Optimization of Backward Curved Aerofoil Radial Fan Impeller Using Finite Element Modelling

AbstractThis paper deals with optimizing the design of radial fan impeller using finite element analysis. Most manufacturing concerns spend more than a 60% of their money for materials. The design of turbo machinery has been practiced in the last half of the previous century with increasing degree of sophistication. This trend of development is not complete because design of any turbo machine is interdisciplinary process involving aerodynamics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, stress analysis, vibration analysis, the selection of materials, and the requirements for manufacturing. So, products have not reached a level of full maturity. Today there is considerable room for further development of most turbo machinery products when looked at with the perspective of the broadest possible design world and when it comes to development at the design stage then various types of analysis of every component are performed on computer before the first prototype is built. Among these the major one end the most frequently used in the manufacturing of any mechanical part is stress analysis. As the mass of the fan is directly related to the thickness of the impeller parts hence our objective in this project is to minimize the thickness, keeping in consideration the operating restrictions and design parameters.This work concentrates on to generate the finite element model of backward curved aerofoil radial fan impeller which behaves mathematically like structure model & carry out stress analysis using ANSYS software. The analysis was carried out using the default thickness of the impeller of the radial fan. This results in massive weight of the fan, leading to large vibrations and one of the reasons to failure. Ways were found out to reduce all these things, so the analysis was carried using various reduced thicknesses of the impeller and the optimum thickness of the impeller parts found for the safe stress and strain limits.This value analysis/Engineering results in material reduction, cost reduction with reduced vibrations for the desired design and operating conditions. The basic procedures and issues involved in the Finite Element Analysis of a radial fan are also outlined. The design configuration of the radial fan has been provided by Boiler Auxiliaries Plant