Velocity field measurements of swirl flow around a forward-swept axial fan using a phase-averaged PTV

The flow characteristics around a rotating axial fan were experimentally investigated using a phase-averaged PTV velocity field measurement technique. The axial fan has 5 forward-swept blades with a radius of 25 mm. Measurements were carried out at 4 axial planes and 4 radial planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation. For the axial plane measurements, one fan blade was divided into 4 different phases in order to analyze the flow structure according to blade phase. For each case, 500 instantaneous velocity fields were measured and ensemble averaged to obtain phase-averaged velocity vector fields and vorticity contours. In addition, measurements were carried out at two planes around the blade surface. Phase averaged velocity fields show periodic variations with respect to the blade phase. The periodic shedding of the tip vortex at the blade tip is also observed. The phase averaged velocity fields measured in the radial planes show periodic variations according to the fan phase and the distance from the fan. These experimental results can be used to validate numerical calculations and to understand the flow characteristics of forward-swept axial fans.