The direct approach for designing a new impeller, in which the blade geometry is optimized by trial and error modification of the blade shape together with a CFD code for evaluation of performance, requires a lot of geometrical parameters. In addition, the correlation between geometrical parameters and aerodynamics is unknown in most cases. Therefore, a lot of CFD calculations or measurements have to be done until the best configuration is reached.

However, by using TURBOdesign-1, the blade design can be achieved for a specified blade loading distribution and span-wise circulation distribution, which give direct control of 3D pressure field to the designer. This in turn allows designers to improve aerodynamic and aeroacoustic performance without the need for large number of CFD computations.

Katrin Bohl the R&D aerodynamic engineer at Ebm-papst Mulfingen in Germany says of TURBOdesign-1:

”Hence many different designs can be analyzed and evaluated without time-consuming CFD calculation. Additionally, the results of a new design can give useful indications as to which parameters are important for the aerodynamics and if the desired pressure rise can be realised. Through easy and fast variation of input parameters, an optimal configuration can be found within minutes.”