Experimental Study of Automotive Cooling Fan Aerodynamics

Plenum chamber performance and Laser Doppler Velocimetry measurements on two different fan types show the impact of the vehicle engine on automotive cooling fan-specific aerodynamic performance. The pressure loss caused by the blockage plate is proportional with the flow rate and inversely proportional to blockage distance. LDV measurements show that the blockage plate causes a reduction in the flow rate, an increase in the reverse flow near the fan hub, and a dramatic increase in the radial flow. The relation between blockage-to-fan distance and fan performance was established. It is found that the pressure change follows a quadratic function, but the coefficients are fan specific