Regal Beloit Corp. Uses Ansys Mentor Expert Services for Simulation-based Noise Estimation for Cooling Fan Designs

“The Ansys Mentoring Service helped us to accelerate simulation-based noise estimation for our new cooling fan design to be used on TerraMAX® premium and high efficiency motor platform for our Marathon brand motors”

— Shivanand Khot, Director of Technology, Global Technology Center - Hyderabad, India

Introduction

Regal Beloit Corporation, India, needed to develop a simulation-based method of estimating noise levels for their electric motors due to changes in cooling fan design. Previously, physical testing was used to predict the noise levels. As part of a new development platform, they decided to use a simulation-based noise prediction method at the preliminary design stage. In order to accelerate the development of the simulation- based noise method, Regal Beloit Corporation engaged with Ansys Mentor Expert Services.

Challenges

Predicting noise through aeroacoustics simulation was never before attempted with the available software capability in Ansys Fluent. Hence, Regal Beloit Corporation decided to seek expert mentoring from Ansys, which helped them to quickly solve existing problems and develop a methodology for future cases.

Engineering Solution

• CFD simulation techniques were used to predict noise from the new fan design for Regal Beloit Corporation’s IE2 efficiency motor.
• Advice from Ansys’ Mentor Expert Service provided insight into noise prediction, the sources of noise generation and ways to reduce the noise levels.

Benefits

• The Ansys Mentor Expert Service helped the team to develop an aeroacoustics simulation methodology in Ansys Fluent and gain in-house expertise in one month.
• Mentoring helped Regal Beloit Corporation build confidence in predicting noise at the motor’s preliminary design stage.
• With limited analytical knowledge on noise prediction within the company, this service helped engineers to explore the acoustic domain through CFD.
• 万博有限元分析软件CFD resulted in a quieter fan for the company’s new IE2 efficiency motor.