Development Of High Performance And Low Noise Axial-Flow Fan For Cooling Machine Room Of Refrigerator Using Airfoil-Cascade Analysis And Surface Ridge Shape

This study aims to improve the flow and noise performances of an axial-flow fan for cooling the machine room in a refrigerator by using airfoil-cascade analysis and surface ridge shape. First, the experimental evaluations using a fan performance tester and an anechoic chamber are performed to analyze the flow and noise performances of the existing fan system. Then, the corresponding flow and noise performances are numerically assessed using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques and the Ffowcs-Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation, and the validity of numerical results are confirmed through their comparisons with the experimental results. The analysis for the flow of a cascade of airfoils constructed from the existing fan blades is performed, and the pitch angles for the maximum lift-to-drag ratio are determined. The improved flow performance of the new fan applied with the optimum pitch angles is confirmed. Then, the fan blades with surface ridges on their pressure sides are devised, and the reduction of aerodynamic noise of the ridged fan is numerically confirmed. Finally, the prototype of the final fan model is manufactured, and improvements in the flow and noise performances of the prototype are experimentally confirmed.