Abstract: Considering features of air flow and acoustic fields inside an outdoor unit of split-type air conditioner, a numerical simulation on air flow in the system using CFD method is performed. The airflow velocity distributions which are in the flow channel and outlet of axial flow fan are analyzed in detail. Numerical results are evaluated by the laser particle image velocimetry (PIV) method. And numerical results are well agreement with the PIV results. Based on CFD numerical simulation, discrete frequency noise of system is predicted using Lowson model. And the predicted results are agreement with the measured ones. Numerical model developed can efficiently analyze the characteristics of air flow and will benefit the further aerodynamic acoustic analysis.

Key words: Acoustic noise, Axial flow fan, CFD numerical simulation, Laser particle image velocimetry, Outdoor unit of air conditioner