Fans
Barber-Nichols Inc. (BNI) has the experience to design, manufacture, and test fans for your most demanding aerospace, commercial, military, and space flight applications. BNI can design custom, or modify existing, fans to accommodate a wide variety of applications. Specific end-uses include electronics cooling; engine cooling; environmental control; life support; nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) systems; process gas transfer; and weapons system cooling.
Fans are conceptually designed using meanline and streamline software. BladeGen ® is then used to generate the three dimensional blading and CFD Analysis is used to optimize the blade design for fan performance and noise reduction. BNI utilizes Stereolithography (SLA) generated investment castings and/or five-axis machining to rapidly and cost effectively manufacture prototypes. Additionally, axial and mixed flow fans can be powered by a variety of drive systems including brushless DC and hydraulic motors. Some of the most demanding applications required small and/or light-weight fans with:
- Discharge Pressures Reaching 61 cm (24 in) of Water
- Tip Speeds Reaching 333 m/s (1,100 ft/s)
- Volumetric Flow Rates Reaching 23,786 m3 /hr (14,000 ACFM)
The Model BNP-12 Cabin Ventilation Fan was designed and manufactured 
for NASA's X-38 Crew Return Vehicle. The fan utilizes an in-line, hermetic design. It weighs 6.8 kg (15 lbs) and the flow rate is 560 m 3 /hr (330 cfm).
Barber-Nichols designed and manufactured the prototype engine 
compartment cooling fan for the Crusader 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer. This 84 horse power, single stage axial flow fan is driven by a brushless DC motor and has a variable speed drive to maintain efficiency.It weighs 77 kg (170 lbs), the discharge pressure is 61 cm (24 in) of water, and the volumetric flow rate is 23,786 m3 /hr (14,000 ACFM).
BNI teamed with Lockheed Martin to work on an unmanned, lighter-than-air vehicle that will maintain a geostationary position at an altitude of 65,000 feet. Barber-Nichols designed and manufactured the transonic fans that control the vehicles internal pressure and cause it to descend. 
To operate properly at altitude, the fan blade's tip speed moves in excess of 333 m/s (1,100 ft/s). As gas accelerates through the fan's converging and diverging blades, it reaches a relative supersonic speed. CFD Analysis drove the fan's blade design and the sonic barrier was crossed at a point that minimized shock losses.
Thank you for your interest in Barber-Nichols. We hope that we will have an opportunity to put our experience and expertise to work for you. Please contact us with your requirements and we can provide a ROM or firm price quotation!