The EU-funded MACCSol project is developing a new modular air-cooled condenser design for power plant applications in water scarce regions. In that scope, this work is to examine the influence ambient winds may have on an axial ventilator's performance. An axial fan test rig was built inside a wind tunnel environment at the University of Erlangen to realize different wind velocities and angles. Total fan pressure was captured using an array of 81 Kiel probes. The validity of the test rig adaptations to the wind tunnel restrictions was shown in comparison to results from ISO 5801 standard fan test rigs. Two different fan geometries were examined in their characteristic fan curves' reactions to wind influence at the free fan inlet. The two fans' characteristic curves showed effects differing in magnitude, but similar in their tendency. While frontal winds tended to improve fan performance, cross winds reduced it. In reverse operating mode, the effect of wind at the fan outlet demonstrated little but positive influence on the fan curve. In order to reduce negative cross wind influence at the fan inlet, different conical and cylindrical inlet extensions were tested. Short conical shrouds performed best.
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