A fan false module, a fan module and an electronic device

Abstract

The application discloses a fan false module, a fan module and electronic equipment, and can solve the problem that when the server case fan is not fully matched, the chaotic flow in the case will cause the heat dissipation efficiency to be reduced. The fan false module comprises a flow channel module, the flow channel module comprises a plurality of flow channel units, the plurality of flow channel units are arranged along a first direction, each flow channel unit comprises a plurality of flow channels, the extension direction of each flow channel is a second direction, each flow channel is a Tesla valve structure, the plurality of flow channels are arranged along a third direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to each other. The fan false module realizes one-way conduction of air flow, can efficiently block hot air backflow and ensure low resistance for cold air to pass through, and improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the electronic equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of server heat dissipation technology, and in particular to a fan dummy module, a fan module, and electronic equipment. Background Technology

[0002] During server operation, to meet different usage scenarios and cost control requirements, the fan configuration inside the chassis is often not fully utilized. When some fans are missing, the original stable "front in, rear out" airflow inside the chassis is disrupted. The negative pressure generated by the fans can also cause hot air to flow back and mix with cold air, reducing heat dissipation efficiency and consequently affecting the normal operation and lifespan of the electronic components inside the server. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a fan dummy module, a fan module, and an electronic device, which can solve the problem of reduced heat dissipation efficiency caused by turbulence within the server chassis when the server chassis fan is not fully configured.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a fan dummy module, which includes a flow channel module. The flow channel module includes multiple flow channel units, which are arranged along a first direction. Each flow channel unit includes multiple flow channels, and the extension direction of each flow channel is a second direction. Each flow channel is a Tesla valve structure, and the multiple flow channels are arranged along a third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0005] In the above embodiments, the fan dummy module's flow channel adopts a Tesla valve structure to achieve unidirectional flow. This effectively blocks hot air recirculation while ensuring low resistance for cool air passage, solving the problem of airflow chaos and hot air recirculation caused by insufficient fan capacity in server chassis. Furthermore, the modular design of the fan dummy module facilitates installation and maintenance; the absence of moving parts inside ensures good stability and reduces maintenance frequency.

[0006] In one embodiment, the fan dummy module further includes a cover plate arranged side-by-side with the flow channel module along the first direction. The cover plate can enclose the flow channel on the outermost flow channel unit, preventing airflow leakage from the middle of the flow channel unit.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cover plate is provided with a snap-fit ​​mechanism for securing the fan dummy module to the fan module bracket. The snap-fit ​​mechanism enables a detachable connection between the fan dummy module and the fan module bracket, improving the ease of installation and maintenance.

[0008] In one specific embodiment, the latch is an elastic arm, which includes a connecting portion and a pressing portion, the connecting portion and the pressing portion having an included angle. The connecting portion is connected to the cover plate, and a protrusion is provided on the side of the connecting portion opposite to the flow channel module. The protrusion can engage with the locking hole of the bracket. The elastic arm enables screwless installation of the fan dummy module, making the disassembly of the fan dummy module more convenient.

[0009] In one embodiment, the plurality of flow channel units and the cover plate are fixed together by pins, which facilitates assembly.

[0010] In one embodiment, each of the flow channel units has a handle at its top, the thickness of which is no greater than the thickness of the flow channel unit. The handle facilitates the operator's handling of the flow channel unit.

[0011] In one embodiment, the top of the flow channel unit is provided with a wind direction indicator, which is used to mark the wind direction, i.e., the direction from the air inlet side to the air outlet side. The wind direction indicator on the flow channel unit facilitates installation by the user and reduces the possibility of installing the fan module backwards.

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a fan module, which includes a bracket, a fan unit, and the aforementioned fan dummy module, wherein the fan unit and the fan dummy module are mounted on the bracket along the first direction.

[0013] In one embodiment, the bracket has multiple partitions, with slots formed between adjacent partitions. The fan unit and the fan dummy module are respectively installed in any one of the slots. Each partition has a locking hole, and the fan dummy module has a snap-fit, which engages with the locking hole. The locking hole is used to secure the fan dummy module.

[0014] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide an electronic device, which includes a chassis and the aforementioned fan module, the fan module being installed inside the chassis. The electronic device is equipped with a fan dummy module, allowing for smooth cooling of the forward airflow from the front to the rear of the chassis during operation. When the negative pressure at the front of the fan module is high, the reverse hot airflow from the rear to the front is blocked by wing-shaped obstacles in the flow channel, forming turbulence and effectively reducing hot air recirculation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A structural diagram of an electronic device provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0016] Figure 2 A structural diagram of a fan module provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 3A structural diagram of a fan dummy module provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 4 An exploded view of a fan dummy module provided in one embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 5 A front view of a flow channel unit provided for one embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of airflow flowing forward in a channel, according to one embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of airflow flowing in reverse in a channel, according to one embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 8 for Figure 2 A magnified view of the area circled in the middle.

[0023] Figure label:

[0024] 1-Chassis; 2-Fan module; 3-Fan dummy module; 201-Bracket; 202-Fan unit; 2011-Separator; 301-Flow channel unit; 3011-Flow channel; 3012-Wing-shaped barrier; 302-Cover plate; 3021-Cover plate body; 303-Pin; 304-Elastic arm; 305-Handle; 306-Identification mark; 3041-Connector; 3042-Push-up part; 3043-Flanged edge; 30431-Curved edge; 3044-Protrusion; 20111-Holding hole. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description of the application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] The terminology used in the following embodiments is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to also include expressions such as “one or more” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0027] References to “an embodiment” or “a specific embodiment” as used in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0028] When some fans inside a server chassis are not in use, the pre-designed directional airflow pattern is disrupted, causing airflow to become disordered. Air that should be driven in or out by the fans cannot move along the planned path and instead forms rotating or stagnant vortices in the empty areas, creating chaotic airflow. This turbulence not only reduces cooling efficiency but can also amplify noise and cause vibration. Furthermore, the negative pressure generated by the fans can cause hot air to flow back from the rear to the front of the chassis, also affecting cooling efficiency.

[0029] In related technologies, baffles or louver structures are often used to fill empty fan slots. To prevent hot air recirculation, baffles directly block the airflow channel. While this prevents hot air recirculation, it also obstructs the entry of more cool air into other heat dissipation components within the chassis, leading to a significant decrease in server cooling efficiency and failing to meet normal airflow circulation requirements within the chassis. Louver structures rely on the opening and closing of blades to control airflow; unavoidable gaps exist between the blades, resulting in poor sealing and difficulty in effectively blocking hot air recirculation. The blades also significantly obstruct forward airflow, increasing ventilation resistance and affecting the overall heat dissipation performance of the chassis. Furthermore, as moving parts, the blades are prone to jamming due to dust accumulation and wear in the high-dust, high-vibration environment of data centers, leading to structural failure and high maintenance costs. The design flaw of this structure lies in the inability to eliminate inherent gaps in the blade structure and the difficulty for moving parts to adapt to complex environments.

[0030] In view of this, the embodiments of this application provide a fan dummy module, fan module and electronic device based on the Tesla valve principle, which can solve the problem that when the server chassis fan is not fully supplied, turbulence will be caused in the chassis, resulting in reduced heat dissipation efficiency, and can also effectively reduce the problem of hot air backflow.

[0031] Figure 1 A structural diagram of an electronic device provided in one embodiment of this application, such as... Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides an electronic device, which includes a chassis 1 and a fan module 2, with the fan module 2 installed inside the chassis 1. The electronic device can be a server. The width direction of the chassis 1 is a first direction X, the length direction of the chassis 1 is a second direction Y, and the direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the chassis 1 is a third direction Z. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other. The chassis 1 includes two side walls arranged opposite each other along the first direction X, and the fan module 2 is installed between the two side walls. The air inlet side and the air outlet side of the fan module 2 are arranged along the second direction Y. The air inlet side of the fan module 2 can be regarded as the front end of the chassis 1, and the air outlet side of the fan module 2 can be regarded as the rear end of the chassis 1. The front end area of ​​the chassis 1 is the cold aisle of the data center, and the rear end area of ​​the chassis 1 is the hot aisle of the data center. When the server is working normally, the fan module 2 draws cold air into the chassis 1. The cold air passes through the front end and undergoes heat exchange with the heat-generating components inside the server, and then blows the heat from the rear end of the chassis 1 into the hot aisle for heat dissipation.

[0032] Figure 2 A structural diagram of a fan module 2 provided in one embodiment of this application is shown below. Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of this application provides a fan module 2, which includes a bracket 201, a fan unit 202, and a fan dummy module 3. The bracket 201 is provided with a plurality of partition plates 2011, which are spaced apart along a first direction X. Slots are formed between adjacent partition plates 2011, and the fan unit 202 and the fan dummy module 3 are respectively installed in any one of the slots.

[0033] The number and installation order of the fan unit 202 and the fan dummy module 3 can be set as needed, and this application does not impose specific limitations. In one embodiment, the number of fan units 202 can be greater than the number of fan dummy modules 3, and the fan dummy modules 3 can be placed in any slot. Specifically, as shown... Figure 2 As shown, fan module 2 may include five individual fan units 202 and one fan dummy module 3. The fan dummy module 3 is disposed in the second slot from right to left.

[0034] In another embodiment, the fan module 2 may include four individual fan units 202 and two fan dummy modules 3. The two fan dummy modules 3 are respectively disposed at both ends of the four individual fan units 202.

[0035] In another embodiment, the fan module 2 may include five fan units 202 and a fan dummy module 3, with three fan units 202 on one side and two fan units 202 on the other side.

[0036] In other embodiments, the number of fan units 202 may be less than the number of fan dummy modules 3.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a fan dummy module provided in one embodiment of this application. Figure 4 An exploded view of a fan dummy module provided in one embodiment of this application. Figure 5 A plan view of a flow channel unit provided for one embodiment of this application. (See attached image.) Figures 3 to 5 As shown, an embodiment of this application also provides a fan dummy module. This fan dummy module 3 includes a flow channel module, which includes multiple flow channel units 301 arranged along a first direction X. Each flow channel unit 301 includes multiple flow channels 3011, each flow channel 3011 extending in a second direction Y, and the multiple flow channels 3011 arranged along a third direction Z. Each flow channel 3011 is a Tesla valve structure. The first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z are perpendicular to each other.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the flow channel module is composed of multiple sheet-like flow channel units 301, and each flow channel 3011 is a Tesla valve structure. Figure 5 As shown, the Tesla valve is a one-way flow valve. Its core principle lies in achieving unidirectional fluid flow through a fixed geometric structure (wing-shaped barrier), requiring no moving parts or external energy input. The Tesla valve employs a special loop design. When fluid flows forward through the Tesla valve structure, it bypasses the wing-shaped barrier and splits into two paths. These two paths then converge at the next junction, with both flowing in the same direction, resulting in acceleration. Conversely, if fluid flows backward into the Tesla valve, it again splits into two paths at the point where it bypasses the wing-shaped barrier, and then converges again at the second junction. The two paths flow in opposite directions, creating significant resistance. Therefore, the Tesla valve structure can only allow forward flow and makes reverse flow difficult, ultimately achieving a one-way flow effect.

[0039] During the fabrication of the flow channel 3011, multiple through-slots can be formed on the flow channel unit 301, with multiple protrusions in each through-slot. These protrusions serve as wing-shaped barriers 3012 in the Tesla valve structure. Multiple wing-shaped barriers 3012 are arranged inside a flow channel 3011, and these barriers are staggered, creating multiple straight and curved segments in the through-slot, resembling a maze-like passage. When the fluid flows forward, under the influence of the wing-shaped structure angle, the fluid is smoothly diverted and then re-converged, accelerating the flow velocity. When flowing in the reverse direction, the fluid is forced to collide with the wing-shaped barriers 3012, generating backflow, vortices, and momentum loss, resulting in a significant increase in resistance. Adjacent flow channel units 301 are stacked together, covering the top of the through-slot. Thus, the flow channel 3011 is only connected to the outside at its two ends (i.e., the inlet and outlet sides). Figure 5 As shown, the left side of the flow channel unit 301 is the air inlet side A, and the right side is the air outlet side B. The pointed end of the wing-shaped barrier 3012 faces the air outlet side, and the blunt end faces the air inlet side. As shown in the figure, the direction from left to right (from A to B) is positive, and the direction from right to left (from B to A) is negative. After the fan dummy module 3 is installed in the chassis 1, the air inlet side A is located at the front of the chassis 1, and the air outlet side B is located at the rear of the chassis 1.

[0040] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of airflow flowing forward in a channel, as provided in one embodiment of this application, is shown below. Figure 6 As shown, when the airflow flows in the forward direction (from A to B), it can bypass the wing-shaped obstacle 3012, flowing from the left to the right along a straight segment, and gaining an acceleration effect due to the flow pressure. The arrows in the figure indicate the confluence path.

[0041] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of airflow flowing in reverse in a flow channel 3011 is provided for one embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 7As shown in the figure, the arrows indicate the flow paths. When the airflow flows in the opposite direction (from B to A), it is blocked by the wing-shaped barrier 3012. After being split by the tip of the wing-shaped barrier 3012, the fluid enters the straight segment and the curved segment respectively before converging. During the convergence, because the flow direction of the curved segment is opposite to that of the straight segment, the two airflows collide or turn, resulting in a blocking effect that hinders the overall forward flow of the airflow and causes a sharp decrease in energy.

[0042] The flow channel 3011 of the fan dummy module 3 adopts a Tesla valve structure, achieving a one-way flow effect. It can effectively block hot air recirculation (from B to A) while ensuring low resistance for cool air to pass through, solving the problem of airflow chaos and hot air recirculation caused by insufficient fan capacity in server chassis.

[0043] In one specific embodiment, the fan dummy module 3 includes eight flow channel units 301. Each flow channel unit 301 includes six flow channels 3011.

[0044] The more wing-shaped barriers 3012 there are, the greater the resistance to fluid flow in the opposite direction. In one specific embodiment, nine wing-shaped barriers 3012 are set in each flow channel 3011 to increase the difficulty of backflow and improve the unidirectional flow effect.

[0045] Continue to refer to Figure 4 In one embodiment, the fan bracket module further includes a cover plate 302, which is arranged side-by-side with the flow channel module along a first direction X. Specifically, multiple flow channel units 301 are stacked along the first direction X, with the slot openings of each flow channel unit 301 facing the same direction, for example, all facing to the right, and the left side of the flow channel unit 301 is closed. After the multiple flow channel units 301 are assembled together, the flow channel unit 301 on the right can close the slot opening of the preceding left flow channel unit 301, and a cover plate 302 is provided on the right side of the rightmost flow channel unit 301. The cover plate 302 can close the slot opening of the outermost flow channel unit 301, thus forming a closed flow channel 3011, leaving only the air inlet and air outlet openings, preventing airflow from leaking from the middle area of ​​the flow channel unit 301 and affecting heat dissipation efficiency.

[0046] It is worth noting that this application does not impose specific restrictions on the opening direction of the through slot. In the above embodiment, the through slot opening faces to the right, and the cover plate 302 is located on the right side of the flow channel module. In other embodiments, the through slot opening may also face to the left, in which case the cover plate 302 is located on the left side of the flow channel module.

[0047] In a further embodiment, the inner wall of the flow channel 3011 is coated with Teflon to reduce wind resistance. Simultaneously, the low reverse flow resistance and the increased collision or turning force between the two airflow paths further enhance the wind resistance effect.

[0048] In one embodiment, multiple flow channel units 301 are fixed together by pins 303. Specifically, the flow channel unit 301 is square, and through holes are provided at the four corners of the flow channel unit 301. The pins 303 are inserted into the through holes to fix the multiple flow channel units 301 together.

[0049] Similarly, the cover plate 302 is also square, with through holes at its four corners. Pins 303 pass through the through holes to fix the cover plate 302 and the flow channel module together.

[0050] To facilitate the disassembly and maintenance of the fan dummy module 3, in one embodiment, the cover plate 302 is provided with a buckle for fixing the fan dummy module 3 to the bracket 201 of the fan module 2.

[0051] Correspondingly, the bracket 201 of the fan module 2 is provided with multiple partition plates 2011, each partition plate 2011 having a locking hole 20111. The clip of the fan dummy module 3 is engaged with the locking hole 20111, realizing the detachable connection between the fan dummy module 3 and the bracket 201, which facilitates the assembly and maintenance of the fan module 2.

[0052] Figure 8 for Figure 2 A magnified view of the area within the middle circle, combined with... Figure 2 and Figure 8 In a further embodiment, the aforementioned latch is an elastic arm 304, which includes a connecting portion 3041 and a pressing portion 3042. The connecting portion 3041 and the pressing portion 3042 have an included angle, and a protrusion 3044 is provided on the side of the connecting portion 3041 facing away from the flow channel module. Specifically, the cover plate 302 includes a cover plate body 3021 and an elastic arm 304, which are integrally formed. The top edge of the cover plate body 3021 has two slits, and the elastic arm 304 is located between the two slits. The connecting portion 3041 of the elastic arm 304 is connected to and parallel to the cover plate body 3021, and the connecting portion 3041 is inclined towards the flow channel module. A protrusion 3044 is provided on the side of the connecting portion 3041 facing away from the flow channel module. When the fan dummy module 3 is installed on the bracket 201, the elastic arm 304 bends towards the flow channel module side under the pressure of the partition plate 2011. When the protrusion 3044 slides into the locking hole 20111 of the partition plate 2011, the elastic arm 304 returns to its initial state. The push part 3042 and the connecting part 3041 are at an angle, which makes the gap between the push part 3042 and the partition plate 2011 larger, making it easier for the user's fingers to be inserted between the fan dummy module 3 and the partition plate 2011. When the fan dummy module 3 is pulled out of the slot, the push part 3042 is pressed down, causing the elastic arm 304 to bend towards the flow channel module side, thereby causing the protrusion 3044 to disengage from the locking hole 20111, and the fan dummy module 3 is lifted upwards to complete the disassembly.

[0053] In a further embodiment, the edge of the push-button 3042 away from the connecting part 3041 is provided with a flange 3043. The flange 3043 bends away from the flow channel module and has an arc-shaped edge 30431, making it more comfortable for the finger to press the buckle. The partition plate 2011 may have a notch at the position corresponding to the push-button 3042 to avoid the finger.

[0054] In a further embodiment, the aforementioned locking hole 20111 can be located near the rear end of the chassis on the partition plate 2011, and correspondingly, the elastic arm 304 can be located near the exhaust side of the cover plate 302 near the exhaust side of the fan dummy module 3. Alternatively, the aforementioned locking hole 20111 can be located near the front end of the chassis on the partition plate 2011, and correspondingly, the elastic arm 304 can be located near the intake side of the cover plate 302 near the intake side of the fan dummy module 3. This provides a foolproof installation method for the fan dummy module 3.

[0055] In one embodiment, each flow channel unit 301 has a handle 305 on its top, the thickness of which is no greater than the thickness of the flow channel unit 301. This facilitates the operator in picking up the flow channel unit 301. The handle 305 can be flush with the elastic arm 304 along the first direction X to improve aesthetics.

[0056] In one embodiment, the top of the flow channel unit 301 is provided with a wind direction indicator 306, which can be an arrow to mark the positive flow direction of the airflow, i.e., the arrow points to the air outlet side. This facilitates installation by the user and reduces the possibility of installing the fan dummy module 3 backwards.

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the fan dummy module 3 is made of high-strength engineering plastic and is adapted to a 60×56 fan slot.

[0058] The electronic device of this application is equipped with a fan dummy module 3. During operation, the forward-flowing cool air from the front to the rear can smoothly enter the chassis for heat dissipation. When the negative pressure at the front of the fan module 2 is large, the reverse-flowing hot air from the rear to the front is blocked by the wing-shaped barrier 3012 in the flow channel 3011, forming turbulence and effectively reducing the backflow of hot air. The modular design of the fan dummy module 3 of this application facilitates installation and maintenance, and since it does not have moving parts such as blades, it has high stability and can reduce the frequency of maintenance.

[0059] In the description of the embodiments of the application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of the application.

[0060] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A fan dummy module, characterized in that, The system includes a flow channel module, which comprises multiple flow channel units arranged along a first direction. Each flow channel unit includes multiple flow channels, and the extension direction of each flow channel is a second direction. Each flow channel is a Tesla valve structure, and the multiple flow channels are arranged along a third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are perpendicular to each other.

2. The fan dummy module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a cover plate, which is arranged side by side with the flow channel module along the first direction.

3. The fan dummy module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover plate is provided with a buckle, which is used to fix the fan dummy module to the fan module bracket.

4. The fan dummy module according to claim 3, characterized in that, The buckle is an elastic arm, which includes a connecting part and a pressing part. The cover plate includes a cover plate body and the elastic arm. The connecting part is connected to the cover plate body. The connecting part and the pressing part have an included angle. The connecting part has a protrusion on the side away from the flow channel module.

5. The fan dummy module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plurality of flow channel units and the cover plate are fixed together by pins.

6. The fan dummy module according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the flow channel units is provided with a handle at the top, and the thickness of the handle is not greater than the thickness of the flow channel unit.

7. The fan dummy module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the flow channel unit is equipped with a wind direction indicator.

8. A fan module, characterized in that, It includes a bracket, a fan unit, and a fan dummy module as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fan unit and the fan dummy module are mounted on the bracket along the first direction.

9. The fan module according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bracket is provided with multiple partitions, which are spaced apart along the first direction. Slots are formed between adjacent partitions. The fan unit and the fan dummy module are respectively installed in any one of the slots. Each partition is provided with a locking hole, and the fan dummy module is provided with a buckle that engages with the locking hole.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a chassis and a fan module as described in claim 8 or 9, wherein the fan module is installed inside the chassis.

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