Fans

Barber-Nichols (BN) brings extensive experience in designing, producing, and testing fans for the most demanding applications. Whether creating new designs or modifying existing ones, BN applies advanced engineering tools like Meanline and Streamline for conceptual design, BladeGen® for 3D blading, and CFD analysis to optimize performance and noise reduction. Utilizing stereolithography (SLA) investment castings and five-axis machining, BN delivers rapid, cost-effective prototypes for even the most challenging applications.

Examples of customized products designed for specific customer applications:

BNF-01-000 Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV) Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) Fan

Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) Fan for Military Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles (EFV).

  • Military vehicles of the future are becoming lighter, smaller, faster, and more power-dense.
  • Improvements in vehicle survivability and reliability are also being made. As a result, the vehicle’s individual components must also be smaller, lighter, more efficient, and more robust.
  • As propulsion power densities are being increased and hybrid drive systems are utilized, reliable cooling systems are paramount.
  • Mass flow rate: 0.23 kg/s (30 lb/min)
  • Head: 610 meters (2,400 ft-Lbf/Lbm)
  • Size: 468 x 311 x 362 mm (18.4” x 12.3” x 14.3”)
  • Speed: 2,500 kW (3,352 hp) @ 16,000 RPM

BNF-02-000 Crusader Fan in Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH)

Prototype Fan developed for the engine compartment cooling system of the Crusader 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer.

  • Volumetric flow rate of 6,607 Liters/sec (14,000 ACFM)
  • Discharge pressure at 61 cm (24 in) of water
  • Weight: 84-horsepower fan weighs 77 kg (170 lbm)
  • Size: 427mm x 445mm diameter (16.8” x 17.5” dia.)
  • Speed: 4200 RPM
  • Single-stage axial-flow fan driven by a brushless DC motor and has a variable speed drive to maintain efficiency.

BN can design prototypes or modify existing military vehicle fans to accommodate a wide variety of applications including, but not limited to, electronics cooling, engine cooling, environmental control, life support, nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) systems, process gas transfer, and weapon system cooling.

BNF-03-000 Hydraulic Motor Fan for EFV

Cooling fan assembly for cooling system upgrade of Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).

  • Volumetric flow rate of 7,220 Liters/sec (15,300 ACFM)
  • Motor supply pressure: 24,132 kPa (3,500 psi)
  • Motor return pressure: 517 kPa (75 psi)
  • Weight: 43 kg (95 lbm)
  • Size: 417mm x 643mm diameter (16.4” x 25.3” dia.)
  • Speed: 5600 RPM
  • Hydraulic Motor Driven
  • Fluid: Air
  • Foil Bearings utilized for high-speed operation

BNF-04-000 HALE-D Blower High Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator

HALE-D (High Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator) Blower to add air ballast to aircraft during descent and to supplement static pressure for structural rigidity

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 1,180 to 2124 Liters/sec (2,500 to 4,500 CFM)
  • Pressure Rise: 3.8 to 6.4 cm (1.5 to 2.5 inches) Water (Gage)
  • Weight: 10.4 to 11.3 kg (23 to 25 lbm)
  • Size: 298mm x 340mm diameter (11.7” x 13.4 inches dia.)
  • Speed: 0 to 14,400 RPM
  • MIL-Std Design
  • Fluid: Air
  • Max Motor Power Capability: 3,500 Watts
  • Maximum Application Power: <2,000 Watts
  • Voltage: 220 to 320 Volts DC (3-Phase Brushless Motor with Hall Sensors)
  • Full Load Current: 30 Amps
  • Mounting: Vertical with Inlet Down
  • Performance Analysis: at 55,000 ft, 30,000 ft and 5,000 ft Altitude Conditions
  • Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI): Shielded Cables, Grounded Housing

BNF-05-000 Computer Cooling Fans

Computer Cooling Fans designed for compact size, minimal noise, high volume production and can achieve fan efficiencies in excess of 80%.

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 1652 Liters/sec (3,500 CFM)
  • Pressure Rise: 25.4 cm (10 inches) Water (Gage)
  • Size: 442mm x 447mm diameter (17.4” x 17.5” diameter)
  • Speed: 4,300 RPM
  • Advanced aerodynamic design tools allow state-of-the-art aerodynamic performance along with strict noise management.
  • The use of resin or powder-based 3D printing delivers a rapid confirmation of fan performance.
  • The use of injection-molded components provides a cost advantage for production quantity products.
  • Air-cooled induction and liquid-cooled permanent magnet motor options are available and variable frequency drives can be used to further optimize efficiency.

BNF-06-000 Aircraft Evaporator Fan

BN designed this fan for high-performance aircraft cooling.

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 3,068 Liters/sec (6,500 CFM)
  • Head:  307 meters (1008 ft-lbf/Lbm)
  • Pressure Rise: 44.7 cm (17.6 inches) Water (Gage)
  • Weight: 43.5 kg (96 lbm)
  • Size: 533mm x 447mm diameter (21.0” x 17.6” dia.)
  • Speed: 0 to 8,000 RPM
  • Mil-Std Design
  • Fluid: Air
  • Max Motor Power Capability: 21 hp (15.66 kW) 8-Pole AC Induction Motor
  • Voltage: 115/200 Volts – 3 Phase – 400 Hz AC
  • Mounting: Horizontal
  • Reverse Flow Protection: via. “Valve Door”
  • Burst Containment

BNF-07 Aircraft Condenser Fan

Fan designed to windmill during flight to remove heat from a condenser in aircraft application.

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 2,407 Liters/sec (5,100 CFM)
  • Pressure Rise: 14 cm (5.5 inches) Water (Gage)
  • Weight: 34.5 kg (76 lbm)
  • Size: 343mm x 432mm diameter (13.5” x 17.0” dia.)
  • Speed: 0 to 6,000 RPM
  • Mil-Std Design
  • Fluid: Air
  • Max Motor Power Capability: 8 hp (6 kW) 8-Pole AC Induction Motor
  • Voltage: 115/200 Volts – 3 Phase – 400 Hz AC
  • Mounting: Horizontal
  • Burst Containment

BNF-09 Ventilation Loop Fan for the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS)

Ventilation Oxygen Loop Fan for the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) a critical subsystem in NASA’s future space suits.

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 150 Liters/sec (5.3 CFM)
  • Head:  322 meters (1,056 feet)
  • Weight: less than 0.45 kg (less than 1 lbm)
  • Size: 94mm x 97mm x 104mm (3.7” x 3.8” x 4.1”)
  • Speed: 24,500 RPM
  • Safely supplying 100% oxygen to astronauts for breathing during spacewalks
  • Compact and lightweight design for space efficiency
  • High-reliability components suitable for human spaceflight application
  • Noise management optimized for space conditions
Successful Fan Life Testing

LCAC-01-000 Landing Craft Air Cushion Scavenge Fan

This fan plays a critical role in the LCAC by filtering out sand and particulates from the air intake.

  • Volumetric Flowrate: 1,024 Liters/sec (2170 CFM)
  • Fan Pressure Rise: 30.5 cm (12 inches) Water (Gage)
  • Weight: 15.4 kg (34 lbm)
  • Size: 330mm x 305mm diameter (13.0” x 12.0” dia.)
  • Hydraulic Vane Axial Motor: Operates with 2,700 psi, 1.0 CFM Hydraulic Flow, at or near 8,000 RPM, providing 11.8 hp of Hydraulic Power
  • Combustion Air intake filtration system – filters out sand and solid particulates
  • Mil-Std Design
  • Fan Fluid: Air
  • Fan Type: Mixed Flow
  • Fan Power: 8.65 hp
  • Mean Time Between Failures: 5,000 Hours
  • Maintainability: 2.5 Hours to Remove or Replace

Transonic Fan

BN teamed with Lockheed Martin to work on an unmanned, lighter-than-air vehicle that will maintain a geostationary position at 65,000 feet. The vehicle, known as a High Altitude Airship (HAA), is being built by Lockheed Martin and funded by the Missile Defense Agency. Specifically, Barber-Nichols designed and produced the transonic fans that control the vehicle’s internal pressure and cause it to descend. To operate properly at altitude, the fan blade’s tip speed moves over 333 m/s (1,100 ft/s). As gas accelerates through the fan’s converging and diverging blades, it reaches a relative supersonic speed. CFD Analysis drove the fan’s blade design, and the sonic barrier was crossed at a point that minimized shock losses.

Transonic Fan

We build custom fan solutions tailored to meet your specific needs.

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