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Fan-shroud optimization for enhanced thermal performance

  • Magazine Article
  • 16OFHP10_06
Published October 01, 2016 by SAE International in United States
Language:
  • English

CFD helps researchers from Argonne, Cummins and CD-Adapco to maximize cooling air mass flow rates through heat exchangers.

Tighter emissions requirements and underhood packing due to higher power demands from engines necessitate more optimized cooling packages. Fan and fan-shroud design is crucial for underhood airflow management. Fan shrouds funnel cooling air, which is sucked by the fan and passed through heat exchangers. Shroud design affects both the airflow and the noise generated by the fan.

The vehicle underhood compartment consists of the engine and cooling package. In heavy-duty trucks, the cooling package includes the heat exchanger, fan shroud and fan. To optimize the fan-shroud shape to maximize cooling air mass flow rates through the heat exchangers, researchers from Argonne National Laboratory, Cummins and CD-Adapco used the Adjoint approach to optimization. Adjoint optimization is an efficient sensitivity analysis method for aerodynamic shape and pressure drop evaluation.