An assessment of NASA Glenn’s aeroacoustic experimental and predictive capabilities for installed cooling fansPart 2: Source identification and validation

摘要

Quiet, high performance electronics cooling fans are needed for both commercialapplications and future manned space exploration missions. Researchers at NASA Glennfocusing on aircraft engine noise, have long been familiar with the challenge of reducing fannoise without sacrificing aerodynamic performance. Is it possible to capitalize on the lessonslearnedin aircraft engine noise reduction to identify inexpensive ways to improve theaerodynamic and acoustic performance of electronics cooling fans? Recent tests at NASAGlenn have begun to look for answers to this question.The overall aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a commercially available, spaceflightqualified 80 mm diameter axial flow fan has been measured using an automated plenum inaccordance with ISO 10302 in the hemi-anechoic chamber of NASA Glenn’s AcousticalTesting Laboratory. These measurements are complemented by detailed aerodynamicmeasurements of the inlet, exhaust, and rotor wake regions of the fan using Particle ImageVelocimetry and hot-wire probes. A study of preliminary results yielded recommendations forsystem designers, fan manufacturers, and researchers.