Study of the Blade Shape Impact on the Improvement of Fan Efficiency Based on State-of-the-Art Prototyping Methods

Abstract

The article discusses the process of designing and testing as well as their results, carried out in order to increase the efficiency of axial fans, implemented as part of the European project INESI. Modifications of existing solutions based on rapid prototyping methods were presented. Scanning, FEM and CFD numerical calculations and 3D printing were used for that purpose. Rapid prototyping involved the use of a steel blade base and 3D-printed complex aerodynamic shapes that were bonded to create completely new blades. After their installation on the new rotor, enabling the angle of attack adjusting, a number of verifying tests of the fan were carried out. The solution was successfully tested and the results are discussed in the article.