In this work, an experimental study about the aerodynamic tonal noise sources in an industrial centrifugal fan with backward-curved blades has been carried out. Acoustic pressure measurements at the fan exit duct and pressure fluctuation measurements on the volute surface (specially in the vicinity of the volute tongue) have been made for different flow rates. The correlation of both pressure signals can lead to determine the zone of effective acoustic radiation. As was expected, the tonal noise generation is concentrated on the meridional plane of the impeller discharge, near the volute tongue and presents a strong dependence with the flow rate.Copyright © 2003 by ASME