CFD Simulation of Centrifugal Blower using ANSYS

Published on 12 May 2021. Written by Aman Singh

Centrifugal blower was designed mainly to handle air and gases which are compressible fluids. A blower contains more than one stage of compression which is mounted on a single shaft. Blowers are mostly used in power stations, ventilation, workshops, etc. 

A centrifugal compressor can be related to a fan-based on the type of application which it has been applied to. For the simulation of a centrifugal blower, Ansys’s CFD simulation software helps to analyze and give the result which is required.

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SLNOTE
Simulation :

The basic steps involved in this CFD software to analyze centrifugal blower are:

1. Creating Geometry
2. Generating Mesh
3. Setting up flow and fluid properties
4. Setting boundary conditions
5. Applying/ Using CFD solver
6. Result and visualization 

The important thing in this simulation is the temperature of the fluid, its density, and the velocity with which it is entering and leaving the blower.

SLLATEST
Creating Geometry : 

• The first and the foremost step in any simulation is to create and generate a geometry based on the type of machine which has to be simulated.

Generating Mesh :

• The next important step is to generate mesh around the geometry created, as a subdivision of the domain of the geometry is the prerequisite in CFD analysis. 
• Subdivision of the domain is required as it allows us to understand every corner of the geometry.

Setting up the flow and Fluid properties:

• This step allows us to set the kind of flow, fluid properties, and other steady-state conditions inside the component. 
• In this step, the properties like density, viscosity, energy, etc. have to be inputted into the simulator.

Setting Boundary conditions:

• In this, the main parameter which has to be set is the inlet and the outlet velocities of the fluid into the component. 
• By this process, we can know the possible obstacles in the domain and as the meshing has been done, we can know which part of the domain has been affected because of the obstacle.

Applying/ Using CFD solver :

• This solution is useful when the numerical has to be solved using this simulator. The prerequisite in this process are 

1. Initializing( inputting the numerical values), 
2. Solution control( setting the boundary conditions), 
3. CFD calculations, and 
4. Checking for convergence( checking the results)

Result and Visualization : 

• CFD simulator gives us the best images which are easy to understand and make conclusions out of it. 
• These results can be varied by varying the boundary conditions and other parameters which will be felt in the blower.

By this simulation, we get the 

• Flow rate with a change in pressure
• Pressure distribution
• Velocity variation 
• The temperature of the blower
• We can also know if the blower is safe to operate or not.
• Rotating speed
• Any obstacle in the blower.

SLDYK
Kit required to develop CFD Simulation of Centrifugal Blower using ANSYS:

• ANSYS

Technologies you will learn by working on CFD Simulation of Centrifugal Blower using ANSYS:

• ANSYS
• CFD

Any Questions?