Browsing by Author "Meiring, Zander"

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    The effect of hub configuration on the performance of an air-cooled steam condenser fan
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University., 2020-03) Meiring, Zander; Van der Spuy, S. J.; Meyer, Chris J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Axial flow fans used in air-cooled condensers are typically analysed with smooth rounded hubs due to their superior performance. However, such a hub increases the manufacturing and installation costs of air-cooled condensers. As such, it is desirable to use a simpler hub geometry to reduce the total installation cost. This thesis assesses the impact that a simpler hub configuration may have on the performance of an axial flow fan. This is done through a comparison of four hub configurations: a round hub, as quare hub, and two disk hubs. Computational fluid dynamics modelling utilizing the open-source software code, OpenFOAM, is used to simulate each hub configuration. BlockMesh is used to generate the computational mesh required. It is found that the impact on performance due to hub geometry is dependent on the volumetric flow rate through the fan. At above design point flow rates, the square hub configuration has the best performance, providing a 9.5 % increase in total-to-static pressure rise and a 5.1 % point improvement in totalto- static efficiency compared to the round hub. On the other hand, a centre disk hub provides a 8.4 % improvement in total-to-static pressure rise and a 5.7 % point improvement in total-to-static efficiency when compared to the round hub at 62.5 % of the design flow rate. At the design point flow rate the round and square hubs result in a very similar performance, and superior to the disk hub configurations.