Unsteady flow dynamics and acoustics of two-outlet centrifugal fan design

I. Y.W. Wong, Chi Kin Randolph Leung, A. K.Y. Law

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingConference article published in proceeding or bookAcademic researchpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, a centrifugal fan design with two flow outlets is investigated. This design aims to provide high mass flow rate but low noise performance. Two dimensional unsteady flow simulation with CFD code (FLUENT 6.3) is carried out to analyze the fan flow dynamics and its acoustics. The calculations were done using the unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier Stokes (URANS) approach in which effects of turbulence were accounted for using κ-ε model. This work aims to provide an insight how the dominant noise source mechanisms vary with a key fan geometrical paramters, namely, the ratio between cutoff distance and the radius of curvature of the fan housing. Four new fan designs were calculated. Simulation results show that the unsteady flow-induced forces on the fan blades are found to be the main noise sources. The blade force coefficients are then used to build the dipole source terms in Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) Equation for estimating their noise effects. It is found that one design is able to deliver a mass flow 34% more, but with sound pressure level (SPL) 10 dB lower, than the existing design.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationRecent Progresses in Fluid Dynamics Research - Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Fluid Mechanics, ICFM VI
Pages467-469
Number of pages3
Volume1376
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Nov 2011
EventProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Fluid Mechanics: Recent Progresses in Fluid Dynamics Research, ICFM VI - Guangzhou, China
Duration: 30 Jun 20113 Jul 2011

Conference

ConferenceProceedings of the 6th International Conference on Fluid Mechanics: Recent Progresses in Fluid Dynamics Research, ICFM VI
Country/TerritoryChina
CityGuangzhou
Period30/06/113/07/11

Keywords

  • aeroacoustics
  • centrifugal fan
  • CFD
  • noise reduction
  • unsteady flow dynamics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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