Design of an Ultra-low Noise Ventilation Fan for Space Applications

Ventilation fans play a critical role in spacecraft and space habitats, functioning as a key component in environmental control and life support systems. However, these fans have been grappling with operational noise issues, causing significant annoyance to astronauts and interfering with communication equipment. Over the past decade, NASA has actively engaged in noise mitigation efforts, particularly focusing on reducing noise related to rotor-stator interaction using techniques commonly employed in turbofan engines. In this program, Whisper Aero proposes maturation of a solution that leverages their novel ultrasonic fan design to create a highly efficient and ultra-quiet fan. The intended benefits include alleviating the production of annoying blade passing frequency tones, reducing structural-borne vibratory noise, cutting down fan weight and associated imbalance noise, and simplifying the mechanical layout for an extended operational lifecycle. Phase I activities involved sizing and designing the fan based on NASA's requirements, utilizing Whisper's multidisciplinary optimization software toolkit. Further, Whisper conducted testing across a large experimental test matrix exploring the effect of discrete single design variable sweeps along the most critical directions in the design space, resulting in testing on over 10 unique fan designs. Under this Phase II effort, Whisper will conduct testing on an even broader design space with additional instrumentation, will perform targeted technology infusion into a chosen design point, will mature the design through preliminary design, will build a functionally conforming engineering verification prototype, and will conduct extensive testing in a representative environment.

NASA is planning several missions with astronauts to the Moon, Mars and beyond where quiet space ventilation fan technology would be applicable. Specific examples include onboard NASA’s Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) for the International Space Station (ISS), the Artemis mission with the Orion spacecraft, the Lunar Gateway outpost, and the transition from the ISS to low Earth orbit habitats under NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program. The same technology is equally applicable to emerging commercial space applications, such as Axiom Station, Vast Haven‑1/2, Sierra Space & Blue Origin’s Orbital Reef, and Space Perspective’s Suborbital Balloon Habitats. Other applications of this technology include NASA’s high performance computing centers where noise from cooling fans on server clusters remains an ongoing issue.  Whisper Aero is committed to extending the use of its efficient and quiet fan technology across a range of industries, including aerospace, defense, industrial, and consumer products. The technology is applicable in industries including Consumer Appliances, Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE), and Data Center/AI Server Cooling. Consumer-level air moving products, like kitchen ventilation fans (range hoods), have a global total addressable market projected to exceed $25B by 2032, and hair dryers, with an estimated $16B global market in 2032, stand to benefit significantly from our innovation by reducing noise and increasing fan efficiency. In the Outdoor Power Equipment industry, Whisper Aero has successfully applied its technology to develop an electric leaf blower that is cleaner, quieter, and more efficient. This breakthrough product achieves significant noise reduction (>15 dB delta) while maintaining industry-standard blowing performance (>40% Cryogenic Fluid Management) and extending runtime (<40% power draw) compared to even the quietest electric blowers. Furthermore, Whisper Aero has identified strong potential in industrial applications. In the rapidly expanding sectors of High-Performance Computing (HPC), artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency mining, there is increasing demand for low-noise, high-efficiency, and high-performance cooling solutions for data centers. Our approach can reduce fan power usage by 20–40% and decrease overall noise levels, thereby creating a more comfortable environment for data center personnel and mitigating community disturbances. Lower fan power usage also translates into significant reductions in electrical costs, a critical factor given the high operational costs of HPC data centers.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.