Noise Source Identification of Automotive Radiator by Using Sound Intensity Mapping Method

Abstract

Automotive radiator played an essential role as a heat exchanger that exchange the circulated heated coolant inside the engine compartment to return into its ambient temperature. Radiator cooling fan that attached at the back of radiator, is a device that work to regulate the coolant temperature when the heated coolant is passed inside the radiator tubes. It produces external flow of air that passes through the fins and tubes of the radiator. However, this external flow contributes high noise level into the system. In consequence of this risk, a detailed experimental study on noise analysis to identify the location of maximum sound pressure level (SPL) generated by variations of cooling fan speed by using sound intensity mapping method is presented. Ethylene Glycol (EG)-water based was used as working fluid operate with engine temperature range from 80 to 90 °C. The cooling fan speed of radiator cooling fan were varied from 750 to 1250 rpm and the water flowrates were 8.0, 11.0, and 14.0 l/min. The results indicate that the noise level is increasing with the fan speed. However, there is no significance difference of change in coolant flow rate and type of coolant fluids to the noise level. The location of maximum sound pressure level is identified and the higher SPL value most located on the blade trailing edge of the suction surface with highest SPL value of 81 db for 1250 rpm fan speed. The project delivers the reliable input for the engineering practice to reduce automotive radiator noise level.