INVESTIGATION OF AN AIR SUPPLY CENTRIFUGAL FAN FOR AIR CUSHION VEHICLE: IMPELLER DESIGN AND VALIDATION

摘要

A design method is presented for re-designing the double-discharge, double-width, double-inlet (DWDI) centrifugal impeller for the lift fans of a hovercraft. Given the current high performance of impellers, the design strategy uses a computational method, which is capable of predicting flow separation and vortex-dominated flow fields, enabling a detailed comparison of all aerodynamic losses. The design method, assuming a weak interaction between the impeller and the volute, employs a blade optimization procedure and several effective flow path modifications.