Design optimization of an axial fan blade through multi-objective evolutionary algorithm

This paper presents design optimization of an axial fan blade with hybrid multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (hybrid MOEA). Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations with shear stress transport turbulence model are discretized by the finite volume approximations and solved on hexahedral grids for the flow analyses. The validation of the numerical results was performed with the experimental data for the axial and tangential velocities. Six design variables related to the blade lean angle and blade profile are selected and the Latin hypercube sampling of design of experiments is used to generate design points within the selected design space. Two objective functions namely total efficiency and torque are employed and the multi-objective optimization is carried out to enhance total efficiency and to reduce the torque. The flow analyses are performed numerically at the designed points to obtain values of the objective functions. The Non-dominated Sorting of Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II) with ε -constraint strategy for local search coupled with surrogate model is used for multi-objective optimization. The Pareto-optimal solutions are presented and trade-off analysis is performed between the two competing objectives in view of the design and flow constraints. It is observed that total efficiency is enhanced and torque is decreased as compared to the reference design by the process of multi-objective optimization. The Pareto-optimal solutions are analyzed to understand the mechanism of the improvement in the total efficiency and reduction in torque.