MXPA06008600A - Housing for a centrifugal fan, pump or turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

A housing (14) for a blower, fan or pump or turbine (11), the housing (14) adapted to be associated with a rotor (12) adapted in use to cooperate with fluid flowing through the housing (14) wherein the housing (14) comprises a shroud for guiding the fluid moving in association with the rotor (12), the rotor (12) having at least one vane (13) adapted to cooperate with the fluid to drive or to be driven by the fluid, wherein the shroud is configured to promote vortical flow of the fluid through the housing (14).

Description

HOUSING FOR CENTRIFUGE FAN, PUMP OR TURBINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a housing or chamber for a fan to move air, pump to induce fluid flow or torque generator that is sensitive to fluid flow such as a turbine. In particular, it is concerned with the provision with an improved housing for such an apparatus to improve the efficiency of such devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Centrifugal fans, fans, pump turbines and the like represent approximately half of the production of fans, pumps and turbine world-wide each year. Since fans or pumps are used to produce higher pressure and less flow than axial drives and fans. They are widely used where these parameters must be satisfied. They have also been used advantageously where installation limitations could not allow an axial fan to be used. For example, applications such as domestic exhaust fans require a higher flow, relatively low pressure difference. Such an application would again be satisfied with an axial type of fan. However, in many cases a centrifugal fan is used to turn the flow path at right angles, so that it can be adjusted to a roof or wall cavity. An axial fan will not fit into the cavity and will maintain efficiency. In another matter, the exhaust pipe in many buildings is only 3 or 4 inches in diameter. It is not practical to equip an axial fan with high output of electricity to a small duct. While centrifugal fans have been used for a long time, little attention has been paid to the housing design, in which the reactor is retained. While issues of efficiency and noise are investigated, the attention of the designer goes mainly to the driver. Historically, such archives have not been optimized for: 1. drag reduction of fluid flow; 2. noise reduction; 3. adjustment of the normal flow pressure ratio. Additionally, the distances of the centrifugal fans, fans, typical pump turbines and the like, cause the incoming fluid to last properly before leaving the housing. Such forms are detrimental to the efficient performance of the overall device, introduction that produces significant turbulence. In the applicant's prior disclosure to the fluid flow controller, as published in WO 03056228, the applicant has indicated the benefits that can be included by allowing the fluid to flow in the manner followed by nature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A housing for a fan, generator or pump or turbine, the housing is adapted to be associated as an adapted rotor in use to cooperate with the flow flowing through the housing, when the housing comprises a flag for cooling the sound moving in association with the rotor, the rotor has at least one blade adapted to cooperate with the fluid to drive or be driven by the fluid, wherein the beam is configured to promote flow in vertex and fluid through the accommodation. According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the flag is configured with an active surface adapted to cooperate with the fluid flowing within the housing, and of the active surface has a confirmation of a dimensional or three-dimensional logarithmic spiral. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the logarithmic spiral is conformed to an equiangular ratio in Golden ratio. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the active surface has a curvature substantially conforming to a logarithmic curve. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the active surface is configured with a curvature substantially conforming to an equiangular section or section of Golden. According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the gualdera conforms to the vortex current lines. According to a preferred embodiment, the inner surface of the gualdera is shaped in consideration of the shape of a cover of the genus Trochus. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the skirt is adapted to substantially enclose at least the perimeter of the rotor and provide the space between the inner surface of the housing and the upper surface by the outer edge of at least one blade during the rotation of the rotor and where the space is increased from a minimum cross-sectional area there is an expanded cross-sectional area. According to a preferred embodiment, the space increases in area in a spatial logarithmic proportion. According to a preferred embodiment, the logarithmic spatial proportion conforms to the equianqual proportion or Golden ratio. According to a preferred embodiment, the space comprises an axial component in relation to the rotor. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the housing is adapted to cooperate with a centrifugal rotor. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the housing is adapted to cooperate with an axial rotor. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the housing is adapted to cooperate with a rotor having an intermediate flow characteristic to a centrifugal rotor and an axial rotor. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the rotor comprises at least one blade having an active surface of the rotor for acting and cooperating with the fluid flowing through the housing, wherein the curvature of the active surface of the rotor is equiangular or conform to the Golden section. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the belt is adjusted to cooperate with the rotor to provide substantially optimum performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a schematic isometric representation of a conventional centrifugal fan of the prior art. Figure 2 shows graphically the shape of the Golden section. Figure 3 is an isometric view of a fan according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view of the fan of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an isometric section of the fan of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a detailed view of a fan according to a second embodiment. Figure 7 is an isometric view of the fan of Figure 6, showing the location of the rotor within the housing in dotted lines. The figure 8 is a schematic section of a fan according to a third embodiment. Figure 9 is an isometric detailed view of a fan according to a fourth embodiment. Figure 10 is an isometric view of a fan according to a fifth embodiment. Figure 11 is a plan view of the fan shown in Figure 10. Figure 12 is an isometric view of a fan according to a sixth embodiment. Figure 13 is a side view of the fan shown in Figure 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES. Each of the embodiments is concerned with a housing for a fan, fan, pump or turbine or the like providing an efficient fluid path. Hereinafter, in this description, the term "fan" will be used generically to refer to any fan, fan, pump or turbine or the like. Where reference is made to a fan that drives or promotes fluid flow, it will be appreciated that the reference is intended to encompass the situation where the fluid flow drives a turbine rotor or the like. In order to appreciate the difference of the prior art, it is useful to describe the key aspects of conventionally used housings for centrifugal fans. An example is illustrated schematically in figure 1, which illustrate the key elements of a representative arrangement of an improvement for a centrifugal fan. Conventionally, such housing 1 is shaped to follow the shape of a spiral arc in two dimensions. It generally comprises a pair of flat side panels 3 and 4 arranged spaced apart, parallel to each other and sealed around the perimeter by an edge panel 5 formed of a flat sheet. This creates corner corners 6 at the junction between the top panel 3 and the edge panel 5 and similarly between the bottom panel 4 and the edge panel 5. Such corner corners induce undesirable turbulence in the fluid passing inside the housing. The shape of a spiral arch means that a space is provided between the inner surface of the edge panel and the imaginary surface swept by the outer edges of the rotor blades. It will be appreciated that the depth of this space increases progressively from a minimum to a maximum through an angle of 360 degrees. In the vicinity of the maximum depth an outlet is provided to expel the fluid. Each of the mobilities is concerned with a housing for a fan that provides an efficient fluid path for the fluid passing through the housing. Such fans comprise a rotor which is normally provided with a polarity of blades and blades although a rotor having a single blade is possible. The blades are generally considered to provide an external or radial component of acceleration to the fluid that is driven or in the case of a turbine, the fluid is diverted to provide a radial component to the force applied to the blade and while this has fluid deflection which includes a radial component. Nature provides excellent models of optimized aerodynamics, drag reduction and noise reduction. Any biologically cultivated or eroded surface to optimize aerodynamics has no anchor corners and does not rotate fluid at right angles but rather of the shape of a whirlpool constructed in accordance with a three-dimensional equiangular spiral or spiral of the Golden ratio. The fundamental symmetry of this spiral is also found in the design of the bird egg, a snail and a sea shell. These spirals and vertices generally comply with a mathematical projection known as the Golden ratio or a progression similar to Fibonacci. Each of the modes, for the most part, serves to allow the fluids to move in their naturally preferred manner, thereby reducing inefficiencies created by means of turbulence and friction that are normally found in housings for centrifugal fans. Previously developed technologies have been generally less satisfactory with natural fluid tendencies. It has been found to be a characteristic of fluid flow which, when caused to flow in a vertex motion through a path that the fluid flow is supposedly turbulent and as a result has a decreased tendency to separate or cavitate. It is a general characteristic of the embodiments that the accommodations described are concerned to promote vertical flow in the fluid passing through the housing. It has also been found that the vortex flow is encouraged where the configuration of the housing conforms to the two-dimensional spiral or three-dimensional spiral. It has further been found that such coordination tends to be used where the curvature of the spiral substantially or substantially conforms to that of the Golden ratio or the Golden section. It is a characteristic of each of the modalities that the greater proportion of the internal surfaces that form the housing have a curvature that takes a binary or three-dimensional shape approaching the vertex lines or line of Stripe found in a vortex that occurs in nature. The general form of such configuration is a logarithmic spiral. It has also been found that the performance of the modalities will be optimized where the curvature of the surfaces of the housing substantially or in large part conform to the characteristics of the Golden section or proportion. It has further been found that the performance is optimized if any variation in cross-sectional area of the fluid path also substantially mostly conforms to the characteristics of the Golden section or proportion. It has also been found that the fluid flow is more efficient if the surfaces on which the fluid flows have a curvature substantially or in greater part correspond to that of the Golden section. As a result of the reduced degree of turbulence that is induced in the fluid as it passes through such a fan, the housing according to the various modalities can be used to drive fluid with less noise and wear and with greater efficiency than has previously been possible with the conventional housing of equivalent dimensional characteristics. The greater percentage of the internal surfaces of the housings of each of the modalities described herein are generally designed in accordance with the section or proportion of Golden and, consequently, it is a feature of each of the modalities that the housings provide. a step of the fluid which is of spiral consideration and which is conformed at least in most part to the characteristics of the equiangular ratio or Golden ratio section. The characteristics of the goleen section are illustrated in figure two which illustrates the unfolding of the spiral curve according to the golden proportion section. As the spiral unfolds in order of growth of the radius of the curve that is measured at equianqual radii (for example E, F, G, H, I and J) it is constant. This can be illustrated by the triangular representation of each radius between each sequence corresponding to the formula of a: b = b: a + b that conforms to the ratio of 1: 0.618 approximately and that is consistent across the curve. This invention may alternatively use a snail-shaped or sea-shell-like flow path housing that may be logarithmic but not a Golden ratio. Although it is not optimized it does not conform to the proportion of three-dimensional Golden, it will still provide superior performance in its proposed axis in conventional designs. A first embodiment of the invention is a fan assembly as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The fan assembly is the one comprising a rotor 12 having a plurality of vanes 13, the rotor 12 is adapted to be shifted by an electric motor, not shown. The fan motor is supported within a housing 14 having an inlet 16 and an outlet 17. The housing 14 has a swirling shape, which on internal surfaces resembles the seafood form of the genus Trochus. This form corresponds in general to the aerodynamics of a vortex. In the figures it is appreciated that the shape indicated on the external surfaces intends to correspond to the shape of the internal surface, although in a real fan the shape of the external surface is not of importance for the performance of the fan as such and must be quite different of the internal surfaces. Of course, the housing could be constructed with an internal gualdera comprising a component separated from the external surface of the housing and it will be appreciated that where such a design is undertaken, it is the internal surfaces of the separate gualdera which must conform to the principles as described herein. In the first embodiment, the housing formed by two proportions, 18 and 19. The first of these comprises an inlet portion 18 that includes the inlet 16 and also provides mounting means (not shown) for supporting the fan motor to which the rotor 12 of that fan is attached. The inlet portion 18 also acts as a skirt around external extensions of the vanes 13 and the rotor 12 and provides space 22 between the inner surface 21 of the inlet portion 18 and the imaginary surface swept by the outer edges 23 of the vanes 13 during the rotation of the rotor 12. It will be seen in figure 5 that the depth of this space is increased between a minimum space 25 and a maximum space similarly to the corresponding space of a conventional centrifugal fan. Unlike a conventional centrifugal fan, however, this increase in space is accompanied by displacement of the fluid path axially away from the region of rotation of the rotor in the first portion 18 towards the outlet 17. The second portion of the housing 14 comprises an outlet flange 19 extending along the flow path continuously from the first portion. In the departure line 19, the inner surface of the gualdera 19 continues to extend while the fluid path is displaced axially. As a result, a trajectory of the vertex generally fluid is provided which urges the fluid to flow through the housing 14 to adopt a vertex flow pattern, as is engaged by the dotted line 27 in Figure 5. Such a pattern flow is higher efficiency and noise lower than for a comparable conventional fan. In addition, when centrifuged to the vertex flow, the flow must be driven to be redirected in a generally transverse direction relative to the incoming flow without requiring an abrupt and turbulent change in flow direction. This also improves efficiency and reduces noise. As mentioned above, as long as a housing having an overall internal vertex shape can be expected to provide significant improvements in higher efficiency and reduced noise, and the benefits will be optimized by considering the accommodation to have a vertex shape in the nature of a three-dimensional equiangular spiral or spiral of "Golden Section". Such a shape would have the internal surfaces configured to have a curvature that conforms to the Golden section. Such form will conform to the natural flow tendencies of the fluids, in this way the efficiency will be improved. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the housing to be in two portions provides ease of manufacture, assembly and maintenance only. The two portions of such housing can be held together by vibrating fastening means such as fasteners (not shown) or can include cooperating flanges, bayonet fasteners or other suitable joining means. In a second embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first embodiment is adapted in such a way that the housing 31 can be manufactured as a single piece, for example, by rotational molding. Alternatively, the housing may comprise more than two portions. FIGURE 8 illustrates a third embodiment of a fan 41 that comprises a rotor 42 having a single blade 43 having an expanding screw-like shape. This rotor 42 was accommodated within an extended housing 44 which nevertheless has a vertex shape. It is contemplated that such a design may be appropriate for more viscous fluids or fluid-like materials. While a housing according to the first and second embodiments will provide improved performance when used with rotors having a wide range of blade configurations, it will be appreciated that the performance of the fan assembly will also depend on the rotor configuration. It has been found that the performance must be further improved where the rotor itself is designed to provide flow according to the principles of nature. Such a rotor is described in the co-pending patent application of the applicant entitled "Vortical Flow Rotor". It will be understood that such a rotor is intended to provide a peak flow stream and when properly configured in conjunction with a housing according to the first or second embodiment, an optimized performance characteristic can be set. It can be understood in light of the above description that the housing according to the first and second embodiments will provide performance improvements where a centrifugal rotor is used. As mentioned in connection with Figure 5, it can be seen that the application of a radial component of fluid flow to the flow stream will also propel the fluid outward as rotationally, thereby adopting a vortex flow type. It is not obvious that the use of a housing of the first embodiment with an axial fan will also provide a significant performance improvement, it has still been found that this is the case. It is appreciated that the provision of a housing that readily accommodates the vertex flow promotes such peak flow in practice. Therefore, it is within the scope of the invention now disclosed that the housing can be used with an axial configuration of the rotor. This discovery has led to an additional advance. The rotor blades that can be used within the housing of the first embodiment can be configured with a profile that is intermediate between an axial rotor and a centrifugal rotor. As mentioned above, the axial and centrifugal rotors have quite different performance characteristics: the axial rotor promotes high flow at low pressure while the centrifugal rotor promotes low flow at high pressure. By selecting the rotor with an intermediate feature, the performance of the vibrator can be "adapted" to more precisely match the application. The precise configuration of the housing can also be "adjusted" to cooperate fully with the selected rotor to further improve the design characteristics. Such flexibility has not been previously appreciated. A designer can now approach a project knowing that he can properly design an appropriate fan for the purpose, finish adapting an inappropriate fan due to physical constraints. Additionally, it has been found that the composite curves of the housing of the above embodiments have rigidity and structural integrity considerably beyond the flat side panels found in the conventional housing which can be integrated by the lighter and thinner materials. However, the inherent rigidity, combined with the lack of turbulence within the fluid flow also reduces noise-a major problem in conventional housings. Flat-sided housings vibrate, drum, resonate and amplify noise. The housing of the modes reduces vibration, drumming, resonance and noise amplification. While it is believed that a fan having superior performance will generally be obtained by designing housing in a three-dimensional vertex form as described in relation to the first embodiment, there will be instances where it will not be practical to adopt such a form. This is more likely to be the case where the fan will be used in an existing installation that has incorporated a conventional centrifugal fan. However, significant improvements can be obtained by incorporating the design of a conventional centrifugal fan initially disclosed in the first embodiment. Figure 9 shows a fourth embodiment comprising a housing 51 adapted to receive a fan rotor 52, constructed as cherily as possible in accordance with the principles described above. As shown above the housing is somewhat similar in shape to a conventional housing as shown in Figure 1, but the design is altered to adopt the natural flow principles. This fan is configured in accordance with a two-dimensional logarithmic spiral that conforms to the Golden ratio.

In addition, the internal surfaces are curved with a curvature configured according to the Golden section. It has been found that such a consideration provides considerably improved efficiencies compared to the conventional housing of Figure 1. Figures 10 and 11 show a fifth embodiment of a vibrator that has adapted the aspects of the fourth embodiment in a very practical design. As shown in Fig. 10 and 11, the fan comprises a housing 61 comprising two halves, a first half 62 and a second half 63, each in a corresponding spiral shape. The first half 62 is provided with a centrally located circular inlet building 63 that includes a support member 64 adapted to support the shaft 65 of a fan motor 66. The second half 63 has corresponding support means adapted to support the motor 66. Each of the first 62 and second 63 halves have corresponding flanges 67 around their perimeters with openings 68 which allow the halves to be jointly accommodated by bolts or means of similar assurance (not shown). The motor 66 drives an impeller 69 having vanes 70 mounted on the shaft 65 of the motor. When assembled together, the first and second halves provide a fluid space between the inner surface of the housing and the imaginary surface swept by the outer edges of the blades 13 during rotation of the impeller 69. This space increases from a minimum in one point "A" to a maximum at an adjacent point "B". At the maximum point "B" the housing incorporates an exit hole 71 transverse to the plane of rotation of the impeller, which is coplanar with the shaft. In service, an outlet conduit 72 (as shown in dotted lines) will normally be mounted at the outlet to transport the fluid from the housing. Importantly, the walls of the two halves around the space are curved with a curvature substantially conforming to the Golden Section. This curvature will also be configured to cause fluid to flow into space in a spiral vortex motion. As a result, entrainment in the flow of fluid through space is reduced. This reduction of drag minimizes vibration, resonance, counter-pressure, turbulence, drumming, noise and energy consumption and efficiency is improved compared to a conventional fan of the type shown in Figure 1. It will also be found that it is advantageous that this space is increased to a logarithmic proportion that conforms to the Golden Ratio. The fifth embodiment can be further adapted. A sixth embodiment is shown in Figures 12 and 13 incorporating an appropriate mounting bracket 75.

In other aspects, the modality is identical to that of the fifth modality and consequently in the figures similar reference numbers are used to indicate similar elements of the fifth modality. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "understand" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" shall be understood to imply the inclusion of a whole integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any integer or group of integers.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. A housing for a fan, fan or pump or turbine, characterized in that the housing is adapted to be associated with a rotor adapted in service to cooperate with the fluid flowing through the housing, wherein the housing comprises a flange for guiding the fluid that moves in association with the rotor, the rotor has at least one blade adapted to cooperate with the fluid to drive or be driven by the fluid, wherein the belt is configured to promote the vortex flow of the fluid to through the accommodation. The housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the skirt is configured with an active surface to cooperate with the fluid flowing inside the housing, wherein the active surface has a two-dimensional or three-dimensional logarithmic spiral configuration. The housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the logarithmic spiral is conformed to the equianqual ratio or Golden ratio. The housing according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the active surface has a curvature substantially conforming to a logarithmic curve. 5. The housing according to claim 4, characterized in that the active surface is configured with a curvature substantially conforming to an equiangular section or section of Golden. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal surface of the gualdera conforms to the current lines of a vortex. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the internal surface of the gualdera conforms in shape to the shape of a shell of the genus Trochus. The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skirt is adapted to substantially enclose at least the perimeter of the rotor and provide a space between the inner surface of the skirt and the surface swept by the outer edge of the skirt. at least one blade during rotation of the rotor and wherein the gap is increased from a minimum cross-sectional area to an expanded cross-sectional area. The housing according to claim 8, characterized in that the space is increased by an area in a space-logarithmic ratio. 10. The housing according to claim 9, characterized in that the space-logarithmic proportion is conformed to the equiangular proportion or Golden ratio. The housing according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the space comprises an axial component in relation to the rotor. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the skirt is adapted to cooperate with a centrifugal rotor. The housing according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the qualdera is adapted to cooperate with an axial rotor. The housing according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the skirt is adapted to cooperate with a rotor having an intermediate flow characteristic to a centrifugal rotor and an axial rotor. The housing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor comprises at least one blade having an active rotor surface adapted to cooperate with the fluid flowing through the housing, wherein the curvature of the surface The active rotor is equiangular or conforms to the Golden Section. 16. The housing according to any of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the shear is adjusted to cooperate with the rotor to provide substantially optimum performance.