A Round Robin Test of a Low-Pressure Axial Fan

The reproducibility of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic results on a benchmark low-pressure axial fan is discussed. Growth of interest in this type of fans due to the new demands for cooling of electrified powertrains in the automotive industry, is the motivator of this study. The publicly available geometry and setup documented by Zenger et al. [1] is utilized. Included results demonstrate high repeatability among the three 3D printed copies of the fan with regards to manufacturing, aerodynamic and acoustic performance over multiple operating points. Moreover, good reproducibility is achieved at the design point concerning the main acoustic and aerodynamic performance characteristics of the fan. Deviations are observed at the stall region suggesting the need of further investigations, including the effects of installation and non-ideal acoustic environment.