Toroidal Axial Fan Assembly for Quieter Vehicle Cabin Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low-pressure axial fans in vehicles, such as aircraft, generate significant noise that is bothersome to passengers and crew, and contributes to excessive cumulative noise in internal cabins, hindering communication and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A fan installation assembly featuring a toroidal-shaped impeller with blades forming loops, mounted within a case and motor assembly, which is designed to propel airflow through a conduit while reducing noise generation by minimizing vortex shedding turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional axial fans with airfoil blades are used to propel airflow through conduits in vehicles, then airflow propulsion function is achieved, but significant noise is generated that is bothersome to passengers and crew
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by using toroidal (doughnut-shaped) blades instead of conventional straight or curved airfoil blades. The toroidal blades have a curved cross-section that forms a loop, creating a more gradual airflow path around the blade. This curvature reduces vortex shedding and turbulence, thereby significantly reducing broadband noise generation while maintaining the airflow propulsion function through the conduit.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional axial fans are installed in vehicle air distribution systems, then conditioned air circulation is achieved, but cumulative noise becomes excessive and hinders communication
Solution Approach 1:
The toroidal blade geometry with its looped cross-section creates a smoother airflow pattern that reduces turbulence and vortex formation. This curvature design minimizes the generation of broadband noise across the audible frequency spectrum, thereby reducing cumulative noise levels in the vehicle cabin and improving communication reliability between passengers and crew.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If axial fans with traditional blade designs are used, then airflow is propelled through the conduit, but noise frequency falls within the range sensitive to human hearing
Solution Approach 1:
The toroidal blades feature a cross-section that forms a loop or doughnut shape, with a curved surface that gradually guides airflow around the blade. This curvature creates a more uniform flow distribution and reduces the intensity of vortex shedding, thereby reducing noise generation in the frequency range most sensitive to human hearing (20 Hz to 20 kHz) while preserving airflow propulsion efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The toroidal blade design significantly reduces broadband noise generation, making the fan installation assembly quieter than conventional axial fans, particularly in audible frequency ranges, thereby enhancing passenger and crew comfort and enabling more reliable communication.
Implementation Method 1
The axial fan assembly is configured to propel the airflow through the conduit... The toroidal blade design significantly reduces broadband noise generation... by minimizing vortex shedding turbulence
Data Source
AI summary
A fan installation assembly includes a conduit and an axial fan assembly. The conduit is disposed onboard a vehicle and configured to contain airflow that is supplied to or received from an internal cabin of the vehicle. The axial fan assembly is configured to propel the airflow through the conduit. The axial fan assembly includes a case, a motor assembly, and an impeller. The case surrounds the impeller and the motor assembly and is mounted to the conduit. The impeller includes a hub and multiple blades mounted on the hub. Each of the blades has a toroidal shape and forms a loop.