George C. Maling Jr.
Empire State Software Syst., Ltd., P. O. Box 2880, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
The scaling laws for air-moving device noise developed by R. D. Madison form a useful starting point in the development of techniques for the control of air-moving device noise. The commercial building boom after World War II provided the impetus for research into air-moving device noise, and the increase in the use of home air-conditioning systems provided the motivation for further research. Beginning in the 1960s, noise generated by computing machinery became important, and the development of air-cooled computing equipment provided a further stimulus to noise control research. Developments in the control of air-moving device noise are reviewed with emphasis on scaling laws, dimensional analysis techniques, mechanisms of noise generation, noise emission measurements, noise reduction techniques, design guidelines, and system effects. Some suggestions for future research on air-moving device noise are given.