Performance Prediction of Cross-Flow fans Using Loss Correlations

Abstract

Cross-flow fans (CFF) are double-stage cooling machines that have been invented in 1892 by Paul Mortier. Despite their early appearance, the CFFs did not get the same success as the axial or centrifugal fans, due to their weak efficiency and longwise form. However, they proved their usefulness in multiple domains such as air conditioners, and aircraft wings. The literature shows that many researchers attempted to predict their performances. Nevertheless, prior studies were limited to a few CFF designs, and the approaches could not be generalized. The main purpose of the present paper is to determine the characteristic curves of the pressure of the Eck CFF. It is a one-dimensional study that investigates several approaches of loss models inspired by those occurring in pumps, axial fans, or compressors, by using velocity triangles of the mean streamline. We will also reveal some parameters and hypotheses not mentioned in the literature. A basic apparatus was employed to collect the experimental results. The setup consists of a cross-flow fan of 24 forward curved blades and a surrounding casing. The Euler head and the pressure rise were extracted and compared with the theoretical results. The pressure coefficients obtained with the loss model corroborate the experience with good accuracy. Hence, the proposed methodology presents a good (first) approach to analyzing the performances of CFFs