Aerodynamic Performance Optimization of Centrifugal Fan Blade for Air System of Self-Propelled Cotton-Picking Machine

Wenping Shao, Jingan Feng (), Feng Zhang, Shu Wang, Yuhang Li and Jiangfeng Lv
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Wenping Shao: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Jingan Feng: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Feng Zhang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Shu Wang: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Yuhang Li: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
Jiangfeng Lv: College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: To enhance the working efficiency and aerodynamic performance of the centrifugal fan in the air system of a cotton picker, a new type of centrifugal fan blade was designed by extracting the mid-arc section from the prototype blade and integrating an airfoil, which was transplanted and coupled to the mid-arc section. The design aimed to improve the airflow characteristics and performance of the centrifugal fan. By combining experimental data from centrifugal fans used in existing cotton-picker air systems and employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods, the internal flow field structure of the centrifugal fan was simulated. This study focused on investigating the aerodynamic performance of the new centrifugal fan blade and its impact on improving the internal flow patterns within the centrifugal fan. The results of the flow field visualization analysis indicate that the new blade design exhibits excellent aerodynamic performance, improving the flow distribution within the centrifugal fan. It enhances the uniformity of the outlet airflow, reduces the occurrence of localized “jet-wake” phenomena at the impeller’s outlet, suppresses the generation and development of vortices in the flow channel, and reduces local energy losses within the impeller. These improvements contribute to an increase in the fan’s efficiency. Under rated operating conditions, the efficiency of the prototype fan was measured at 60.3%, while the optimized fan achieved an efficiency of 64.8%. This signifies a significant improvement in the efficiency of the centrifugal fan.

Keywords: cotton-picking machine; centrifugal fan; air system; CFD; aerodynamic performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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