Mustafa TutarJanset Betul CamTutar, MustafaCam, Janset Betul2025-10-0620252504186X2504-186X10.3390/ijtpp100100012-s2.0-105001330700https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105001330700&doi=10.3390%2Fijtpp10010001&partnerID=40&md5=f3454fc16526b8ce8c1b5596bb0fa236https://gcris.yasar.edu.tr/handle/123456789/8034https://doi.org/10.3390/ijtpp10010001The present study introduces a conceptual design of a small axial-flow fan. Both individual and combined effects of blade stagger angle and winglet on the performance of the fan design are investigated in design and off-design operating conditions using a computational flow methodology. A stepwise solution in which a proper stagger angle adjustment of a specifically generated blade profile is followed by appending a winglet at the tip of the blade with consideration of different geometrical parameters is proposed to improve the performance characteristics of the fan. The initial model comparison analysis demonstrates that a three-dimensional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equation-based renormalization group (RNG) k–ε turbulence modeling approach coupled with the multiple reference frame (MRF) technique which adapts multi-block topology generation meshing method successfully resolves the rotating flow around the fan. The results suggest that the use of a proper stagger angle with the winglet considerably increases the fan performance and the fan attains the best total efficiency with an additional stagger angle of +10° and a winglet which has a curvature radius of 6.77 mm and a twist angle of −7° for the investigated dimensioning range. The present study also underlines the effectiveness of passive flow control mechanisms of the stagger angle and winglets for energy-efficient axial-flow fans. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Englishinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessAerodynamic Performance, Computational Fluid Dynamics (cfd), Energy Efficiency, Flow Control, Multiple Reference Frame (mrf), Small Axial-flow Fan, Aerodynamics, Axial Flow, Axial Flow Turbomachinery, Mesh Generation, Navier Stokes Equations, Radial Flow Turbomachinery, Reynolds Equation, Rotational Flow, Turbulence Models, Aero-dynamic Performance, Computational Fluid, Computational Fluid Dynamic, Energy, Energy Efficient, Fluid-dynamics, Multiple Reference Frame, Multiple-reference Frames, Small Axial Flow Fans, Stagger Angle, Computational Fluid DynamicsAerodynamics, Axial flow, Axial flow turbomachinery, Mesh generation, Navier Stokes equations, Radial flow turbomachinery, Reynolds equation, Rotational flow, Turbulence models, Aero-dynamic performance, Computational fluid, Computational fluid dynamic, Energy, Energy efficient, Fluid-dynamics, Multiple reference frame, Multiple-reference frames, Small axial flow fans, Stagger angle, Computational fluid dynamicsSmall Axial-Flow FanAerodynamic PerformanceFlow ControlMultiple Reference Frame (MRF)Energy EfficiencyComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)Article