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A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise is disclosed. The apparatus includes a blower housing having a scroll section formed about a rotational axis and an exhaust section extending from the scroll section. The scroll section includes an opening defining an inlet configured t

A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise is disclosed. The apparatus includes a blower housing having a scroll section formed about a rotational axis and an exhaust section extending from the scroll section. The scroll section includes an opening defining an inlet configured to draw in air and the exhaust section defines an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet. The scroll section commences with a reduced cross-sectional area defining a cutoff and expands to an increased cross-sectional area. An impeller is disposed in the opening of the scroll section about the rotational axis and includes an outer surface having impeller blades radially disposed thereon. The impeller blades rotate to direct a flow of air from the inlet through the scroll section to the outlet. A plurality of indentations is formed along an inner surface of the scroll section at the cutoff.

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1. A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise, the apparatus comprising: a blower housing having a scroll wall arcuately extending thereabout to define a scroll section formed about a rotational axis, the scroll section having a circular opening formed therein, the opening defin

1. A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise, the apparatus comprising: a blower housing having a scroll wall arcuately extending thereabout to define a scroll section formed about a rotational axis, the scroll section having a circular opening formed therein, the opening defining an inlet configured to draw in air, the scroll section commencing with a reduced cross-sectional area at a first end and expanding to an increased cross-sectional area at a second end, wherein the reduced cross-sectional area defines a cutoff, the blower housing further having an outlet wall extending from the scroll wall to define an exhaust section, the exhaust section defining an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet;an impeller disposed in the opening about the rotational axis, the impeller comprising an outer surface having impeller blades radially disposed thereon, wherein the impeller is configured to rotate the impeller blades to direct a flow of air from the inlet through the scroll section to the outlet; anda plurality of indentations formed along an inner surface of the scroll section at the cutoff, wherein an entire surface of each indentation is formed by the inner surface of the scroll wall. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exhaust section extends generally tangentially from the scroll section. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the scroll section includes first and second portions that are integrally connected to the exhaust section, wherein the first portion is defined by a part of the scroll wall that is generally parallel to the outlet wall, wherein the second portion is defined by a part of the scroll wall that meets the outlet wall at a generally angled corner. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cutoff is disposed proximate the first portion, the cross-sectional area expanding from the cutoff to an increased cross-sectional area in a first direction. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cutoff is disposed proximate the second portion, the cross-sectional area expanding from the cutoff to an increased cross-sectional area in a second direction. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of indentations formed along the inner surface of the scroll section beyond the cutoff. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of indentations formed along an outer surface of at least one impeller blade. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a panel configured to attach within the blower housing along the inner surface of the scroll section at the cutoff, the panel having a plurality of indentations formed therein. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, each of the indentations having a diameter between around 2 millimeters and around 4 millimeters. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, each of the indentations having a thickness between around 2 millimeters and around 4 millimeters, wherein the thickness of each of the indentations is dependent upon a thickness of the blower housing. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the indentations is spaced apart from another indentation by a distance between around 5 millimeters and around 10 millimeters. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blower housing further includes first and second sidewalls, wherein the plurality of indentations are further formed along an inner surface of at least one of the first and second sidewalls. 13. A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise, the apparatus comprising: a blower housing having a scroll wall arcuately extending thereabout to define a scroll section formed about a rotational axis, the scroll section having a circular opening formed therein, the opening defining an inlet configured to draw in air, the scroll section commencing with a reduced cross-sectional area at a first end and expanding to an increased cross-sectional area at a second end, wherein the reduced cross-sectional area defines a cutoff, the blower housing further having an outlet wall extending from the scroll wall to define an exhaust section, the exhaust section defining an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet, wherein the exhaust section extends generally tangentially from the scroll section, wherein the scroll section includes first and second portions that are integrally connected to the exhaust section, wherein the first portion is defined by a part of the scroll wall that is generally parallel to the outlet wall, wherein the second portion is defined by a part of the scroll wall that meets the outlet wall at a generally angled corner;an impeller disposed in the opening about the rotational axis, the impeller comprising an outer surface having impeller blades radially disposed thereon, wherein the impeller is configured to rotate the impeller blades to direct a flow of air from the inlet through the scroll section to the outlet; anda plurality of indentations formed along an inner surface of the scroll section at the cutoff, wherein an entire surface of each indentation is formed by the inner surface of the scroll wall. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cutoff is disposed proximate the first portion, the cross-sectional area expanding from the cutoff to an increased cross-sectional area in a first direction. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cutoff is disposed proximate the second portion, the cross-sectional area expanding from the cutoff to an increased cross-sectional area in a second direction. 16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of indentations formed along the inner surface of the scroll section beyond the cutoff. 17. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of indentations formed along an outer surface of at least one impeller blade. 18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a panel configured to attach within the blower housing along the inner surface of the scroll section at the cutoff, the panel having a plurality of indentations formed therein. 19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the blower housing further includes first and second sidewalls, wherein the plurality of indentations are further formed along an inner surface of at least one of the first and second sidewalls. 20. A centrifugal blowing apparatus for reducing flow-induced noise, the apparatus comprising: a blower housing having a scroll wall arcuately extending thereabout to define a scroll section formed about a rotational axis, the scroll section having a circular opening formed therein, the opening defining an inlet configured to draw in air, the scroll section commencing with a reduced cross-sectional area at a first end and expanding to an increased cross-sectional area at a second end, wherein the reduced cross-sectional area defines a cutoff, the blower housing further having an outlet wall extending from the scroll wall to define an exhaust section, the exhaust section defining an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet;an impeller disposed in the opening about the rotational axis, the impeller comprising an outer surface having impeller blades radially disposed thereon, wherein the impeller is configured to rotate the impeller blades to direct a flow of air from the inlet through the scroll section to the outlet; anda plurality of indentations formed along an inner surface of the scroll section along the entire blower housing, wherein an entire surface of each indentation is formed by the inner surface of the scroll wall.