Case Study: AcoustiFLO achieves 13% higher fan efficiency and $150,000 prototyping savings with ANSYS Fluent

Flow Modeling Helps Fan Engineering Company Save $150,000 in Prototyping & Testing Costs

AcoustiFLO, a Boulder-based custom fan engineering firm, needed to develop an efficient small centrifugal fan for standardized packaged air handlers but found physical testing cost-prohibitive and their existing CFD tools inadequate for analyzing the turbulence and impeller–diffuser interactions. They worked with ANSYS, using ANSYS Fluent, to tackle the aerodynamic optimization challenge.

ANSYS applied Fluent CFD to evaluate many design iterations, uncover unexpected impeller–diffuser interactions, and produce an optimized prototype; the work delivered a 13% increase in peak static efficiency, saved at least $150,000 in prototyping and testing costs, and shortened development time by 6–12 months.

AcoustiFLO