1 Chapter INTRODUCTION
1.0 GENERAL
Blower is an important class of fluid machine, which has
characteristics of transfer of energy between continuous stream of fluid &
an element rotating about a fixed axis. Blower is a head generating
machine which employs the dynamic action of a rotating element “the
rotor” the action of rotor changes the energy level of the continuously
flowing fluid. Blowers & Compressors are pressure-increasing machines.
In all these, the fluid enters axially and is discharged by the rotor into a
static collector system casing and then into a discharge pipe. Main
components of Blower are impeller which is having rotary motion, where
energy is transfer and followed by stationary part casing, in which energy
transformation takes place. Casing decides the size and pressure rise in
the system.
Blowers are used where large volumes of gas at low pressure are
required. They generally operate at low speeds & pressure ratios. In
pumps & fans the fluid is considered incompressible while in the
compressor & blower there is usually a considerable density change. Fans
and blowers provide air for ventilation and industrial process
requirements. Fans generate a pressure to move air (or gases) against a
resistance caused by ducts, dampers or other components in a fan
system. [1]
Blower selection depends on the volume flow rate, pressure, type of
material handled, space limitations, and efficiency. Blower efficiencies
differ from design to design and also by types of impeller. Blower falls into
two general categories: centrifugal flow and axial flow. In centrifugal flow,
airflow changes direction twice - once when entering and second when
leaving. They are also used to produce negative pressures for industrial
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vacuum systems. Major types are: centrifugal blower and positive-
displacement blower.
Centrifugal blowers look more like centrifugal pumps than fans. In
multi-stage blowers, air is accelerated as it passes through each impeller.
In single-stage blower, air does not take many turns, and hence it is more
efficient.
Air flow in the blowers usually is subject matter of research as blowers
command greater share of applications in various sectors of industries.
With relatively poor energy scene in developing economy, greater
emphasis is usually made on power intake requirements, efficiency etc.
These parameters have direct influence on air flow in the blower system
both in the rotor and the volute casing. It is due to this reason that, what
follows is a brief description of air flow in various parts of a Centrifugal
Blower.
1.1 CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER
Blower is power consuming machine, where large volumes of gas or
air at low pressure are required. According to the “Compressed Air
Institute”, it is a machine to compress air or gas by centrifugal force to a
final pressure not exceeding 2.4 bar. It is not water cooled, as the added
expense of the cooling system is not justified in view of the relatively
slight gain at this pressure. Centrifugal blowers are generally used for
large air supply systems for reduced noise and maintenance. Here are few
applications of blowers enumerated as High pressure air blower, Sewage
aeration blower, Scavenging two cycle diesels blower, Cupola blowers,
Blast furnace gas blowers, Water gas blowers, Municipal gas plant
blowers, Cock plant exhausters and blowers, Airplane superchargers and
Circulators.
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1.1.1 WORKING PRINCIPLE
Centrifugal blower consists of an impeller which has blade fixed
between the inner and outer diameters. It can be mounted either directly
on shaft extension of the prime mover or separately on a shaft supported
between two additional bearing. The latter arrangement is applied for
large blower in which impeller is driven by flexible couplings. Air or gases
enters the impeller axially through inlet duct or nozzle. In impeller the
rotating vanes are imparted kinetic & potential energy to the fluid.
As the fluid leaves the impeller at high velocity and pressure, it is
collected either by a volute or scroll casing or series of diffusing passages
which converts kinetic energy into pressure and increases static pressure
of the fluid before deliver the fluid from the exit of the blower. The outlet
passage after the scroll can also take the form of a conical diffuser. The
centrifugal blower consists of a rotor or impeller which rotates causing air-
flow by centrifugal action. The air usually enters the impeller at the axis
and leaves at the tip in a direction determined by the angle of the impeller
blades. Upon leaving the tip, the air flows through a volute chamber,
sometimes provided with a vaned diffuser casing. The diffuser casing
utilizes part of the kinetic energy of the out flowing fluid and raises its
static pressure. The volute chamber collects all the fluid at constant
velocity and leads it to a diverging discharge pipe which may again
provide more of diffusive action.
1.1.2 IMPELLER
According to rotating blade type the impeller are classified as radial,
forward and backward type. The blade exit angle decides the type of
impeller. The pressure rise and flow rate in blower depends on the
peripheral speed of the impeller and blade angle.
In backward impeller the exit blade angle is less than 90 0 . The
channel of blade is gradually expanding, so that the relative airflow will
decelerate gradually, while passing through the channel of blade.
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Compared to other two types of impeller the backward curved impeller has
maximum efficiency at design condition [2] and at the design point the
energy coefficient which is the measure of pressure rise in the blower is
less in case of the impeller compared to other two.
In radial impeller the exit blade angle is equal to 90 0 . At the
maximum efficiency condition the flow coefficient is higher for this type of
impeller.
In forward impeller the blade tips incline towards the direction of
rotation and exit angle is greater than 90 0 , which is a very large blade
angle. For the same size & speed these types of impellers have higher
flow rate compared to others. As tangential velocity is very large at the
exit, this gives higher stage pressure rise compared to other two and it
has maximum energy coefficient. As the selection of the impeller is
preliminary factor for Blower system.
1.1.3 OUTLET SYSTEM
Fluids leaves the impeller at an higher absolute velocity as compare
to that in the discharge pipe, therefore this fluid is collected by outlet
system without affecting it’s performance. Outlet system reduces the flow
velocity, by improving the outlet pressure. These outlet systems have an
annular space outside the impeller before the volute or diffuser ring. This
annular vaneless space decreases the non-uniformities and turbulence of
flow entering the volute as well as the noise level. There are three types
of outlet system 1) Vaneless Diffuser 2) Vaned Diffuser 3) Volute or Spiral
Casing.
1.1.3.1 VANELESS DIFFUSER
In this fluid is diffused in the vaneless space around the impeller
before it leaves the stage through a volute. Diffusion occurs from smaller
diameter to larger diameter and gain in static pressure occurs. As
diffusion is directly proportional to diameter ratio it gives relatively large
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size diffuser, which is the limitation of this outlet system. Besides this it
has a lower efficiency. This type of application generally used for large
size compressor, as it does not suffer from blade stalling and
shockwaves.
1.1.3.2 VANED DIFFUSER
For high pressures centrifugal blowers the fluid from the impeller is
discharged through a vane diffuser. In this diffusion achieved by means of
diffuser vanes, which results smaller size diffuser. Also the vanes provide
greater guidance to the flow in the diffusing passages. The provision of
diffuser in a blower can give a slightly higher efficiency (4-5%) than a
blower with only a volute casing. Every diffuser blade ring is designed for
given flow condition at the entry where optimum performance is obtained.
Therefore at off- design condition the diffuser will give poor performance
on account of mismatching the flow.
1.1.3.3 VOLUTE CASING
The purpose of the blower casing is to guide the fluid from the
impeller or diffuser and convert into pressure. The flow with high kinetic
energy is discharge from impeller and leads gas or air away. The Volute
surrounds the impeller and whose cross-sectional area increases from a
minimum at the tongue or cutwater to the throat. The tongue represents
the nearest part of the casing to the impeller and is aligned into the
general direction of the flow leaving the impeller as shown in figure: 1.1.
[3] The casing plays an important part in locating best efficiency point by
virtue of its hydraulic loses and its ability to restrict the flow against given
head without incurring any additional losses. Flow leaving out of the
casing can tangential or radial as shown in figure: 1.1a. Finally flow
leaving out of the casing is through the volute throat as shown in figure:
1.1b. Tongue and throat position is very important in the design of volute
casing. Velocity components in the volute is shown in 1.1c and change in
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cross-section area of volute at different radius. As cross-section area of
volute casing goes on increasing from tongue region to throat.
(a) (b)
(c)
Figure: 1.1 Tangential discharge and radial discharge volute casing
1.2 ARRANGEMENT OF VOLUTE CASING
Volute casing are classified on the basis of Cross-section of Volute
passage and splitting of outlet passage for blower.
1.2.1 PARALLEL SIDE WALLS
In this type of volute casing the sides of the casing are parallel as
shown in figure: 1.2. The width of the casing is nearly kept equal to the
width of the impeller. With most ventilation blowers this is the normal
form of design. In this the width of casing is wider than the impeller width
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as shown in figure: 1.3.
Figure: 1.2 Parallel Side Walls Figure: 1.3 Parallel Side Walls Wider Than
impeller
1.2.2 RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION
This type of volute casing has geometrically similar section as
shown in figure: 1.4. The individual section whose basic shape is
rectangular should be altered radially and axially so that it results in
similar areas. These construction naturally yield no body of rotation with
reference to the sidewalls, so that deviations from the law “r x C =
constant” are to be expected.
Figure 1.4 Rectangular Cross Section Figure1.5 Tapering side wall type
1.2.3 TRAPEZOIDAL CROSS SECTION
In this type of casing the two sides of casing are tapered which is
obtained by an angle 2 between sides as shown in figure: 1.5 and is
usually about 60°.The larger 2 results turbulence and inefficiency while
smaller 2 increased casing diameter and weight of the blower. The
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selection of delta is dependent upon separation of flow.
1.2.4 CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION
If the diameter‘d’ of the volute section is not too great in relation to
the total casing diameter then the hyperbolic path over the circular
section is very flat. In this type of volute one should first of all selects ‘d’
approximately, mean while one calculates the cross-section which gives a
constant velocity ‘c’ in the complete volute. In this case, the section
increases proportionally to the admission arc as shown in figure: 1.6.
1.2.5 INNER VOLUTE
In this type of volute the air flows around the impeller and will be
divided on one or both sides of impeller. According to the law of rotation
the peripheral component will be subsequently larger. This gives rise to a
significantly smaller volute as shown in figure: 1.7. The impeller friction
falls off because the air flows along the disc with a larger velocity. The
friction that in the volute is significantly shorter than in case of normal
construction. On such type of casing the discharge velocity are high so
that a diffuser must be fitted to the outlet.
Figure: 1.6 Circular Cross-section Figure: 1.7 Inner Volute
1.2.6 AXIAL VOLUTE
This type of volute has the great advantage of arising from
cylindrical surfaces. In this the “volute” is developed between two co-axial
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cylinders in the axial direction as shown in figure: 1.8. In order to achieve
the outside diameter of the entry to the volute the air already divides
before the tongue so that the volume which flows in at 0° goes through
the complete casing. On account narrow rectangular section of these
volutes essential losses arise through secondary flows.
1.2.7 HELIX VOLUTE
These types of volutes are especially suitable for axial flow fan in
which the velocity behind the impeller is neither changed in magnitude nor
in direction as shown in figure:1.9. In this the conversion of the high
velocity of discharge into static pressure, and then carried out in a
connected straight diffuser.
Figure 1.8 Axial volute Figure: 1.9 Helix volute
1.2.8 HELIX-FORMED CONSTRUCTION OF VOLUTE CASING
The volute casing is the best and simplest guide or diffusion
arrangement for radial-flow fans which is known in fan engineering as
shown in figure: 1.10. This is not so for axial-flow fans. This is all the
more regrettable as the use of volute casing with axial flow fans, produces
a large unit, and in addition to this numerous experiments have shown it
can cause undue loses.
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Figure: 1.10 Helix-formed construction of volute casing
1.2.9 SUBDIVIDED VOLUTE CASING
With large radial extent of the volute casing undue disturbances
arise through secondary streams. Depending upon circumstances, this
influence can be modified if; one resolves an average tongue into two or
more spirals. Such type of volute casing is also known as double volute
casing as shown in figure: 1.11. In this type of volute casing radial thrust
can be reduced considerably. If one requires decreasing the discharge
velocity at the same time in the shortest possible space, then to get this
one can subdivide the discharge section with a number of guide blades as
shown in figure: 1.11.
For large volumes one can go a step further. By sub-division and
partial profiling of the guide blades, air is discharged at a width which is
more than double the diameter of impeller. It is used with impellers having
high volume co-efficient, i.e. multivaned impellers.
Figure 1.11 subdivided volute casings
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1.2.10 VOLUTE CASING WITH AN ADJUSTABLE TONGUE
The requirements often demand that a volute casing must satisfy
different volumes in order to avoid too large a loss when the duty falls
below normal design conditions. Particularly in mine ventilation, for
example, the conditions are continuously changing so that this aspect is
extremely important. The adjustable tongue ends are available for
different positions the effect of such measures is limited as shown in
figure: 1.12.
Figure: 1.12 Volute casing with an adjustable tongue
1.3 ROLE OF IMPELLER
A centrifugal blower impeller have backward swept blades, radial
tipped blades or forward swept blades as shown in figure: 1.13 below. The
inlet and outlet velocity triangles are also shown accordingly in the figure.
Under ideal conditions, the directions of the relative velocity vectors V r 1
and V r 2 are same as the blade angles at the entry and the exit. A zero whirl
at the inlet is assumed which results in a zero angular momentum at the
inlet. The backward swept blades are employed for lower pressure and
lower flow rates. The radial tipped blades are employed for handling dust-
laden air or gas because they are less prone to blockage, dust erosion and
failure. The radial-tipped blades in practice are of forward swept type at
the inlet. The forward-swept blades are widely used in practice. On account
of the forward-swept blade tips at the exit, the whirl component of exit
velocity V w 2 is large which results in a higher stage pressure rise [4].
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Vw2 < U2, if β2 < 900, backward swept blades
Vw2 = U2, if β2 = 900, radial blades
Vw2 > U2, if β2 >900, forward swept blades.
Figure: 1.13 Velocity triangles at inlet and outlet of different types of blades of an
impeller of a centrifugal blower.
1.3.1 THEORETICAL PRESSURE DEVELOPED BY A CENTRIFUGAL
IMPELLER
The theoretical pressure developed by the impeller, is achieved by
using Euler’s Equation. In fluid dynamics, the Euler equations are a set of
equations governing in viscid flow. They are named after Leonard Euler.
The equations represent conservation of mass (continuity), momentum and
energy, corresponding to the Navier–Stokes equations with zero viscosity
and heat conduction terms. Historically, only the continuity and momentum
equations have been derived by Euler.
The static pressure rise through the impeller is due to the change in
centrifugal energy and the diffusion of relative velocity component.
Therefore, it can be written as
p2 -p1 = (∆p) =1/2*ρ (U22-U12) + 1/2*ρ (Vr12-Vr22) (1.1)
The stagnation pressure rise through the stage can also be obtained as
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(∆p0)=1/2*ρ (U22-U12) + 1/2*ρ (Vr12-Vr22) + 1/2*ρ (V22-V12) (1.2)
Where, U 1 and U 2 are peripheral velocities and V 1 and V 2 are absolute
velocities at inlet and outlet
From equations (1.1) and (1.2) we get
(∆p0) = (∆p) + 1/2*ρ (V22-V12) (1.3)
1.3.2 SLIP FACTOR
The slip factor is a vital piece of information needed for the
designers (also by designers of radial turbines) as its accurate estimation
enables the correct value of the energy transfer between impeller and the
fluid. Various attempts to determine the values of slip factor have been
made and numerous research papers concerned solely with this topic
have been published. Wiesner (1967) has given an extensive review of
the various expressions used for determining slip factors. Most of the
expressions derived relate to radially vaned impellers or to mixed flow
designs, but some are given for backward swept vane designs. All of
these expressions are derived from inviscid flow theory even though the
real flow is far from ideal. However, despite this lack of realism in the flow
modeling, the fact remains that good results are still obtained with the
various theories.
Under the ideal (frictionless) conditions the relative flow leaving the
impeller of a blower will receive less than perfect guidance from the vanes
and the flow is said to slip. If the impeller could be imagined as being
made with an infinite number of infinitesimally thin vanes, then an ideal
flow would be perfectly guided by the vanes and would leave the impeller
at the vane angle. But, the relative eddy causes the flow in the impeller
passages to deviate from the blade angle β 2 at the exit to an angle β' 2 .
This deviation is being larger for a larger blade pitch or for smaller number
of impeller blades. On account of this effects the apex of the actual
velocity triangle at the impeller exit is shifted away (opposite to the
direction of the rotation) from the apex of the ideal velocity triangle. This
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phenomenon is known as slip and the shift of the apex is the slip velocity.
It may be seen that on account of the slip the whirl component is reduced
which in turn decreases the energy transfer and the pressure developed
[1]. Figure: 1.14 compares the relative flow angle β 2 , obtained with a finite
number of vanes, with the vane angle, β' 2 . A slip factor may be defined as
ratio of actual and ideal values of the whirl components at the exit.
µ = Vu2’ / Vu2 (1.4)
Where μ = slip factor
Vu2 = ideal exit velocity peripheral component
Vu2’ = actual exit velocity peripheral component due to slip
Figure: 1.14 Slip Factor
V = absolute velocity of fluid
Vm = meridional velocity component
Vu = peripheral velocity component
U = peripheral velocity of impeller
W = relative velocity
β = blade angle
1.4 FLOW PHENOMENON IN BLOWER CASING
Flow generated in the casing is quite complicated with three-
dimensionality and unsteadiness. The fundamental blower performance is
primarily determined by the impeller and is mainly affected by the casing.
However, the theoretical estimation of the effect of the casing on the
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performance has not been well established. It is assumed that flow inside
the casing should follow streamline at an angle of flow angle. But there
are many factors which results in deviation of the flow in casing. This
leads to loss and eddy formation, which leads to affect the performance.
In order to estimate the casing effect on blower performance, detailed
three-dimensional (3D) flow analysis in the casing is necessary. Three
hole-probe, five-hole probe and Stereoscopic PIV is one of the useful
techniques for experimental analysis of flow fields. There are some
difficulties in practical application for flow analysis in fluid machinery with
complicated geometry, but the results obtained provide useful information
for understanding the three dimensional flow field. The detail analysis at
various angular positions inside the casing and behavior of the flow as per
different turning angle of the casing effects the performance of the
Blower. The efficiency and pressure for the design flow condition can be
enhanced, by reducing the losses inside the casing. This behavior of the
flow in the casing can be also carried out with the help of CFD software.
The overall performance characteristics of a Blower can be analyzed by
experimental measurements and numerical simulation. The performance
characteristic of a blower is a function of the shape and width of the
volute casing. The volute performance is dependent on the quality of flow
passed on to it from the impeller or diffuser, the performance of impeller
or the diffuser also depends on the environment created by the volute
around them. The non-uniform pressure distribution around the impeller
provided by its volute gives rise to the undesirable radial thrust and
bearing pressures.
1.5 PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLOWER
The actual shape of blower performance curves is determined by the
combined effect of the hydraulic losses of the impeller and casing.
Mechanical losses including disk friction remains the same for all
capacities and leakage loss is small and varies slightly with the impeller
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head near the shaft. Usually for the design, comparison and critical
assessment of blower the dimensionless coefficients are adopted. This is
done so as to arrive at the performance values which are independent of
actual increase in pressure, flow rate, physical and other properties. The
user on the other hand is concerned with the head increase in the blower
and the volume flow rate, so investigation of flow in casing helps in
minimizing loses and selection of appropriate casing for the impeller.
The performance coefficients of blower are pressure coefficient ψ, flow
coefficient φ, diameter coefficient δ and speed coefficient σ. Pressure
coefficient or the pressure rise coefficient is defined as the ratio of the
difference between the static pressure at the exit flange of the blower and
the total pressure at the inlet flange of the blower to the dynamic head
corresponding to the peripheral speed at the exit of the rotor of the
blower.[5] Therefore it important to investigate the flow inside the casing
where there is transformation of energy to pressure rise.
Ψ = ∆p / (1/2*ρU22) (1.5)
Flow coefficient or volume coefficient is defined as the ratio of the
volume flowing through the blower to the theoretical volume calculated on
the basis of peripheral speed at the exit of the rotor of the blower and the
passage area at the exit of the rotor of the blower. In other words it the
ratio of the radial or the meridional velocity at the exit of the rotor to the
peripheral speed at the exit of the rotor of the blower. As peripheral speed
is depending upon the diameter, speed and width of impeller, so width of
casing can be deciding parameter for design of casing.
Φ = Vr2 / U2 (1.6)
This is obtained from
Φ = Q / π *D2 *b2 *U2 (1.7)
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The speed coefficient σ is also known as shape factor as it gives the
overall shape of the machine based on its duty, i.e. the pressure head and
flow rate. It is also called specific speed and written as N s . The speed
coefficient or the specific speed is given as
Ns = Φ0.5 / ψ 0.75 (1.8)
The diameter coefficient δ is given by
δ = ψ0.25 / Φ0.5 (1.9)
The relation between the flow parameters is
ψ = (Φδ2 ) (1.10)
The performance of a blower is usually presented in term of variation of
pressure coefficient with flow coefficient.
Figure: 1.15 Theoretical performance curves of a blower
The characteristics in figure: 1.15 depict the following
(i) Forward curved fans β 2 >90 0 develop the highest pressure for a given
impeller diameter and speed.
(ii) Power requirement of a forward curved fan increases steeply for a
small change in flow rate.
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(iii) Pressure developed decreases fast with increasing flow rate in a
backward curved fan.
In conclusion, the forward curved fans have large volume discharge
and pressure rise but they demand higher power. However, forward
curved fans are unstable for off-design operating conditions.
Backward curved fans are very efficient and the drooping power
characteristic makes them suitable for a better off-design performance.
Radial curved fans are preferred for dust-laden fluids. Due to their shape,
the solid particles are not stuck and deposited on the blade surface.
Specific speed is basic for selection of design of casing. Size of casing
with rise in pressure differs with the outlet blade angle. So flow behavior
changes drastically in the casing from backward to forward impeller. So
one should have an idea regarding fitting of impeller in casing, which
might be design for different blade angle. What should be the range for
selecting the blade for designing the casing? The effect of disturbance of
flow in casing will be mainly at off-design condition.
1.5.1 ACTUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CENTRIFUGAL IMPELLER
The actual characteristics of the centrifugal impeller are obtained by
deducting the stage losses from the theoretical head or pressure
coefficient. Therefore the nature of the actual characteristic depends on
the manner in which the stage losses vary with the operating parameters.
Friction and shock losses affect the performance significantly.
In all cases, friction and shock losses produce pressure-volume curves
that tend toward zero pressure when the machine runs on open circuit,
that is, with no external resistance. Figure: 1.17 shows a typical pressure-
volume characteristic curve for a backward blade.
Frictional losses occur due to the viscous drag of the fluid on the
faces of the vanes. A diffuser effect occurs in the diverging area available
for flow as the fluid moves through the impeller. This results in a further
loss of available energy. In order to transmit mechanical work, the
pressure on the front face of a vane is necessarily greater than that on
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the back side. A result of this is that the fluid velocity close to the trailing
face is higher than that near the front face. These effects result in an
asymmetric distribution of fluid velocity between two successive vanes at
any given radius and produce an eddy loss. The transmission of power is
not uniform along the length of the blade. [6]
The separation losses occur particularly at inlet and reflect the
sudden turn of near 90° as the fluid enters the eye of the impeller. In
practice, wall effects impart a vortex to the fluid as it approaches the
inlet. By a suitable choice of inlet blade angle β 1 , the shock losses will not
be in lower range of blower and may be small at the optimum design flow.
An inlet cone at the eye of the impeller or fixed inlet and outlet guide
vanes can be fitted to reduce shock losses. In the development of the
theoretical pressure and power characteristics, we assumed radial inlet
conditions. When the fluid has some degree of pre-rotation, the flow is no
longer radial at the inlet to the impeller. The second term in Euler's
equation takes a finite value and again, results in a reduced blower
pressure at any given speed of rotation.
The combined effect of these losses on the three types of centrifugal
impeller is to produce the characteristic curves shown on figure: 1.16. The
non-overloading power characteristic, together with the steepness of the
pressure curve at the higher flows, are major factors in preferring the
backward impeller for large installations as shown in figure: 1.17[7]. All
the above losses will be there in the blower but losses in casing due
outlet blade angle, shape of the casing and angle of the tongue plays
major role in the actual performance of the blower. For determining the
major losses inside the casing can be achieved by the detail analysis of
flow at various positions inside the casing.
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Figure: 1.16 Effect of losses on the pressure- Figure: 1.17 Actual pressure and shaft power
volume characteristic of a backward characteristics for centrifugal
bladed. impellers.
1.5.2 EFFICIENCY OF BLOWER:
The blower efficiency is defined as a ratio of the energy output to
the energy input. The true efficiency of blower is a definite physical
quantity depending upon the degree of perfection of hydraulic and
mechanical design as shown in figure: 1.18 [8]. In actual practice, it is
very difficult to determine a true head from inlet and outlet pressures and
energy input.
Figure: 1.18 Performance characteristic curves of a centrifugal blower.
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The ’total’ or ‘gross’ blower efficiency is consisting of several partial
efficiencies. They are:
Mechanical efficiency = (1.11)
Where, mechanical losses include bearing, mechanical seal and impeller
disk friction losses.
Volumetric efficiency = (1.12)
Where, Q is the measured volume of flow and Q L is the leakage through
the sealing rings which is bypassed back to the impeller inlet.
Hydraulic efficiency = (1.13)
Where H is the head in feet available at blower discharge and hL
represents hydraulic losses through blower passages, including skin
friction and eddy losses.
It can be noted that all the above three partial efficiencies account for
losses of volume (or weight of flow), head and power.
These partial efficiencies are connected to the total efficiency as follows:
(1.14)
In determining the total efficiency of blower, Mechanical efficiency will be
fixed and limited as per the bearing and seals provided. Major role is of
Volumetric and Hydraulic efficiency, which depends upon the casing flow.
In investigating the flow inside the casing helps in determining the eddy
losses and passage losses of the Blower.
1.6 SUMMARY
Blower system consists of impeller and casing, in which energy
transfer and energy transformation takes place. For the energy
transformation casing are of different type and design. In investigating the
flow inside the casing helps in determining the eddy losses and passage
losses of the Blower. As per the geometry of the impeller flow is directed
in the stationary part such as diffuser or casing. A characteristic gives the
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limitation and operating range of the Blower. Air flow in the blowers
casing usually is a subject matter of research as blowers command
greater share of applications in various sectors of industries. Behavior of
the flow from the impeller to casing is quite complicated and to
understand the detail characteristics of flow many researchers have
worked. So survey of Literature review can give the detail information
regarding the flow investigation and design developed of blower casing.
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