Thesis (PhD (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 1990. / Leaves printed on single pages, preliminary pages i- viii and numbered pages 1-1-R5. Includes bibliography, list of tables and figures and list of appendices. Digitized at 330 dpi black and white PDF format (OCR),using KODAK i 1220 PLUS scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A numerical procedure for predicting the effect of inlet flow distortions on the performance of axial flow fans is proposed. The study is aimed specifically at fans of low solidity and low hub-to-tip ratios, which have attained some importance with the advent of large directly air-cooled power stations in certain arid regions of the world. The numerical model is an extension to cylindrical polar coordinates of the SIMPLEN algorithm that has been developed by the author previously. The algorithm is implemented in a computer code, FLOVAX, which solves the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations, augmented by the k-Ɛ model of turbulence, on a computational domain that is aligned with the cylindrical polar coordinate system. Several relatively simple flow problems are solved to verify the code: laminar stagnation flow, laminar flow near a rotating disk, turbulent flow near a propeller, turbulent flow through an abrupt axisymmetric expansion, and turbulent swirling flow in an annulus. Good agreement is obtained between the numerical solutions and the corresponding analytical, empirical or published experimental and numerical results. Some experimental results are also presented: measurements of shaft power, volume flow rate and static pressure rise were taken in a setup comprising an axial flow fan mounted in the wall of a wind tunnel. The wind tunnel was used to provide flow across the fan intake, thus establishing distorted inflow conditions. Detailed measurements of the velocity and static pressure distributions in the duct downstream of the fan rotor were also performed. It is clear from the results that flow across the intake of the test fan has a detrimental effect on its performance in that an increased amount of power is necessary to deliver the same flow rate as with no crossflow. In the numerical predictions, blade element theory is used to model the thrust and torque exerted by the fan blades on the air. The numerical results generally confirm the results of the experiment, although the increase in power is underestimated: an increase of only approximately half of the measured increase is predicted. Several recommendations for improvement of the numerical procedure are made. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Numeriese prosedure vir die voorspelling van die invloed van versteurings in inlaatvloei op die werking van aksiaalwaaiers word daargestel. Die studie is spesifiek gemik op waaiers van lae soliditeit en lae lempunt-tot-naafverhoudings. Waaiers van hierdie tipe het belangrikheid verwerf sedert die onlangse totstandkoming van groot lugverkoelde kragstasies in sekere droe werelddele. Die numeriese model is 'n uitbreiding na silindriese poolkoordinate van die SIMPLEN-algoritme wat voorheen deur die skrywer ontwikkel is. Die algoritme word geimplementeer in 'n rekenaarkode, FLOVAX, wat die onsamedukbare Navier-Stokes-vergelykings, aangevul deur die k-Ɛ-turbulensiemodel, oplos op 'n berekeningsgebied wat saamval met die silindriese poolkoordinaatstelsel. Verskeie relatief eenvoudige vloeiprobleme word opgelos ter verifikasie van die kode: laminere stagnasievloei, laminere vloei op 'n roterende skyf, turbulente vloei deur 'n propeller, turbulente vloei deur 'n aksiaalsimmetriese vernouing, en turbulente roterende vloei in 'n annulus. Goeie ooreenstemming tussen die numeriese oplossings en die ooreenstemmende analitiese, empiriese of gepubliseerde eksperimentele en numeriese resultate is verkry. Eksperimentele resultate word ook aangebied: metings van asdrywing, volumevloei en statiese drukstyging is geneem in 'n opstelling wat bestaan het uit 'n aksiaalwaaier wat in die wand van 'n windtonnel gemonteer is. Die windtonnel is gebruik om versteurde-invloei-toestande te genereer in die vorm van dwarsvloei oor die waaier-inlaat. Snelheids- en statiese drukverdelings in die kanaal stroom-af van die waaierrotor is ook gemeet. Dit blyk duidelik uit die resultate dat die dwarsvloei oor die inlaat van die toetswaaier 'n nadelige uitwerking het op die werking daarvan in die opsig dat meer drywing nodig is om dieselfde vloeitempo te handhaaf as wat die geval is sonder dwarsvloei. Vir die numeriese voorspellings word van lem-element-teorie gebruik gemaak om die stukrag en draaimoment wat deur die waaier op die lug uitgeoefen word, te modelleer. Die numeriese resultate bevestig oor die algemeen die eksperimentele resultate, alhoewel die drywingstoename onderskat word met sowat die helfte van die gemete toename. Verskeie aanbevelings ter verbetering van die numeriese prosedure word gemaak.

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. / Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 1990. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The causes of disturbances in the flow patterns at the inlets of axial flow fans that are used in mechanical draft cooling towers and the effects of these disturbances on the fans, were investigated. A scale model of a part of a mechanical draft cooling tower used at a power station was built for the purpose of this study. In the cooling tower the axial flow fans are arranged in a matrix configuration. It was noted from the scale model that the boundary fan was subjected to the worst inlet disturbances and this had an adverse effect on the flow it produced. Geometric alterations like the use of guide vanes and rounded inlets improved the flow through the boundary fan considerably. It was found that the performance of the fans is a function of the number of fans used and the elevation of the fans. Several tests to determine the performance of the cooling tower confirmed the results obtained from the experiments on the scale model. It was also found that the speed and direction of the prevailing wind have a significant effect on the cooling tower. Experiments to investigate the effects of cross-flow at the inlet of a fan indicated an increased flow through the fan at low cross-flow velocities and that the flow decreased at high cross-flow velocities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die invloed en oorsake van versteurde inlaatvloeipatrone op aksiaalwaaiers wat in meganiese-trek koeltorings gebruik word is ondersoek. 'n Skaaimodel van 'n deel van 'n meganiese-trek koeltoring wat by 'n kragstasie gebruik word is gebou vir die doel van die studie. Die aksiaalwaaiers wat in die koeltoring gebruik word is in 'n matrikskonfigurasie gerangskik. Vanaf die skaalmodel is waargeneem dat die randwaaier die ergste versteuring by die inlaat ervaar, en gevolglik minder vloei as die res van die waaiers in die opstelling lewer. Die vloei deur die randwaaier is verbeter deur verskillende geometriese wysigings soos leilemme en inlaatafrondings aan te bring. Daar is gevind dat die werking van die waaiers in die opstelling 'n funksie van die hoeveelheid waaiers asook die grondvryhoogte is. Om die werking van die koeltoring te bepaal is verskillende toetse daarop uitgevoer. Die resultate het die geldigheid van die skaalmodel bevestig. Daar is ook gevind dat die heersende windsterkte en rigting 'n definitiewe invloed op die koeltoring uitoefen. Die invloed van 'n dwarsvloei by die inlaat van 'n enkele waaier is ook eksperimenteel ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat daar 'n vermeerdering in vloei deur die waaier by lae dwarsvloeisnelhede plaasvind. Hoë dwarsvloeisnelhede veroorsaak egter 'n vermindering in vloei.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of air-cooled steam condensers (ACSCs) is the preferred cooling method in the chemical and power industry due to stringent environmental and water use regulations. The performance of ACSCs is however highly dependent on the influence of windy conditions. Research has shown that the presence of wind reduces the performance of ACSCs. It has been found that cross-winds (wind perpendicular to the longest side of the ACSC) cause distorted inlet flow conditions, particularly at the upstream peripheral fans near the symmetry plane of the ACSC. These fans are subjected to what is referred to as '2-D' wind conditions, which are characterised by flow separation on the upstream edge of the fan inlets. Experimental investigations into inlet flow distortion have simulated these conditions by varying the fan platform height. Low platform heights resulted in higher levels of inlet flow distortion, as also found to exist with high cross-wind speeds. This investigation determines the performance of various fan configurations (representative of configurations used in the South- African power industry) subjected to distorted inlet flow conditions through experimental and numerical investigations. The similarity between platform height and cross-wind effects is also investigated and a correlation between system volumetric effectiveness, platform height and cross-wind velocity is found. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van lugverkoelde stoom kondensors (LVSK's) word verkies as 'n verkoelingsmetode in die chemiese- en kragvoorsieningsindustrie as gevolg van streng omgewings- en waterverbruiksregulasies. Die werkverrigting van LVSK's word egter grootliks beïnvloed deur die teenwoordigheid van wind. Navorsing het gewys dat die teenwoordigheid van wind die werkverrigting van LVSK's verminder. Daar was gevind dat kruiswinde (wind loodreg tot die langste sy van die LVSK) versteurde inlaat vloeitoestande veroorsaak, veral by waaiers wat aan die stroomop kant van die LVSK naby die simmetrievlak geleë is. Hierdie waaiers word blootgestel aan na wat verwys word as '2-D' windtoestande wat gekenmerk word deur vloeiwegbreking wat plaasvind by die stroomop rand van die waaierinlate. Eksperimentele ondersoeke van inlaat vloeiversteurings het hierdie toestande gesimuleer deur die waaier platformhoogte te verstel. Lae platform hoogtes het gelei tot hoër vlakke van inlaat vloeiversteuring, soortgelyk aan wat gevind word met hoë kruiswindsnelhede. Hierdie ondersoek gebruik numeriese en eksperimentele metodes om die werkverrigting van verskeie waaierkon gurasies (verteenwoordigend van kon- gurasies wat gebruik word in die Suid-Afrikaanse kragvoorsieningsindustrie) wat blootgestel word aan versteurde inlaat vloeitoestande te bepaal. Die ooreenkoms tussen platformhoogte en kruiswind e ekte word ook ondersoek en 'n korrelasie tussen die sisteem volumetriese e ektiwiteit, platformhoogte en kruiswindsnelheid word bepaal.