Comparison between measured and predicted tonal noise from a subsonic fan using a coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Computational Acoustics (CA) approach

The flow through an HVAC blower fan, typical to the automotive industry, was solved using STAR-CD. Time varying pressure data was then exported to ACTRAN/TM where the CFD results were decomposed into acoustic duct modes, using a multiple plane matching method. These duct modes were then propagated to far field locations and compared with experimental data at the blade passing frequency, obtained in the semi-anechoic chamber at Denso Thermal Systems. Good agreement was attained for microphones located downstream of the inlet and outlet ducts. At the other microphone locations there is doubt that the dominant noise generation mechanism is purely aeroacoustic: vibroacoustic noise sources are present. Since aeroacoustic noise sources alone were modeled, there was a deterioration in the simulation/experimental comparison.