Adjustable Guide Vanes for Blower Airflow Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blowers used in computer systems often deliver airflow non-uniformly, leading to reduced thermal performance and efficiency of heat sinks and hardware components due to inadequate flow distribution and recirculation, which can result in decreased performance and potential damage from excessive heat.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of adjustable guide vanes affixed to the blower at pivot points in the outlet, which are adjusted based on the rotational speed of the impeller to optimize airflow distribution, using mechanisms such as actuators and magnetic forces to ensure consistent airflow across the blower outlet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fixed guide vanes are used in the blower outlet, then the structure is simple, but the airflow distribution is non-uniform and thermal performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes are made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing their position to be dynamically changed based on operating conditions. The vanes can be repositioned along the outlet circumference to optimize airflow distribution for different impeller speeds, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and thermal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The position parameter of the guide vanes is changed to optimize performance. By adjusting the angular position of the vanes relative to the impeller outlet, the system can achieve uniform airflow distribution across the outlet, thereby improving thermal performance without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Productivity
If the blower operates at high impeller speeds, then the total airflow increases, but the airflow distribution becomes more non-uniform and recirculation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the impeller speed to automatically adjust the guide vane position. As impeller speed increases, the guide vanes are repositioned to compensate for the increased non-uniformity and recirculation, maintaining optimal airflow distribution across different operating conditions and preserving thermal performance at high productivity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane position is dynamically adjusted in response to impeller speed changes. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain uniform airflow distribution even when operating at high speeds where fixed vanes would create significant non-uniformity and recirculation problems.
3Reliability
If multiple heat sinks are placed close to the blower outlet, then the thermal management coverage is improved, but the airflow distribution to each heat sink becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes can be independently positioned to create localized airflow patterns tailored to specific heat sink locations. By adjusting the angular position of individual vanes or groups of vanes, the system can direct airflow precisely to multiple heat sinks placed close to the outlet, ensuring uniform distribution to each component while maintaining comprehensive thermal management coverage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances airflow uniformity and thermal performance by dynamically adjusting the guide vanes in response to impeller speed, reducing recirculation and improving the efficiency of heat dissipation in computer systems.
Implementation Method 1
determining a rotational speed of an impeller in the blower and adjusting a position of at least one of the adjustable guide vanes in dependence upon the rotational speed of the impeller
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for improving the airflow exiting a blower that has one or more adjustable guide vanes that are affixed to the blower at one or more pivot points located in an outlet of the blower that include: determining a rotational speed of an impeller in the blower and adjusting a position of at least one of the adjustable guide vanes in dependence upon the rotational speed of the impeller.