Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This article presents the computational flow analysis of an axial—centrifugal flow system used for transformer oil cooling in WAP-5 and WAP-7 electric locomotives of Indian Railways. The commercial computational fluid dynamics code ‘FLUENT’ was used for the numerical simulation of the flow system. A standard k—ε turbulence model was employed for turbulence modelling. The flow field through the impeller was analysed to investigate the effect of blade twists and to determine the forces on the blades. A modified impeller design is suggested whose diameter is less than the existing one, which helps in reducing the centrifugal forces. The flow field analysis of the modified impeller shows improvement in the flow through the impeller channels with better performance and reduction in forces on the blades.

Keywords

centrifugal impeller oil cooling blower computational fluid dynamics

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Gopalkrishnan

Prithviraj

, A treatise on turbomachines (Chennai, India: Scitech Publications 2002).

Bleier

F. P.

, Fan handbook (New York: McGraw-Hill 1998).

Round

G. F.

, Incompressible flow turbomachines (New York: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinmann 2004).

Denton

J. D.

Dawes

W. N.

, ‘Computational fluid dynamics for turbomachinery design’ Proc. IMechE, Part C: J. Mechanical Engineering Science 213 C2 (1999): 107–124.

Dawes

W. N.

, ‘Turbomachinery computational fluid dynamics: Asymptotes and paradigm shifts’ Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A 365 (2007): 2553–2585.

Baumgarten

Muller

, ‘Computer aided impeller optimization’ World Pumps 2000 402 (2000): 28–31.

Sato

, ‘Numerical solution of incompressible unsteady flows in turbomachines’ J. Fluids Engng. 123 3 (2001): 680–685.

Baun

D. O.

, ‘Radial impeller forces using CFD. Part 1: Model development and validation’ In Proceedings of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, International Gas Turbine Institute, Turbo Expo (Publication) IGTI, 2002, vol. 5A, pp. 513–520.

Simin

, ‘Optimizing design method for centrifugal impeller: Its engineering applications and numerical simulation’ J. Beijing Univ. Aeronaut. Astronaut. 30 3 (2004): 267–271.

10.

Kang

Liu

, ‘CFD validation of a high speed centrifugal compressor impeller’ J. Engng. Thermophys. 26 3 (2005): 400–404.

11.

Martelli

Pazzi

Michelassi

, ‘Automatic computational fluid dynamics-based procedure for the optimization of a centrifugal impeller’ Proc. IMechE, Part A: J. Power and Energy 219 A7 (2005): 549–557. DOI: 10.1243/095765005×31261.

12.

Wang

Huang

Zhu

, ‘Numerical simulation of flow field for a whole centrifugal fan and analysis of the effects of blade inlet angle and impeller gap’ HVAC Ref. Res. 11 2 (2005): 263–283.

13.

Anagnostopoulos

J. S.

, ‘CFD analysis and design effects in a radial pump impeller’ WSEAS Trans. Fluid Mech. 1 7 (2006): 763–770.

14.

Nataraj

Arunachalam

V. P.

, ‘Optimizing impeller geometry for performance enhancement of a centrifugal pump using the Taguchi quality concept’ Proc. IMechE, Part A: J. Power and Energy 220 A7 (2006): 765–782. DOI: 10.1243/09576509JPE184.

15.

Grapsas

Stamatelos

Anagnostopoulos

Papantonis

Lovrek

Howlett

R. J.

Jain

L. C.

, ‘Numerical study and optimal blade design of a centrifugal pump by evolutionary algorithms’ KES 2008, Part II, LNAI 5178 (Berlin: Springer 2008): 26–33.

16.

Byskov

R. K.

Jacobsen

C. B.

Pedersen

, ‘Flow in a centrifugal pump impeller at design and off-design conditions. II. Large eddy simulations’ J. Fluids Engng. 125 1 (2003): 73–83.

Improvement in the design of a centrifugal impeller for an oil cooling blower system using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References