Optimization of Hydraulic Retarder Based on CFD Technology

The three-dimensional geometric model of hydraulic retarder is built based on an enterprise production as reference prototype, On CFD platform, based on the three-dimensional entity model of the hydraulic retarder, the internal flow field at full-filling condition is simulated and the braking performance is calculated. The simulation results show that there were some problems such as vast vortexes and wall flow separations which added braking torque losses. In order to improve the braking torque, this paper built some schemes with different vane degrees from 30° to 60°, after calculating and simulating, got the best optimization scheme is 45°. The simulation result of optimization schemes and prototypes shows that the braking performance of hydraulic retarder is obviously improved.