The paper reviews some of the changes in fan aerodynamic, acoustic and vibration performance that can be attributed to interactions between a fan and the system in which it operates. The need for the recognition of the importance of installation effects by manufacturers, specifiers and users of fan systems is highlighted by reference to commercial, efficiency and safety aspects of fan systems. It is concluded that there is an urgent requirement for further research.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
GuttlerG.European catalogue of energy loss coefficients of components used in air distribution systems, cost benefit analysis. SWD Software Design GmbH, Frankfurt am Main, 1985.
2.
BS 848: 1980. Fans for general purposes. Part I: Methods of testing performance. Part 2: Methods of noise testing. Part 5: Methods of vibration measurement.
3.
British Standards Institution, 1980. ISO DP 5801. Method of fan performance testing.International Standards Organisation, 1990.
4.
Fans and systems, AMC publication 201 (Air Moving and Control Association Inc., 30 West University Drive, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA).
5.
DeeproseW. M.SmithT. W.The usefulness of BS 848: Part 1: 1980 in establishing the installed performance of a fan. IMechE Conference on Installation effects in ducted fan systems, London, May 1984, paper C110/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
6.
CoryW. T. W.The effects of inlet conditions on the performance of a high specific speed centrifugal fan. IMechE Conference on Installation effects in ducted fan systems, London, 1984, paper C115/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
7.
ZaleskiR. H.System effect factors for axial flow fans. AMCA Engineering paper 20011–88-A2, March 1988.
8.
HesselgreavesJ. E.A correlation of tip clearance/efficiency measurements on mixed and axial flow turbomachines. NEL report 423, 1970, National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, Glasgow.
9.
NixonR. A.CairneyW. D.Scale effects in centrifugal cooling water pumps for thermal power stations. NEL report 505, 1972, National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, Glasgow.
10.
WrightT.Centrifugal fan performance with inlet clearance. Trans. ASME, J. Engng for Gas Turbine and Power, 106, 906–912.
11.
BecirspahicS.Fan system effect—work carried out in CETIAT. AMCA Engineering paper 20010–88-A0, March 1988.
12.
MillerD. S.Internal flow systems. BHRA Fluid Engineering Centre, Cranfield, 1986.
13.
JorgensenR. (Ed.) Fan engineering, 8th edition, 1983 (Buffalo Forge Company, Buffalo, New York).
14.
Air systems.AMCA publication 200. Air Moving and Control Association Inc., 30 West University Drive, Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA.
15.
Ffowces-WilliamsJ. E.HawkinsD. L.Theory relating to the noise of rotating machinery. J. Sound and Vibr., 1969, 10(1), 10–21.
16.
MargettsE. J.A demonstration that an axial fan in a ducted inlet ducted outlet configuration generates predominantly dipole noise. J. Sound and Vibr., 1987, 117(2), 399–406.
17.
HorlockJ. H.Fluctuating lift forces on aerofoils moving through transverse and chordwise gusts. Trans. ASME, J. Basic Engng, December 1986, 108, 494–500.
18.
NaumannH.YehH.Lift and pressure fluctuations of a cambered aerofoil under periodic gusts and applications in turbo-machinery. Trans. ASME, J. Engng Power, January 1973, 95, 1–10.
19.
SharlandI. J.Sources of noise in axial flow fans. J. Sound and Vibr., 1964, 1(3), 302–332.
20.
WhitfieldC. E.HawkinsD. L.An investigation of rotor noise generation by aerodynamic disturbance. IMechE Conference on Vibrations and noise in pump, fan and compressor installations, London, September 1975, paper C105/75 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
21.
HansonD. B.Spectrum of rotor noise caused by atmospheric turbulence. J. Acoust. Soc. Am., July 1974, 56(1).
22.
GearhardtW. S.HendersonR. E.McMahonJ. F.HorlockJ. H.The quasi-steady design of a compressor or pump stage for minimum fluctuating lift. Trans. ASME, J. Engng Power, 1969, 91, 31–36.
23.
HayN.MatherJ. S. B.MetcalfeR.Fan blade selection for low noise. IMechE Seminar on Industrial fans—aerodynamic design, London, April 1987 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
24.
NeiseW.Fan noise generation mechanisms and control methods. In Proceedings Internoise 88, Avignon, France, pp. 767–775.
25.
PeracchioA. A.Assessment of inflow control structure effectiveness and design system development. J. Aircraft, December 1982, 19(12).
26.
MooreC. J.Reduction of fan noise by annulus boundary layer removal. Spring Meeting, paper 73, ANC 4, April 1973, British Acoustical Society.
27.
LaiseT. D.MellinR. C.LonghouseR. E.PryjmakB. I.Electric motor cooling fan with high ram airflow—a fuel economy improvement. SAE paper 790722, 1979.
28.
HofeR. V.ThienG. E.An efficient approach to design low noise automotive cooling systems. In IMechE Conference on Vehicle noise and vibration, London, June 1984, paper C134/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
29.
AokiY.MatsudaK.TominagaT.KondoF.YamaguchiN.HayashiM.Noise reduction of condenser cooling fans for automotive air conditioners. Technical Review, October 1987, 24(3) (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited).
MeckelF. P.The computation of circular silencers (in German). Acustica, 1976, 35, 179–189.
34.
DaviesP. O. A. L.Practical flow duct acoustics. J. Sound and Vibr., 1988, 124(1), 91–115.
35.
CremerL.The treatment of fans as black boxes. Second Annual Fairey Lecture. J. Sound and Vibr., 1971, 16(1), 1–15.
36.
BaadeP.Effects of acoustic loading on axial flow fan noise generation. Noise Control Engng, January-February 1977, 8(1), 5–15.
37.
WollherrH.Acoustic investigations of radial fans using 4-pole theory (in German). PhD thesis, 1973, Technical University of Berlin.
38.
BoltonA. N.MargettsE. J.The influence of impedance on fan sound power. IMechE Conference on Installation effects in ducted fan systems, London, May 1984, paper C124/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
39.
BS 4718: 1971 Methods of test for silencers for air distribution systems, British Standards Institution, 1971 (under revision).
40.
ISO 7235Acoustics—measurement procedures for ducted silencers, International Standards Organisation (publication anticipated 1990).
41.
NeiseW.KoopmannG. H.Reduction of centrifugal fan noise by use of resonators. J. Sound and Vibr., 1980, 73, 297–308.
42.
FryA. T.On fan application of noise attenuators. IMechE Conference on Installation effects in ducted fan systems, London, May 1984, paper C123/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
43.
WebbJ. D. (Ed.) Noise control in mechanical services, 1972 (Sound Attenuators Limited and Sound Research Laboratories Limited, Colchester, Essex).
44.
SharlandI.Woods practical guide to noise control, 1986 (Woods of Colchester Limited, Colchester).
45.
Michael Neale and Associates.A guide to condition monitoring of machinery, 1979 (HMSO, London).
46.
FermerK.-E.LackC. W.Vibration isolation of fans considering the elastic properties of the floor. IMechE Conference on Installation effects in ducted fan systems, London, May 1984, paper C116/84 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
47.
WilsonG.The development of a mixed-flow pump with a stable characteristic. NEL report 110, 1963, National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, Glasgow.
48.
FarrantP. E.An approach to mixed flow fan design. Fluid Mechanics Silver Jubilee Conference, paper 2.1, 1976, National Engineering Laboratory, East Kilbride, Glasgow.
49.
CareyC.. Flow analysis and part-load performance of model mixed-flow pumps. IMechE conference on Part-load pumping, operation, control and behaviour, Edinburgh, September 1988, paper C339/88 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
50.
GreitzerE. M.Review—axial compressor stall phenomena. Trans. ASME, J. Fluids Engng, June 1980, 102, 134–151.
51.
TakataH.NaganoS.Non-linear analysis of rotating stall. Trans ASME, J. Engng Power, October 1972, Ser. A, 94(4).
52.
BardH.The stabilisation of axial fan performance1986 (Flakt Industry, AB. Vaxjo, Sweden).
53.
WormleyD. N.RowellD.GoldschmeidF. R.Air/gas system dynamics of fossil fuel power plants—pulsations. Symposium on Power plant fans—state of the art, Palo Alto, USA, October 1981 (EPRI report CS 2206).
54.
BoltonA. N.Pressure pulsations and rotating stall in centrifugal fans. IMechE Conference on Vibrations and noise in pump, fan and compressor installations, September 1975 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
55.
RaillyJ. W.EkerolH.Influence of a closely coupled throttle on the stalling behaviour of a radial compressor stage. Trans. ASME, J. Engng for Gas Turbines and Power, April 1985, 107, 513–527.
56.
WrightT.MadhavanS.DiReJ.Centrifugal fan performance with distorted inflows. Trans. ASME, J. Engng for Gas Turbines and Power, October 1984, 106, 895–900.
57.
PearsallI. S.BoltonA. N.Fluid factors causing failure. In IMechE Convention on Fluid machinery failures—prediction, analysis and prevention, April 1980, paper C159/80 (Mechanical Engineering Publications, London).
58.
KimuraY.HigashimoriH.WatabikiN.InadaN.Research on the similarities and the solutions of an inlet cone vortex in centrifugal fans. Trans. Japan Soc. Mech. Engng, 1987, 53(488), 1262–1269.
59.
Council of European Communities.Common position adopted by the Council on … with a view to the adoption of a Council Directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to machinery. Document 10231/88, Brussels, December 1988.
