On the Use of CFD in the Automotive Engine Cooling Fan System Design

For the development of the fans used in the engine cooling systems, CFD now plays a key role as a design tool as well as an optimization tool. Until recently, both complex geometries and low-speed aerodynamics inherent to latter systems have prevented numerical simulations to be part of the design or reblading processes. Since the advent of general purpose CFD softwares capable of adressing the issues pertinent to the engine cooling system fans, Valeo has initiated a CFD based development of a new standard fan range. This paper presents the CFD strategy adopted and the results obtained on the new fans.