Аerodynamic performance of axial-and-radial mine fans

Design and engineering of small-size and high-capacity fans for the mining industry requires analyzing basic aerodynamic performance patterns of axial-and-radial fans as function of their structural forms. In this regard, it is of the current concern to determine structural relations to design fans capable of preset pressure and capacity. The proposed analytical model of the conical air-gas channel allows examining variation in the pressure gradient up/down the fan blade. The mathematical models determine adequately the kinematic behavior of the fan flow and their mutual effect on the increment in the pressure up/down the blade. The numerical integrating when solving the coupling equation of air flow twist, radius of the flow curvature and the incremental pressure up/down the impeller blade in the axial-and-radial fan makes it possible to obtain the required geometrical parameters of the blade. It is proposed to determine the flow twist in the fan by setting the flow swirl index. The numerical experiments show that the pressure averaged up/down the axial-and-radial fan blade has the form which allows eliminating the negative pressure in the hub neighborhood. This factor enables using the hubs having much smaller diameter than in the axial fans with continuous circulation up/ down the blade, which improves the aerodynamic performance of mine fans. The implemented aerodynamic tests of a prototype axial-and-radial fan have proved sufficient reliability of the proposed mathematical model of the fan.

Kopachev V. F. Аerodynamic performance of axial-and-radial mine fans. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(11-1):219—228. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_111_0_219.

Kopachev V. F., Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor at the Engineering Mechanics Department, e-mail: u1331@yandex.ru, Ural State Mining University, ul. Kuibysheva 30, Yekaterinburg, 620144 Russia.

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