Cross-flow fans (CFFs) have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is due to their use in several domains such as air conditioning and aircraft propulsion. They also show their utility in the ventilation system of hybrid electric cars. Their high efficiency and performance significantly rely on the design parameters. Up to now, there is no general approach that predicts the CFFs’ performance. This work describes a new methodology that helps deduce the performance of CFFs in turbomachinery, using both analytical modeling and experimental data. Two different loss models are detailed and compared to determine the performance–pressure curves of this type of fan. The efficiency evaluation is achieved by realizing a multidisciplinary study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, and an optimization algorithm combined to explore the internal flow field and obtain additional information about the eccentric vortex, to finally obtain the ultimate formulation of the Eck/Laing CFF efficiency, which is validated by the experimental results with good agreement. This approach can be an efficient tool to speed up the cross-flow fans’ design cycle and to predict their global performance.

Cross-Flow Fans (CFFs) have been widely applied in the automotive and domestic air conditioning industries in recent decades. They are high-pressure coefficient turbomachines compacted diametrically, and thus, the complex interactions of these fans require thorough evaluation. Their innovation has opened up new directions in turbomachinery, and both academic research and industry have seen numerous efforts to develop these types of fans. Despite extensive work, optimizing and improving their performance remains a challenge. Enhancing their efficiency necessitates improvements in structural characteristics, aerodynamic features, and acoustic properties. In this review, we aim to demonstrate the essential aspects of CFFs by introducing their fundamentals and primary characteristics. Furthermore, we delve into a discussion on the acoustic performance of these fans. We also summarize the flow characteristics and different flow-field patterns in CFFs and their impact on aeroacoustic behavior. The main objective of this review paper is to provide an overview of the research in this field, summarizing the critical factors that play a significant role in studying CFFs’ performance.