Numerical simulation of gas-dynamic processes in the centrifugal radial fan of seeding machines

Abstract

Increasing the efficiency of crop production, where a significant place is occupied by row crops (such as corn, sunflower, soy, sorghum, sugar beet, etc.), is inextricably linked with the introduction of energy- and resourcesaving technologies to ensure high-quality and timely implementation of production processes. Sowing is an important technological process. To increase the speed, as a consequence, productivity and, most importantly, the quality of field work, precision seed drills with pneumatic systems with improved characteristics of vacuum generators are currently used. At the same time, the vacuum systems of such seeding machines are most often based on the use of a radial centrifugal fan. Therefore, an important task is to design the fan, considering the harmonisation of its parameters with the parameters of the seed drill in general, which requires a large number of tests and inspections. The use of full-scale models (test tables) requires significant time and resource costs. Based on numerical modelling of gas-dynamic processes, it becomes possible to significantly reduce the number of field experiments, and rather determine the rational form of a centrifugal radial fan. The purpose of this study is to consider the method of applying numerical modelling of gas-dynamic processes in a centrifugal radial fan using computer-aided engineering (CAE) packages. Application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods for discretisation of solutions of differential equations taking into account Euler equations and Navier-Stokes equations. Numerical turbulence modelling based on k-ε models, k-ω models and Shear Stress Transport (SST) models. The results of calculating the three-dimensional field of velocities and pressures in the working area of the fan are presented, rational geometric characteristics and aerodynamic characteristics (dependence of the differential pressure on air flow) are determined. This approach to designing a centrifugal fan allows significantly harmonising its parameters at the development stage and reducing the time for implementing new projects

Keywords

• numerical modelling
• k-ε model
• k-ω model
• sst model
• finite element method (fem)
• finite volume method (fvm)
• cad editor