CFD simulations for selection of appropriate blade profile for improving energy efficiency in axial flow mine ventilation fans

Volume 13
2014
Issue 1

Purpose
This study focuses on one of the key design aspects of mine ventilation fans, i.e. the selection of an appropriate aerofoil blade profile for the fan blades in order to enhance the energy efficiency of axial flow mine ventilation fans, using CFD simulations.
Methods
Computational simulations were performed on six selected typical aerofoil sections using CFD code ANSYS Fluent 6.3.26 at angles of attack varying from 0o to 21o at an interval of 3o and at Reynolds number Re = 3 × 106, and various aerodynamic parameters, viz. coefficients of lift (Cl) and drag (Cd) as a function of angle of attack (α) were determined to assess the efficiency of the aerofoils.
Results
The study revealed that the angle of attack has a significant effect on the lift and drag coefficients and stall condition occurred at α values of 12o and 15o in most of the aerofoils. Based on the criterion of higher lift to drag ratio (Cl/Cd), a blade profile was chosen as the most efficient one for mine ventilation fans.
Practical implications
This study forms a basis for selecting appropriate blade profiles for the axial flow fans used for ventilation in mining industry.
Originality/ value
The application of an appropriate aerofoil blade profile will impart energy efficiency to the mine ventilation fans and thereby result in energy saving in mine ventilation.

DOI

10.7424/jsm140104
APA
Panigrahi, D. C., & Mishra, D. P. (2014). CFD simulations for selection of appropriate blade profile for improving energy efficiency in axial flow mine ventilation fans. Journal of Sustainable Mining, 13(1), 15–21. doi:10.7424/jsm140104
 
MLA
Panigrahi, Durga Charan, and Devi Prasad Mishra. “CFD Simulations for Selection of Appropriate Blade Profile for Improving Energy Efficiency in Axial Flow Mine Ventilation Fans.” Journal of Sustainable Mining 13.1 (2014): 15–21.