Quiet Fan for Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation

The proposal is in response to NASA SBIR Phase I H3.12 for a quiet and efficient fan for spacecraft cabin ventilation system. The proposed fan design method and process employs mature and reliable design/analysis tools for both aerodynamics and acoustics. Coupled with the extensive real-world fan design experience of the proposal team, which is accumulated from multiple industrial design, build and test projects, the proposed work can produce a successful design that meets or exceeds both efficiency and noise goals. The proposal discusses using analytical tools and computational fluid dynamics to benchmark the current ventilation fan system and design a quieter and more efficient fan. The benchmark proves as a verification in accuracy in modeling methods. Analytical tools (XROTOR and DFDC) and medium fidelity CFD (FlightStream®), will also be used in the design process of the fan. This gives the capability to run a wide range of case studies in fan blade geometry, number and chord and twist distribution before simulating the fan in a higher fidelity CFD model (STAR-CCM+). The fan design needs to be capable of a mass flow of 150.3 cfm, an efficiency of 75% or better and an overall sounds pressure level decrease of 5 dB from 66 dB. The target market is not limited to the aerospace industry including NASA Centers such as JSC and GRC, as well as NASA partners such as Blue Origin, Sierra Space, Nanoracks, Voyager Space, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. DARcorporation will also market to aviation industry for aircraft cabin usage and use the experience gained to offer improved services in ventilation fan design for other industries. IT will also be marketed towards the automotive, energy, agricultural industries. From car ventilation systems, irrigation systems to server farm cooling.