation of the trajectory of fluid particles in the volute, which enables the shape of the fan volute be constructed completely. Finally, prototypes of the original and optimized fan volutes as well as fan impellers are fabricated, thereafter the fan performance is tested based on the AMCA-210-85 standard to verify the validity of the design. The experimental results demonstrate that by utilizing the fabricated centrifugal optimal fan and operating at the design condition, the airflow rate can be increased by 6.5 % and the pressure drop, noise and input power of fan can be reduced by 1.6, 5.3 and 11.4 %, respectively, when compared with the original fan. As a result, the performance of optimal fan can be improved greatly.