Louver Design for High-Efficiency Air Intake: Enhancing Diesel Generator Inlet Performance Using Sinusoidal Tubercle Model
Abstract
This study aims to numerically investigate the effect of the Tubercle phenomenon, inspired by humpback whale flippers, on the aerodynamic performance of ventilation louvers located in the intake compartments of diesel generator enclosures. In industrial generator cabins, air inlet louvers used in high-flow applications often experience flow separation and excessive pressure drop issues in conventional designs. These problems naturally lead to challenges in cabin climate control and acoustics. Therefore, this study seeks to provide an innovative solution to the high-pressure loss and flow separation problems caused by traditional straight-edged louvers.
A sinusoidal design applied to the leading edges of the louvers was developed, where the amplitude and wavelength of the protrusions vary in a correlated manner. The aerodynamic performance, pressure drop, and flow uniformity of this biomimetic Tubercle-based model, which has been widely discussed in academic literature, were evaluated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
Flow analyses were conducted under identical design and boundary conditions for each configuration, including velocity contours, turbulence intensity, and pressure loss distributions. The results demonstrated that the Tubercle geometry delays flow separation, enhances airflow uniformity in the diesel generator intake section, and reduces pressure drop compared to conventional straight louver designs. Among the three configurations, the M3 model exhibited the most balanced aerodynamic performance.
This study indicates potential power savings in the generator cooling fan and improvements in the acoustic performance of the cabin, offering a novel and innovative perspective for optimizing both internal cooling and flow organization in diesel generator enclosures.
Keywords
- Tubercle effect
- Diesel generator
- Louver design
- Aerodynamic performance
- Computer fluid dynamics (CFD)
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
Thanks
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Mechanical Engineering (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
July 1, 2026
Submission Date
November 3, 2025
Acceptance Date
March 23, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 1
