Investigation of Fan Casing Aerodynamic Noise at the Blade Passing Frequency

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Cheng Cai ◽  
Da-Tong Qi ◽  
Fu-An Lu
Keyword(s):  
Wave Equation ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Sound Propagation ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Sound Field ◽  
Noise Model ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency

From our previous studies of fan casing vibroacoustics, it was found that noise caused by casing vibration was fairly small compared to its aeroacoustic counterpart. In the present work, a numerical study on the aerodynamic tonal noise of a centrifugal fan casing was carried out. A 3-D numerical simulation of turbulent unsteady flow on the whole impeller-volute configuration was performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique in order to obtain the pressure fluctuations on the casing wall which serve as aeroacoustic dipole sources. Three different flow rates were simulated: the best efficiency point (BEP), 1.382×BEP and the maximal flow rate (2.104×BEP). Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was applied to the time series of pressure fluctuations to extract the blade passing frequency (BPF) component constituting the source term of the wave equation. Boundary element method (BEM) was used to solve the inhomogeneous frequency-domain wave equation. The influence of the casing on the sound field was taken into account in simulating the noise radiation by taking it as a rigid body. Results showed that the presence of the casing could greatly affect sound propagation. With the increase of flow rate, the radiated sound power rose drastically. The tonal blade noise was also investigated using Lowson’s formulation of rotor noise model, and the results showed that it’s smaller than the tonal casing noise.

Experimental Investigation of Pressure Fluctuations on Inner Wall of a Centrifugal Pump

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Qi Jia ◽  
Bao-Ling Cui ◽  
Zu-Chao Zhu ◽  
Yu-Liang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Centrifugal Pump ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
High Flow ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Pressure Distributions ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency

Abstract Affected by rotor–stator interaction and unstable inner flow, asymmetric pressure distributions and pressure fluctuations cannot be avoided in centrifugal pumps. To study the pressure distributions on volute and front casing walls, dynamic pressure tests are carried out on a centrifugal pump. Frequency spectrum analysis of pressure fluctuation is presented based on Fast Fourier transform and steady pressure distribution is obtained based on time-average method. The results show that amplitudes of pressure fluctuation and blade-passing frequency are sensitive to the flow rate. At low flow rates, high-pressure region and large pressure gradients near the volute tongue are observed, and the main factors contributing to the pressure fluctuation are fluctuations in blade-passing frequency and high-frequency fluctuations. By contrast, at high flow rates, fluctuations of rotating-frequency and low frequencies are the main contributors to pressure fluctuation. Moreover, at low flow rates, pressure near volute tongue increases rapidly at first and thereafter increases slowly, whereas at high flow rates, pressure decreases sharply. Asymmetries are observed in the pressure distributions on both volute and front casing walls. With increasing of flow rate, both asymmetries in the pressure distributions and magnitude of the pressure decrease.

Calculation of Aerodynamic Noise for Centrifugal Fan of Air-Conditioner

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taku Iwase ◽  
Hideshi Obara ◽  
Hiroyasu Yoneyama ◽  
Yoshinobu Yamade ◽  
Chisachi Kato
Keyword(s):  
Sound Pressure ◽  
Static Pressure ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Coarse Grid ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Absolute Velocity ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Air Conditioner ◽  
Simulation Code ◽  
Fine Grid

Flow fields in a centrifugal fan for an indoor unit of an air-conditioner were calculated with finite element method-based large eddy simulation (LES) with the aim of predicting fan performance and aerodynamic noise in this study. The numerical simulation code employed throughout the LES was called FrontFlow/blue (FFB). We compared 10M grid [coarse grid] and 60M grid [fine grid] calculation results for investigation of influence of grid resolution. In the fine grid, the number of grid elements in blade-to-blade direction, and of region between the shroud and the bell mouth increased in particular. By calculating with the fine grid, calculated distributions of absolute velocities at blade exit reasonably agreed with experimental results. Because of this, maximum absolute velocity by fine grid near hub decreased as compared to those by coarse grid. Calculated sound pressure level by fine grid was therefore smaller than that by coarse grid, and the overestimation of sound pressure was suppressed by calculating with fine grid. This decrease of the absolute velocity was a first factor for the improvement of calculation accuracy. Moreover, number of captured streaks on the blade, hub, and shroud surfaces by fine grid increased as compared to those by coarse grid. As a result, size of streak by fine grid became smaller than that by coarse grid. Static pressure fluctuations by fine grid on the blade, hub, and shroud surfaces therefore reduced as compared to those by coarse grid. Aerodynamic noise was related to static pressure fluctuations according to Curle’s equation. This reduction of static pressure fluctuations was therefore a second factor for improvement of calculation accuracy.

A Numerical Study of the Blade Passing Frequency Noise of a Centrifugal Fan

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Cheng Cai ◽  
Da-Tong Qi ◽  
Yong-Hai Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Sound Radiation ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Sound Power ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Structural Noise ◽  
Tonal Noise ◽  
Fan Noise ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency ◽  
Dipole Sources

Tonal noise constitutes the major part of the overall fan noise, especially the blade passing frequency (BPF) noise which is generally the most dominant component. This paper studies the BPF tonal noise of a centrifugal fan, including the blade noise, casing aerodynamic noise, and casing structural noise caused by the flow-induced casing vibration. Firstly, generation mechanism and propagation process of fan noise were discussed and the measured spectra of fan noise and casing vibration were presented. Secondly, a fully 3-D transient simulation of the internal flow field of the centrifugal fan was carried out by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach. The results revealed that the flow interactions between the impeller and the volute casing caused periodic pressure fluctuations on the solid walls of the impeller and casing. This pressure fluctuation induces aerodynamic noise radiation as dipole sources, as well as structural vibration as force excitations. Thirdly, using the acoustic analogy theory, the aeroacoustic dipole sources on the casing and blade surface were extracted. The BPF casing and blade aerodynamic sound radiation were solved by the boundary element method (BEM) taking into account the scattering effect of the casing structure. Finally, the casing structural noise was studied. The casing forced vibration and sound radiation under the excitation of BPF pressure fluctuation were calculated by finite element method (FEM) and BEM, respectively. The result indicates that at the studied flow rate, the sound power levels of the casing aerodynamic noise, blade aerodynamic noise and casing structural noise are 103 dB, 91 dB and 79 dB with the reference sound power of 1×10−12 W, respectively.

Sound Generation by a Centrifugal Pump at Blade Passing Frequency

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 736-743 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Morgenroth ◽  
D. S. Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Acoustic Pressure ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Standing Waves ◽  
Acoustic Resonance ◽  
Piping System ◽  
Hydraulic Pressure ◽  
Pump Speed ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency

This paper reports the results of an experimental study of the pressure pulsations produced by a centrifugal volute pump at its blade passing frequency and their amplification by acoustic resonance in a connected piping system. Detailed measurements were made of the pressure fluctuations in the piping as a function of pump speed and flow rate. A semi-empirical model was used to separate acoustic standing waves from hydraulic pressure fluctuations. The effects of modifying the cut-water geometry were also studied, including the use of flow visualization to observe the flow behavior at the cut-water. The results suggest that the pump may act as an acoustic pressure or velocity source, depending on the flow rate and the cut-water geometry. At conditions of acoustic resonance, the pump acted as an open termination of the piping, i.e., as a node in the acoustic pressure standing waves. Rounding the cut-water had the effect of reducing the amplitude of acoustic resonance, apparently because of the ability of the stagnation point to move and thereby reduce the vorticity generated.

Optimization of Low-Noise and Large Air Volume Blower Based on Load Characteristic

2015 ◽  
Vol 656-657 ◽  
pp. 700-705
Author(s):  
Jian Dong Chen ◽  
Bei Bei Sun
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Low Noise ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Strong Wind ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Fan Noise ◽  
Load Characteristic ◽  
Air Volume ◽  
Actual Working ◽  
Working Point

The blower is a kind of garden machinery, which blows strong wind to clean up leaves by a centrifugal fan, but it causes a loud aerodynamic noise. To compromise the contradiction between large air flow rate and low fan noise, some optimizations are proposed to reduce fan noise without lowering its air volume. In this paper, a CFD numerical model to compute airflow field of blower is established, where the centrifugal fan is simulated by the MRF model, and theturbulent model is selected. By smoothing the transition section, improving the volute tongue and optimizing the shape and optimizing number of fan blade, the blower work performance is increased obviously. In order to find out the actual working point, both the fan and motor load characteristic curves are drawn out. The simulation results show that, at the actual working point, the speed of the centrifugal fan is reduced, while the flow rate of blower is raised up. The optimizations are applied to the blower, and the experiment of the improved blower shows the flow rate is increased 5%, and the noise is reduced 2dB.

Experimental Study on the Aeroacoustic Behavior of a Forward-Curved Blades Centrifugal Fan

1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 276-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Velarde-Sua´rez ◽  
Carlos Santolaria-Morros ◽  
Rafael Ballesteros-Tajadura
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Power Level ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Sound Power ◽  
Noise Generation ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Tonal Noise ◽  
Sound Power Level ◽  
Starting Point

In this paper, an aeroacoustic study on a forward-curved blades centrifugal fan has been carried out. As a first step, the fan performance curves, i.e., total pressure, power, efficiency and sound power level versus flow rate were obtained, showing its unstable behavior over a wide operating range. Second, the fan sound power level spectra for several working conditions were determined. For this purpose a normalized installation for testing in laboratory was designed and constructed. Afterwards, the velocity and pressure fields, both at the inlet and outlet planes of the impeller were measured using hot wire probes and pressure transducers, for different operating conditions. Finally, the aeroacoustic behavior of the fan was determined measuring the vorticity field at the impeller outlet, which is known to be related to tonal noise generation. This relation is worked out using the theory of vortex sound, developed by several authors during the second half of this century. The paper shows that the generation of tonal noise is produced at the blade passing frequency and it increases with the flow rate. Although the main contribution to fan noise generation is due to mechanical sources, the bands in which aerodynamic noise is generated by these fans correspond to frequencies especially unpleasant to the human ear. Therefore, the research presented in this paper may be of considerable interest, establishing a starting point for the design of quieter and more efficient fans.

Experimental Investigation of Time-Frequency Characteristics of Pressure Fluctuations in a Double-Suction Centrifugal Pump

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Yao ◽  
Fujun Wang ◽  
Lixia Qu ◽  
Ruofu Xiao ◽  
Chenglian He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Domain ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Pressure Fluctuation ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Flow ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency ◽  
Design Flow Rate

Pressure fluctuation is the primary reason for unstable operations of double-suction centrifugal pumps. By using flush mounted pressure transducers in the semispiral suction chamber and the volute casing of a double-suction pump, the pressure fluctuation signals were obtained and recorded at various operating conditions. Spectral analyses were performed on the pressure fluctuation signals in both frequency domain and time-frequency domain based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) and an adaptive optimal-kernel time-frequency representation (AOK TFR). The results show that pressure fluctuations at the impeller rotating frequency and some lower frequencies dominated in the semispiral suction chamber. Pressure fluctuations at the blade passing frequency, the impeller rotating frequency, and their harmonic frequencies were identified in the volute casing. The amplitude of pressure fluctuation at the blade passing frequency significantly increased when the flow rate deviated from the design flow rate. At 107% of the design flow rate, the amplitude increased more than 254% than that at the design flow rate. The time-frequency characteristics of these pressure fluctuations were affected greatly by both operating conditions and measurement locations. At partial flow rates the pulsation had a great irregularity and the amplitudes at the investigated frequencies were much larger than ones at the design flow rate. An asymmetrical pressure fluctuation structure in the volute casing was observed at all flow rates. The pulsation behavior at the blade passing frequency was the most prominent near the volute tongue zone, and the pressure waves propagated in both the radial and circumferential directions.

Experimental Investigation of Relationship Between Pressure Fluctuations and Vibrations for a Double Suction Centrifugal Pump

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Yao ◽  
Fujun Wang ◽  
Ruofu Xiao ◽  
Chenglian He ◽  
Zhuqing Liu
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Internal Flow ◽  
Rotational Frequency ◽  
High Flow ◽  
High Flow Rate ◽  
Centrifugal Pumps ◽  
Blade Passing Frequency

Double-suction centrifugal pumps are widely employed in large-scale pumping stations, which generally run in the conditions of large discharge with huge energy consumption. Pressure fluctuation caused by internal flow due to tongue-impeller interaction is the primary source of pump vibration. In this paper, pressure fluctuations and vibrations signals on volute casing wall were experimentally obtained at five flow rates ranging from 59% to 121% of nominal flow rate. Time and frequency domains of the signals were mainly analyzed by using statistical and fast Fourier transform methods. The results show that rotational frequency, blade passing frequency and their harmonic frequencies of pressure fluctuations as well as vibrations are clearly identified. The magnitude at blade passing frequency has close relationship with the measurement location related to the volute tongue, and becomes larger when the flow rate deviates from the nominal flow rate. The magnitudes at blade passing frequency can increase by 70% and 151% at high flow rate over that at the nominal flow rate for pressure fluctuations and vibrations, respectively. While the magnitude of vibration at rotational frequency keeps nearly constant at partial flow rate, and decreases at high flow rate.

Numerical calculation of centrifugal fan noise

2006 ◽  
Vol 220 (8) ◽  
pp. 1167-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q Liu ◽  
D Qi ◽  
Y Mao
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Aerodynamic Noise ◽  
Noise Generation ◽  
Centrifugal Fan ◽  
Fan Noise ◽  
Sound Sources ◽  
Aerodynamic Sound ◽  
Frequency Level ◽  
Sound Levels

A numerical study on the aerodynamic noise generation of an industrial centrifugal fan with forward swept blades is carried out. Three-dimensional numerical simulations of the complete unsteady flowfield in the whole impeller — volute configuration are performed to obtain the aerodynamic sound sources. Then, aerodynamic sound is calculated using the Lowson equation and compared with the measurements. Moreover, the fan is modified for noise reduction by increasing the distance between the impeller tip and the volute tongue and sloping the volute tongue. The sound levels of the modified fan are lower than those of the original one over almost the entire range of frequencies analysed. The blade passing frequency level of the modified fan is decreased by about 15 dB at the design point. The method described and applied in this work provides a good qualitative prediction of the noise generation when designing a new fan, thus facilitating the choice of the lowest noise fan from several feasible alternatives.

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