Visualization of Flow in Rotor-Stator Interaction of Compact Centrifugal Blower Using Particle Image Velocimetry and Computational Fluid Dynamics

Abstract

Compact centrifugal blowers with vaned diffusers are often used in home electric vacuum cleaners. To achieve high efficiency and low noise, it is important to improve the performance of impellers and diffusers. In this study, authors used a large solidity diffuser whose flow duct is low in height. Authors studied the influence of internal flow on the diffuser performance by using PIV and CFD. From our measurement results, low velocity was observed in the middle span section and the pressure side in the middle of the overlapped region. Area of the low velocity region became larger with the decrease of flow rate. From our vizualization results, the flow vortexes near the throat were observed along the pressure surface side of the vane. The inlet flow angle of the diffuser was decreased by the flow vortexes.