Review Article

A Critical Review of Stall Control Techniques in Industrial Fans

Table 2

Matrix of stall control techniques.

TechniqueClassificationHow it worksResults

Blade pitch control ActiveChanges the fluid dynamics; changing the pitch angle.Acts after stall detection [36].
Rotational frequency control ActiveChanges the fluid dynamics; controlling the rotor speed.Acts after stall detection [31].
Air injectionActiveRotating stall inception is achieved using full-span distributed jet actuation.The nonideal injection reduces the stall range’s extension by about the same proportion of the effective pressure increase [56].
Bleed valveActiveMaintain the average flow through the compressor above the critical flow. The air bleeds from the plenum, so as to increase the flow through the compressor.Recirculation alters the compressor operating point. Only use the recirculation or ambient bleeding when stall is imminent [57, 58].
Stabilisation rings PassiveChanges the fluid dynamics; provides the stalled flow with a route back into the impeller.Not sure that the stall occurs [72].
Air separator PassiveA series of circumferential vanes correct the swirl flow in the axial direction; the stall cells centrifuge spontaneously into the air separator inlet and separate from the main flow.Air separators are able to effectively suppress the stall zone after the stall cells appear [63].