Experiments on the unsteady flow field and noise generation in a centrifugal pump impeller

This paper reports on an experimental investigation of large-scale flowfield instabilities in a pump rotor and the process of noise generation by these instabilities. Measurements of the fluctuating components of velocity and surface pressure were made with hot-wire probes and surface mounted pressure transducers on a seven bladed back swept centrifugal water pump impeller operating with air as the working fluid. The impeller was operated without a volute or scroll diffuser, thereby eliminating any sound generation from pressure fluctuations on the volute cutoff. Thus the study focused on flow field and noise components other than the blade passage frequency (and its harmonics). The primary goal of the study was to provide fundamental information on the unsteady flow processes, particularly those associated with the noise generation in the device. It was further anticipated that detailed flow measurements would be useful for the validation of future computational simulations.The measured data at the discharge show a jet-wake type of flow pattern which results in a strong vorticity field. The flow with high velocity found on the pressure side of the impeller tends to move to the low-pressure region present at the suction side of the passage as a form of roll-up around the blade trailing edge. This motion causes an unsteady flow separation at the suction side of the blade and consequently disturbs the flow in the adjacent passage. By interacting with the impeller blades near the trailing edges, this instability flow causes a periodic pressure fluctuation on the blade surface and generates noise by a trailing edge generation mechanism. The spectrum of surface pressure measured at the trailing edge of each blade reveals a cluster of peaks which were identified with azimuthal mode numbers. The correlation between the acoustic farfield pressure and the surface pressure on the impeller blade has proven that the azimuthal modes synchronized with the number of impeller blades generate noise much more efficiently than the other modes. The paper also clarifies the correlation between unsteady flowfield measurements, in both impeller and laboratory co-ordinates, with the radiated noise properties. Thus some light is shed on the noise generation mechanisms of this particular device.     

Experimental and numerical studies on the discrete noise about the cross-flow fan with block-shifted impellers

The experimental and numerical studies have been carried out to investigate the blade passage frequency (BPF) noise of a cross-flow fan (CFF) with the block-shifted impeller. Firstly, the aeroacoustic and aerodynamic features about the five different block-shifted impellers have been obtained experimentally. Secondly, the dynamic pressure sensors were put in the noise generating surfaces to investigate the pressure fluctuations generated by the shifted blocks in the near-field through the cross-correlation analysis. Thirdly, the two-dimensional (2D) unsteady flow field has been simulated by commercial CFD software and the vortex flow patterns and the unsteady force of the blade have been analyzed to detect the noise source about the CFF. Finally, the noise properties about the CFF were predicted by a hybrid method through the Farassat’s equation and the surface pressure fluctuations were provided by the CFD simulations. A simplified theory model has also been built up at the same time. The comparisons are made between the results of hybrid method and the theory model to validate the correctness of the noise prediction methods. The accuracy of these results was also evaluated by the corresponding experimental ones. The results indicate that the impellers with different block-shifted angles are the same in aerodynamic performance but different in the BPF noise. The relations between the shifted angles and the BPF noise levels have been predicted and discussed for the noise reduction.     

A numerical optimization on the vibroacoustics of a centrifugal fan volute

A numerical optimization is presented to reduce the vibration and noise of a centrifugal fan volute. Minimal vibration was considered as the aim of the optimization, and the calculation of sound field induced by the vibration of the volute was only based on the final results of the optimization. After the three-dimensional unsteady flow simulation of a centrifugal fan, the parametric finite element model of the volute was created using the pressure fluctuations at blade passing frequency on the volute as external excitation forces. To validate the finite element model of the volute, natural frequencies and amplitudes of the normal velocities of the volute at blade passing frequency were measured. A good agreement was found between the numerical and the experimental results. Then, random method and first-order optimization method were applied in the optimization process. The numerical optimization of the volute was carried out using the local thickness of the volute as design variables and the quadratic sum of the nodal velocities as an objective function. Numerical optimization results show that the volute vibration is reduced by the optimization method. Finally, vibroacoustics of the volute before and after the optimization were calculated by direct boundary element method. The results show that the radiated power of the vibroacoustics of the volute is reduced significantly as well as the vibration of the volute after the optimization.This numerical optimization process provides a useful reference for vibroacoustic reduction of centrifugal compressors and centrifugal fans whose fluids should be kept strictly in a system without leakage.     

不同叶轮形式下离心泵噪声特性对比研究

针对具有无短叶片和有短叶片两种叶轮形式的离心泵,对设计状态下离心泵内部流场进行了全三维、非定常数值模拟,对比分析了其非定常流场特性和噪声辐射特性。流场分析表明:叶轮叶片和蜗舌的相互作用造成了叶片表面强烈的压力脉动,对长短叶片的叶轮形式,在局部增加长叶片表面压力脉动的同时,短叶片表面的压力脉动保持较低水平;同时能够有效降低泵体进口压力脉动,但出口压力脉动有所增强。以叶轮叶片表面作为声源辐射面,对比分析了两种叶轮的偶极子噪声辐射特性,结果表明:长短叶片结构通过改变声能在频域上的分布,从而能有效降低总声压级。     

Relationship between volute pressure fluctuation pattern and tonal noise generation in a squirrel-cage fan

In this work, the pressure fluctuation pattern in the volute of a squirrel-cage fan is analyzed. Also studied is how this pattern is modified when a slight geometry change is introduced in the volute tongue. The study has been carried out on a commercial machine, used in automotive air conditioning units. A three-dimensional and unsteady numerical simulation of the flow in the complete machine has been carried out using the commercial code FLUENT. In this way, the pressure fluctuations in some locations near the volute wall have been obtained. The results of this numerical simulation have been compared to the sound pressure level spectra radiated by the fan, measured in a ducted test installation at the laboratory. The tendencies of the sound pressure levels measured at the blade passing frequency show a good correlation with the amplitudes of pressure fluctuations obtained numerically near the volute wall.     

大小叶片贯流风机内流特性分析与实验研究

为降低空调用贯流风机的噪声,改善音质,通过采用直叶片贯流风轮达到斜扭叶片贯流风轮的音质和低噪声特性,从而降低贯流风轮的制造成本,本文设计了大小叶片交错组合的新型非等距贯流风机,并采用滑动网格对其内流特性进行了非定常数值模拟,同时对其气动噪声特性进行了实验研究.大小叶片贯流风机的偏心涡基本稳定在叶轮中心与蜗舌相连的切线上,位于叶轮内圆周附近.风轮非定常运转时,偏心涡的涡核位置在直径为2mm的圆所围成的区域内变化.大小叶片交错组合的贯流风轮改变了叶轮与蜗舌的间距,有效地降低叶片通过频率噪声并改善了音质.采用大小叶片交错组合的贯流风轮能够达到斜扭叶片贯流风机的降噪效果.     

多翼离心风机的三维数值分析

本文对一前弯多翼离心风机的内流场进行了三维数值分析。结果显示蜗壳内部的最大压力沿着轴线方向分布在不同的圆周位置,叶轮内部蜗舌上游区域存在着进口旋涡,蜗舌附近存在着明显的从叶片出口到进口的逆向回流,蜗舌间隙中存在着间隙涡,本文同时给出了一些典型位置上的速度和静压沿轴向的分布曲线,为验证本计算方法的可靠性,计算的流量和压力特性曲线和实验结果进行了比较,吻合良好。     

Aeroacoustic performance evaluation of axial flow fans based on the unsteady pressure field on the blade surface

Because of the European and global regulation concerning acoustic emission, the goal of manufacturers is to substantially decrease the noise radiated by turbomachines, and in particular axial fans, without degrading their aerodynamic performances. High rotation speed and increasing power add to the overall difficulties. The theoretical study of this paper consists of two parts: (1) an aerodynamic approach based on the vortex surface method and (2) an aeroacoustic approach which mainly concerns the prediction of the tonal noise using the Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation. One of the main goals is the evaluation of the unsteady aerodynamic forces applied on the fan blades. A 2D software analysis, based on the vortex surface method (or potential flow method), was carried out. That process enabled evaluation of the potential flow around a mobile grid; first in a steady mode, and secondly in an unsteady mode by introducing an upstream disturbance in the form of an inlet velocity variation. The sources of noise corresponding to the zones with high force fluctuation amplitude are located initially on the blade surface. These fluctuating forces are used to predict the tonal noise radiated by the fan in far field by means of the FW-H equation. Two axial flow fans were used in this study. The theoretical results will be compared to the experimental ones in order to evaluate the aeroacoustic performances of the fans.     

Reduction of the aerodynamic tonal noise of a forward-curved centrifugal fan by modification of the volute tongue geometry

In this work, an experimental study about the influence of some geometric features on the aeroacoustic behaviour of a squirrel-cage fan, used in automotive air conditioning units, has been carried out. The study focused on the effect of both the shape and the position of the volute tongue on the noise generated by the fan. Different geometric configurations were tested in order to compare the results. First of all, the performance curves were measured in a standardized test facility. Then, the acoustic behaviour of the fan was characterized by means of acoustic pressure measurements near the fan inlet. The comparison of the test results indicated a great dependence of both the shape and the position of the volute tongue and the noise generation. In particular, some geometric configurations of the volute tongue were able to reduce the fan noise generation without reducing the fan operating range.     

后置蜗壳斜流叶轮进出口流场的实验研究

后置蜗壳斜流叶轮进出口流场的实验研究吴克启，于文华，张勇，胡晓，刘海波，赵联州（华中理工大学武汉４３００７４）关键词：后置蜗壳，斜流叶轮，进出口流场，实验一、前言后置导叶翼形和圆弧形斜流风机的设计及应用【川＼日益受到人们的关注并形成了性能良好的斜流风...     

A numerical study on the flow and sound fields of centrifugal impeller located near a wedge

Centrifugal fans are widely used and the noise generated by these machines causes one of the serious problems. In general, the centrifugal fan noise is often dominated by tones at blade passage frequency and its higher harmonics. This is a consequence of the strong interaction between the flow discharged from the impeller and the cut-off in the casing. However, only a few researches have been carried out on predicting the noise because of the difficulty in obtaining detailed information about the flow field and considering the scattering effect of the casing. The objective of this study is to understand the generation mechanism of sound and to develop a prediction method for the unsteady flow field and the acoustic pressure field of the centrifugal impeller. A discrete vortex method is used to model the centrifugal impeller and a wedge and to calculate the flow field. The force of each element on the blade is calculated by the unsteady Bernoulli equation. Lowson's method is used to predict the acoustic source. In order to consider the scattering and diffraction effects of the casing, Kirchhoff-Helmholtz boundary element method (BEM) is developed. The source of Kirchhoff-Helmholtz BEM is newly developed, so the sound field of the centrifugal fan can be obtained. A centrifugal impeller and wedge are used in the numerical calculation and the results are compared with the experimental data. Reasonable results are obtained not only for the peak frequencies but also for the amplitudes of the tonal sound. The radiated acoustic field shows the diffraction and scattering effect of the wedge.     

基于蜗舌改型的空调用离心风机流动分析及降噪研究

本文采用计算流体动力学和声类比相结合的混合方法对空调用离心风机进行流场以及声场的计算,同时进行风机风量和噪声的实验测量,验证所采用的数值计算模型和计算方法的有效性.针对原型非常规蜗壳,提取蜗壳中间截面型线进行直蜗舌的蜗壳设计,在此基础上设计了三种倾斜蜗舌的蜗壳.根据数值计算结果,对最优倾斜蜗舌进行了实验验证。经实验测试,风机在各个工况点风量均有提升,在最大风量点风量提升6.0%,噪声降低1.4 dB(A).数值分析风机内部流动特征及噪声特性,发现在蜗舌附近流动区域内湍流强度和涡量明显减小,在叶片通过频率处声功率谱密度以及噪声峰值明显下降,这也表明风机的旋转噪声得到了有效控制。     

Experimental and numerical study on aeroacoustic sound of axial flow fan in room air conditioner

Fan is one of the main noise sources of the room air-conditioners. Axial flow fans are widely used in the outdoor unit of split type air-conditioners. The interaction between the fan and the heat exchanger should be taken into consideration. However, only a few researches have been carried out on predicting the aeroacoustic noise because of the difficulty in obtaining detailed information of the flow field. This paper is to understand the generation mechanism of sound and to develop a prediction method for the flow field and the acoustic pressure field of the outdoor unit. Acoustic measurement is performed in a semi-anechoic chamber. Effects of each components is analyzed. Based on commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, Fluent, Fukano’s model is used to predict the overall sound pressure level of broadband noise. The predicted sound pressure levels based on original Fukano’s model are 7.66 dB and 7.42 dB lower than measurement results at 780 rpm and 684 rpm, respectively. And the errors are about 13%. However, when wake width and relative velocity are both calculated by numerical simulations and the distance to blade trailing edge is taken into consideration, the difference of sound pressure level between measurement and prediction is less than 3.4 dB and errors less than 5.5% while the distance is less than 10 mm. Thus, the distance to blade trailing edge should also be an important parameter for Fukano’s model. In comparison with experimental results, it is clearly shown that the Fukano method based on numerical simulation can provide more accuracy than the original Fukano model and numerical results are in a reliable level.     

贯流风机变斜式叶轮和常规直叶轮的对比研究

本文对贯流风机变斜式叶轮和常规直叶轮进行了三维数值模拟和实验研究。结果表明贯流风机内部偏心涡的位置沿轴向具有明显的三维分布特征,两者偏心涡的圆周位置沿轴向不断变化,而直叶轮偏心涡的径向位置沿轴向的分布几乎没有变化。变斜式叶轮中偏心涡的位置更加靠近叶轮内圆周和风机的蜗舌。采用变斜式叶轮可以降低叶片通过频率噪声并改善音质。为验证本计算方法的可靠性,计算的流量和压力特性曲线和实验结果进行了比较,吻合良好。     

Application of cylindrical near-field acoustical holography to the visualization of aeroacoustic sources

The purpose of this study was to develop methods for visualizing the sound radiation from aeroacoustic sources in order to identify their source strength distribution, radiation patterns, and to quantify the performance of noise control solutions. Here, cylindrical Near-field Acoustical Holography was used for that purpose. In a practical holographic measurement of sources comprising either partially correlated or uncorrelated subsources, it is necessary to use a number of reference microphones so that the sound field on the hologram surface can be decomposed into mutually incoherent partial fields before holographic projection. In this article, procedures are described for determining the number of reference microphones required when visualizing partially correlated aeroacoustic sources; performing source nonstationarity compensation; and applying regularization. The procedures have been demonstrated by application to a ducted fan. Holographic tests were performed to visualize the sound radiation from that source in its original form. The system was then altered to investigate the effect of two modifications on the fan's sound radiation pattern: first, leaks were created in the fan and duct assembly, and second, sound absorbing material was used to line the downstream duct section. Results in all three cases are shown at the blade passing frequency and for a broadband noise component. In the absence of leakage, both components were found to exhibit a dipole-like radiation pattern. Leakage was found to have a strong influence on the directivity of the blade passing tone. The increase of the flow resistance caused by adding the acoustical lining resulted in a nearly symmetric reduction of sound radiation.     

空调风机叶道内旋涡流动分析及进气口偏心的影响

本文采用CFD方法,详细分析了空调用多翼离心风机叶道中的气流分布以及进气口偏心的影响。研究表明,风机叶道内存在大范围的气流分离现象。在后盘附近,存在分离现象的叶道约占2/3,主要分布在蜗壳内侧;而在“前盘”附近,几乎所有叶道都存在分离现象。在“前盘”附近,蜗舌下方的叶道中气流几乎停滞,蜗舌下游叶道为回流和尾缘旋涡所充满,至临近蜗壳出口侧,前缘旋涡逐步形成、发展并融合尾缘旋涡,最后衰减、消失。风机进气口向蜗壳内侧偏置适当距离, “前盘”附近叶道旋涡分布范围明显减小。     

使用多孔蜗舌的贯流风机

将贯流风机的蜗舌替代为多孔板与容腔组合的结构,定性地研究其控制气动噪声的可行性。通过对气动特性和辐射声信号的实验测量,结合内部流场的非稳态雷诺平均数值模拟,分析了这种蜗舌改造对贯流风机的整体特性和内部流动特征的影响,结果表明多孔蜗舌对贯流风机的压力-流量曲线作用并不明显,但对风机的噪声有着重要的影响,改变蜗舌迎风面的穿孔率可以有效地控制贯流风机的噪声。     

A simple acoustic model to characterize the internal low frequency sound field in centrifugal pumps

Conventional centrifugal pumps with volute casing generate fluid-dynamic noise particularly at the so-called blade-passing frequency, which is attributed to the interaction of the flow exiting the pump impeller with the volute tongue. Following previous work by the authors to characterize the effect of that blade–tongue interaction on the tonal sound produced, this paper presents a simple acoustic model for centrifugal pumps that considers ideal sound sources of arbitrary position and properties. The model is to be implemented in a software code that applies it systematically to a pump previously tested at laboratory, until identifying the set of ideal sources that best reproduce the pressure fluctuation measurements. In this model, the ideal sources are assumed to radiate plane sound waves along the impeller channels, volute, and outlet diffuser. The volute was considered to be composed by a succession of slices, each of them equivalent to a linear 3-port acoustic system with individual sound transmission and reflection coefficients. A series of tests was conducted to check the validity of the acoustic model, by applying an external acoustic load onto the pump outlet duct and measuring the noise reflected. The resulting reflection coefficient was in good agreement with the predictions of the acoustic model. Finally, the model was used to investigate the pump internal sound field at the blade-passing frequency when operating at 70% of nominal flow rate. It was concluded that the sound field can be characterized reasonably by a dipole-like source located at the tongue region.     

Reconstruction of the unsteady rotating forces of fan’s blade from far-field sound pressure

The aim of this paper is to investigate an inverse method used to evaluate the unsteady rotating forces acting on the fluid by the fan’s blade. A simple model based on the tonal noise produced by an axial fan and validated with a directivity experience is used to derive a discretized form of the direct problem and to simulate acoustic pressures at known spatial positions in the radiated field. The inversion of this direct problem is ill-conditioned and requires a regularization technique to stabilize the solution for small perturbations in the measured acoustic pressures. The reconstruction reveals that the conditioning of the inverse problem depends on the aeroacoustic source and the far-field microphones number as well as on the studied frequency. Tikhonov regularization can provide an appropriate regularization parameter leading to an accurate reconstruction of imposed unsteady rotating forces even with the presence of measurement noise.     

Experimental study on the noise reduction of an industrial forward-curved blades centrifugal fan

Many previous researches have concentrated on the noise of backward-curved (BC) blades and forward-curved (FC) multi-blade centrifugal fans. In this paper, an experimental study has been carried out to study the noise reduction of an industrial FC blades centrifugal fan. First of all, the performance and noise characteristics of the FC centrifugal fan were tested to compare the similarities and differences from those of BC blades and FC multi-blade centrifugal fans. And then, some different volute geometric configurations were carried out in order to study the effects of inclined volute tongue, impeller blade-tongue clearance, hub-volute clearance and their coupling effect to the performance and noise of the FC blades centrifugal fan. The aim of many different experimental tests is to validate whether the effects of different modifications to fan performance and noise are additive and to find a good impeller-volute matching to reduce the centrifugal fan noise without reducing performance. The experimental results show that a good coupled modification not only could reduce the fan noise but also could advance the fan performance and extend the operating range.