Abstract:
An improvement to forwardly skewed axial fans (20) where blade chamber and rake are coordinated with skew. The blades (5) are characterized in that a line defined by the points of maximum chordwise camber (fmax) as a function of changing radial position (r) is on the leading edge (LE) side of the mid-chord line (MCL) at values of r, toward the root of the blade (5), and is less forwardly skewed than the leading edge (LE), the mid-chord line (MCL), and the trailing edge (TE). The blade (5) is raked forwardly so that the trailing edge (TE) of the blade tip is axially forward of the trailing edge (TE) at the blade root. As a result, the fan (20) produces a flow that is generally in radial equilibrium, having a reduced component of flow normal to the desired axial flow and normal to the tangential flow. The coordinated fan (20) can be combined with a housing/band (62,66) configuration for controlling airflow that recirculates in a channel (68), formed between the band (66) and the housing (62).
Abstract:
A space efficient centrifugal blower (10) having a plenum (50) connected to the impeller inlet opening (39). The plenum has at least one plenum inlet (52) positioned to provide airflow from one side of the impeller in a direction generally perpendicular to the impeller axis. A set of airfoil members (57) positioned in the plenum around the impeller inlet have elongated airflow control surfaces extending outwardly from the impeller inlet in a direction generally perpendicular to the impeller axis, so that the airfoil members act on air flowing from the plenum inlet to direct it radially inwardly and to spread the airflow around the impeller inlet.