Feedback active noise control (ANC) has been applied as a means of attenuating broadband noise from a small axial cooling fan. Such fans are used to maintain thermal stability inside of computers, projectors, and other office equipment and home appliances. The type of low-level noise radiated from axial cooling fans has been classified as harmful to productivity and human well being. Previous research has successfully implemented feed-forward ANC, targeting specific narrow-band fan noise content related to the blade passage frequency (BPF) of the fan. The reference signal required for a feed-forward algorithm limits its ability to attenuate much of the noise content; however, it is also desirable to reduce broadband fan noise. Feedback control is a logical alternative in the absence of a valid reference signal. The fan used for this research was mounted in one of the six aluminum panels that constituted a mock computer case. The fan was surrounded by four miniature loudspeakers as control sources and four small electret microphones as error sensors. A feasibility study was conducted with a single channel of analog feedback control. However, for the majority of this research, the ANC algorithm was executed on a digital signal processor. Several electronic modules provided the necessary signal conditioning and conversion for the process. A method is proposed and validated for predicting the overall attenuation that can be obtained for a specific fan, based on its autocorrelation measurement. Studies were performed in order to determine the difference in performance between static and adaptive controllers. Comparisons are made between decentralized and centralized controllers, the results of which are presented in this thesis. Feedback ANC is demonstrated as a good alternative to feed-forward ANC for the reduction of BPF related tonal fan noise content. Some low-frequency broadband attenuation is achieved. The delay time associated with current DSP technology is shown to be too long to effectively attenuate flow noise (the main component of broadband fan noise). Adaptive control proved to be necessary for stability and performance in the feedback controller. Decentralized control is shown to outperform centralized control for this specific application.

<p>This thesis is a study of how cooling fan control can be improved by using road topography information. Two such controllers are presented, one that uses information available in vehicles produced today, and one that combines GPS-information with digital topographic maps to use information about the road ahead of the vehicle.</p><p>Simulations show that significant energy savings can be obtained, especially during warm conditions and hilly roads. Compared to conventional fan controllers, energy consumption can be cut by up to three quarters. Moreover, this is possible without any hardware redesign.</p>

This thesis is a study of how cooling fan control can be improved by using road topography information. Two such controllers are presented, one that uses information available in vehicles produced today, and one that combines GPS-information with digital topographic maps to use information about the road ahead of the vehicle. Simulations show that significant energy savings can be obtained, especially during warm conditions and hilly roads. Compared to conventional fan controllers, energy consumption can be cut by up to three quarters. Moreover, this is possible without any hardware redesign.

The thesis is focused on possibilities of asynchronous motors cooling with use of simulation at ANSYS Workbench program. It is divided into two parts. The first part deals with analyses of cooling medium circulation through ventilator and cooling medium circulation on the motor surface. As a result of the analyses is air speed distribution and air pressure representation. The second part of the thesis includes simulation of motor temperature rise both with cooling and without cooling at Ansys Workbench application together with temperature measurement of real asynchronous motor in the laboratory. For cooling purposes air circulation was used. The goal of my research is comparison of the computing results with the measured results.

Multiple fans are sometimes used in an array configuration to cool various types of electronic equipment. In addition to adding another noise source, using two fans with closely spaced blade passage frequencies (BPF) can create an annoying beat frequency. A two fan array with each fan having a different BPF was considered. The fans were theoretically modeled at the BPF and first harmonics. Each fan has two acoustic paths to the far field. Thus, each fan was modeled as a two source array. The first control configuration consisted of one control filter using six control sources and six error sensors in a fully coupled control system designed to control both fans simultaneously. The second configuration used two independent controllers with three control sources and three error sensors, one controller per fan. Experimentally, the averaged narrow band reduction of the BPFs and the second harmonic of the two independent controllers were 15.6 and 7.4 dB respectively, compared to a reduction of 14.4 and 5.7 dB at the two frequencies using a single control loop. The results suggest that independent controllers perform better than the single control loop for the fan array studied. Optimization of active noise control systems has increased performance but sometimes with decreased robustness. Two control source configurations for the sound power reduction of a simple source were analyzed by modeling the control systems. The two control source configurations were four symmetric control sources surrounding the noise source and an optimized linear array of four control sources. Simulation results show the linear array control source configuration is more sensitive to microphone placement errors, with a 20-33 dB reduction in attenuation for a microphone placement error of 2 mm compared to a 0.8 dB drop in attenuation for the symmetric case. The linear array configuration was found to be more sensitive to the microphone placement errors compared to the symmetric configuration. A 2.5 mm change in one microphone position causes an average of 6 dB loss in attenuation for the linear array configuration compared to a 0.6 dB loss for the symmetric configuration.

The diploma thesis aims to prepare a study of the cooling system of a multifunctional building with regard to climate change predicted until the middle of the 21st century. The work includes determining the heat load of refrigerated rooms and designing measures to reduce heat gains in the summer. Diploma thesis includes design of a cooling system with fan-coil units as end appliances with the necessary hydraulic calculations. A single-stage absorption cooling unit is used as the considered cooling source, to which a free cooling heat exchanger is assigned. The design of the cooling source includes the necessary hydraulic calculations and dimensioning of the system ensuring its functional operation. Part of the diploma thesis is drawing documentation of cooling technology and connection of fan-coil units.

Energiflöden i fläkt och fläktkoppling har undersökts för att öka förståelsen om hur fläktvarvtalet varierar med fordonshastigheten. Problemet har studerats på en lastbil vid olika fordonshastigheter och fläktvarvtal. Undersökningen har genomförts genom att studera olika förluster, geometri på fläktblad, data från tidigare prover och genom CFD-simulering. De förlusterna som undersökts är lagerförluster och viskoförluster. Utifrån den befintliga geometrin på fläkten och från simulering har inloppshastigheterna mot fläkten jämförts. Simuleringarna är gjorda på en befintlig provbil där fläkten är simulerad med hjälp av MRF-modellering. Studien visar att fläktkopplingsmodell, fläkttyp och fläktens diameter inte är av så stor betydelse för att förklara problemet, däremot kan det ses att bilens modul är av vikt. Detta tros vara av vikt på grund av vad modulen får för tryckuppbyggnad. Luftens hastighet in mot fläkten kan vara en parameter som är av betydelse utifrån analys av tidigare provning och från simulering. Utifrån det kan det funderas på om fläkten bör dimensioneras om, att den bör dimensioneras efter låga fläktvarvtal istället för höga. Detta på grund av att fläkten endast är aktiv, och då har höga varvtal, cirka X % av bilens drifttid för typisk långtradartrafik, det vill säga inte så lång tid av bilens drifttid. Resultatet från den här undersökningen bör ses som en vägvisare hur man ska gå vidare för att förklara problemet och om man utifrån det kan minska bränsleförbrukningen. / Energy flows in fan and fan-clutch has been investigated to increase the understanding of how fan speed varies with the vehicle speed. The problem has been studied on a truck at different vehicle speeds and fan speeds. The thesis has been conducted by studying various losses, the fan geometry, data from previous tests and by CFD-simulation. The losses noted are bearing losses and visco losses. Based on the existing fan geometry and from simulation, the inlet velocities against the fan has been compared. The simulation are made from an existing test vehicle where the fan is simulated using MRF modeling. The study shows that the model of the fan clutch, the fan type and fan diameter are not so important to explain the problem, however, it can be seen that the truck’s module is of importance. This is thought to be important because of the modules pressure build-up. It can also be seen that the air velocity towards the fan can be a parameter that is important based on analysis of previous testing and from simulation. However, on this basis we should be reconsidering if the fan should be dimensioned the way it is today, at high fan speeds, or if it should be dimensioned at low fan speeds. This because the fan is only active, and then has high speeds, about X % of the car’s operating time for a typical long haulage truck, i.e. not that long of the truck’s operating time. The result of this study should be interpreted as a guide on how to proceed to explain the problem and if it can be used to reduce the fuel consumption.

Thesis (MEng (Electrical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019 / The purpose of an electrical power system is to supply electrical energy to the customers. Power transformers are required to transform the system voltage from generation to transmission and distribution levels. Protection and control systems must ensure that power system high voltage equipment such as transformers operate and deliver save, reliable and secure electricity supply. The aim of the project research work is to develop and implement a strategy, methods and algorithms for monitoring, protection and voltage control of parallel power transformers based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard. NamPower is a power utility in Namibia. The IEC 61850 protocol for electrical substation automation system is used for the protection and control of 5 power transformers operated in parallel in an existing substation system. The IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard is however not used in regards of Sampled Values (SV). Protection and control devices are connected to a substation communication network, routers and switches using fibre optic linked Ethernet. Inductive Current Transformers (CTs) and Voltage Transformers (VTs) secondary circuits are hardwired to Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and fibre optic links are not used for this purpose at process level communication. The research focuses on the implementation of the IEC 61850 standard with Merging Units (MUs) and sampled values to improve the existing implemented protection and control system at NamPower. This includes substation communication networks and MUs used for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan control. At the present the CTs located at the transformer bushings and switchgear and the VTs located at the switchgear are hardwired to the inputs on protection and control IEDs. The research focuses on issues with the copper wires for voltage and currents signals and how these issues can be eliminated by using the MUs and the SV protocol. The MUs which are considered in this Thesis is to improve the voltage regulator control and the control of the cooling fan motors. The voltage regulator control IED is situated at the tap change motor drive of the On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC). The IED of each transformer is required to regulate the voltage level of the secondary side bus bar it is connected to. All the regulating IEDs are required to communicate with each other and collectively to control the bus bar voltage depending on the switching configuration of the parallel transformers. The control circuit for controlling the cooling fan motors is hardwired. Temperature analogue signal input into a programmable automation controller IED can be used for controlling the transformer cooling fans. A strategy, methods and algorithms for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan motor control of parallel power transformers need to be developed and implemented based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus. Power utilities and distributors can benefit from interpretation of the IEC 61850-9-2 standard and implementing MUs and SV in substations. MUs can be included in the power transformer protection, automation and control systems. A cost reduction in high voltage equipment, substation installation and commissioning costs and better performance of protection and control system are anticipated.

Owing to the ever-changing developments of battery and electric powertrain, vehicle electrification is the trend in the future. Without the presence of a combustion engine, masking effect from it reduces and noises from other components become perceivable. Among all, the cooling fan is one of the major noise sources. The design of cooling fan modules is usually carried out in the early stage before building prototype vehicles. Therefore, it is essential to come up with a method for selecting optimal fan design without performing complete vehicle testing. This is a Master's degree project in collaboration with Volvo Cars, with a focus on cooling fan noise at the charging state of electric vehicles. The main objective of this thesis is to understand the effects of fan installation. Three different setups of acoustic measurement are carried out, namely free-space, wall-mounted, and in-vehicle measurement. Correlations of these measurements are investigated through comparisons of the measurement results and the installation effects are identified through spectrum difference between free-space and in-vehicle measurement. Moreover, the implementation of spectral decomposition method enables the separation of source strength and propagation effect. Analyses of sound pressure levels are studied by looking into tonal and broadband components. In addition, sound power levels are determined by following ISO standards. Finally, a subjective rating session is held to understand the human perception of cooling fan noise. / Med anledning av den pågående utvecklingen mot elektrifiering där bilarna går mot batterier och elmotorer för framdrivning så ändras ljudbilden. Utan förbränningsmotorer som tidigare maskerade mycket av ljudet från bilarna så framträder nya ljudkällor. En sådan är kylfläkten som allt mer blir en störningskälla. Vanligtvis sker designen av kylfläktsmodulen i en tidig fas innan det finns någon prototypbil att tillgå. Detta gör att det är viktigt att utveckla metoder för att i tidig fas kunna optimera designen av kylfläkten.  Detta är ett examensarbete i samarbete med Volvo Cars med fokus på det ljud som uppstår vid laddning av eldrivna bilar. Uppsatsens huvudsakliga mål är att förstå fläktinstallationens påverkan på ljud genom att korrelera olika typer av mätningar. Detta genomfördes m.h.a tre separata konfigurationer, fritt-upphängd mätning, väggmonterad och installerad i bil. Korrelation undersöktes genom att jämföra mätresultat och analys av spektrumet. Analysen av ljudtrycksnivåerna genom att titta på dels de tonala komponenterna men också på bredbandsnivåerna. Utöver detta fastställs även ljudeffekten genom att följa gängse ISO standard. Slutligen så gjordes en subjektiv utvärdering för att få en förståelse av upplevelsen av ljudet från en kylfläkt.

Recent experimental achievements in active noise control (ANC) for cooling fans have used near-field error sensors whose locations are determined according to a theoretical condition of minimized sound power. A theoretical point source model, based on the condition previously stated, reveals the location of near-field pressure nulls that may be used to optimize error sensor placement. The actual locations of these near-field pressure nulls for both an axial cooling fan and a monopole loudspeaker were measured over a two-dimensional grid with a linear array of microphones. The achieved global attenuation for each case is measured over a hemisphere located in the acoustic far field of the ANC system. The experimental results are compared to the theoretical pressure null locations in order to determine the efficacy of the point source model. The results closely matched the point source model with a loudspeaker as the primary source, and the sound power reduction was greatly reduced when error sensors were placed in non-ideal locations. A weakness of the current near-field modeling process is that a point monopole source is used to characterize the acoustic noise from an axial cooling fan, which may have multipole characteristics. A more complete characterization of fan noise may be obtained using a procedure based on the work of Martin and Roure [J. Sound Vib. 201 (5), 577--593 (1997)]. Pressure values are obtained over a hemisphere in the far field of a primary source and the contributions from point source distributions up to the second order, centered at the primary source, may be calculated using a multipole expansion. The source information is then used in the aforementioned theoretical near-field calculation of pressure. The error sensors are positioned using the complete fan characterization. The global far-field attenuation for the multipole expansion model of fan noise is compared to that of previous experiments. Results show that the multipole expansion model yields a more accurate representation the near field, but is not successful in achieving greater sound power reductions in the far field.