Experimental study on aerodynamic and acoustic performance of a set of axial fan array

This paper presents the experimental study on aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the 3×2 axial fan array for the 3m×3m low speed wind tunnel in Central South University. The velocity and pressure distribution at different locations of the fan array were tested using pitot tubes. The acoustic characteristics of the inlet and outlet of a single fan, as well as the inlet and outlet of six fans array, were tested using microphones. The test results show that the wake of the corner vanes upstream of the fan array section causes nonuniform airflow at the fan inlet, which leads to differences in the aerodynamic efficiency of each fan. The overall aerodynamic efficiency of the fan array is higher than 80%, with the lowest efficiency of a single fan stage being 87% and the highest efficiency being 91%. The noise of a single fan and the noise of the fan array conform to the characteristics of a dipole source. The sound power of a single fan can be extrapolated to multiple fans for engineering estimation using NASA's sound power analogy theory. The test results can provide reference and data support for the design of array fans with similar airline layout.