Acoustic and aerodynamic effects of rotor pitch angle for a variable-pitch, 6-foot diameter fan stage
An externally driven, 1.2 pressure ratio full-scale fan stage with an adjustable pitch rotor was tested in an outdoor facility at the Lewis Research Center. Rotor pitch angles resulting in minimum sideline perceived noise levels are defined as a function of stage thrust. Thrust-corrected fan noise variations are examined for operation at constant thrust, rotor tip speed, and stage work coefficient. At constant stage thrust, reducing the rotor pitch angle below design values increased the fan noise with the greatest change occurring in the blade passing tone level. At constant fan speed the minimum noise occurred at a particular rotor pitch angle, which was not the minimum thrust condition. With constant stage work coefficient, rear quadrant noise increased at above-design speed conditions.