A suggested topic in small fan research is presented. Presentation briefly describes the scope of an effort to design, build and test a ventilation class cooling fan. Comments are included for the following categories: information (available and needed), benefits and values, concerns, variations and alternatives, and interest

Koch, L. Danielle

NASA Technical Reports Server

Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans: Design, Build Analyze, 
Test, and Report
L. Danielle Koch
Abstract
A suggested topic in small fan research is presented. Presentation 
briefly describes the scope of an effort to design, build and test a 
ventilation class cooling fan. Comments are included for the 
following categories: information (available and needed), benefits 
and values, concerns, variations and alternatives, and interest.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20080047438 2019-08-30T05:49:06+00:00Z
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Project Description:
• NASA would develop a set of fans nominally suited 
for  payload cooling and ventilation applications
• Published results would include complete fan 
geometry, details of aero and acoustic design 
methodologies, details of motor and bearing selection, 
details of aero and acoustic analysis methodologies, 
description of validation test techniques, and 
interpretation of data/prediction comparisons.
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Information:
• We need to determine fan requirements that are of interest to 
NASA and that can be designed, analyzed, and tested with 
existing capabilities.
• We propose beginning with a study of a 6-8” diameter, 200 cfm, 
3” H20 fan suitable for spaceflight cabin ventilation because its 
characteristics are closest to an aircraft engine fan.
• Two year plan proposed--cost and time estimates are heavily 
dependent upon the fan requirements we choose
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Information:
Year 1 Plan:
• Aerodynamic design 
• Motor integration and fan fabrication
• Preliminary performance tests
– Isolated fan
– Fan installed in ventilation system testbed
Year 2 Plan:
• Review test results 
• Option 1--Redesign/retest
• Option 2--Pursue test methods suitable for accurately 
determining aero and acoustic performance, validating 
aerodynamic performance predicitions
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
Benefits and Values:
• Open publication of a thorough fan design, analysis, and test 
exercise allows industry to independently evaluate their own 
methods and products.
• NASA can use knowledge gained through the project to be 
“smarter buyers,” to participate more fully in design reviews of 
spaceflight fan systems, to identify aero and acoustic problems 
earlier in design cycle.
• Fans can be used as benchmarks for developing new testing and 
analysis methods.
• Impact of this effort can grow from narrow to broad over time by
adding fans to the study set.
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
Concerns:
• Project could have a narrow impact--depending upon the 
requirements chosen for the fans in the set.  Need to weigh 
industry interest in selection of fan requirements.
• Need to determine “what makes a fan qualified for spaceflight.”
We need to have a complete set of requirements if our results 
and recommendations are to be relevant.
• Funding and staffing.
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
Variations and Alternatives:
• NASA could conduct a more extensive study of 
commercially available fans.  This approach may end 
up being mostly an experimental study.  Since 
geometry and details of design methods could not be 
publicly reported, this would have less of an impact.
• NASA could use an advanced system (“Atmospheric 
Revitalization System of the Future”) as a testbed for 
a number of commercially designed fans.  Again, 
limited impact since many geometry/design details 
would not be publicly reported.
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC
Quiet, Efficient Fans for Spaceflight Workshop Ohio Aerospace Institute
April 2-4, 2008
Interest:
• This approach has been proven to be very useful to 
NASA and industry in the aircraft engine sector.
• NASA Aeronautics would be interested in this 
approach since it focuses on fundamental research, 
making a broader use of Aero expertise. 
• NASA Exploration Technology Program would be 
interested in this approach since it would not be 
focused on fixing a specific engineering problem.
• Industry would be interested since they could 
independently evaluate their proprietary tools against 
a well documented set of fans.
NASA Clean-Sheet Fans:  Design, Build, Analyze, Test, 
and Report
L. Danielle Koch/NASA GRC


NASA Clean-Sheet Fans: Design, Build Analyze, Test, and Report

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